Spartans Stroll to Victory

Report by David Robinson. Picture Jez Sayle

3 goals in the first half hour saw the visitors unextended to take all the points at Hurst Cross. The hosts had Joao Mendes debuting in goal but within a couple of minutes were already behind as Jarrett Rivers won a corner which saw his delivery easily headed home pretty much unchallenged by Kieran Green. After a couple of Ashton attacks had come to nought the second goal arrived as Louis Laing fired home after Rivers’ cross had been cleared and his initial effort from Green’s knockdown had been cleared.
Jamie Holmes then cut inside from Daniel Maguire’s cross field pass and narrowly missed the target before Green headed straight into Mendes’ arms from Connor Oliver’s cross. Michael Liddle then brought a decent save out of the home keeper from a free kick and Oliver forced a full length save with a speculative effort from halfway. Just before the half hour Maguire forced the ball home from close range after Mendes had missed his punch and Ashton’s best effort saw Ryan Jennings’ volleyed cross cleared for a corner which Matt Regan headed past the far post.

Into the second half and Mendes denied Maguire well after Aaron Chalmers had left a back pass short and at the other end Chalmers’ cross was cleared in front of the goal line. Rivers then made a good run across the edge of the area before being denied by Mendes and Liam Tomsett and Liam Goulding both saw on-target efforts saved. Regan fired a loose ball over the top before Mendes again denied Maguire from a tight angle and Kallum Mantack’s effort was blocked at the near post. Substitute Robbie Dale guided Maguire’s pass over the bar for Spartans and a mistake by Chalmers and Connor Dimaio saw a low effort saved following a 1-2.

Ashton Utd: Mendes, Crowley, Regan, Goulding, Chalmers, Kay, Jennings (Ennis 85), Sheridan (Swaby-Neavin 75), Hobson (Tomsett 60), Dimaio, Mantack. SNU: Lees.