Flying Red Robins Go Bobbin Along

Ashton topple league leaders. Report by David Robinson

Ashton showed their mettle with a decisive victory over the league leaders in a thrilling encounter at Hurst Cross. Six goals were fired home in an all action second half after both sides had failed to produce any clear cut chances in the first period.

Adam Morning started for Ashton by putting a dangerous cross in from the left wing which just evaded Martin Pilkington before Morning then picked up the centre forward’s pass and saw his left foot effort deflected out for a corner which was easily headed off the line by Andy White from Jay Gorton’s header. Steven Mason’s pass into the area then saw Joel Melia’s lay back force Burznski into a low save from Pilkington’s attempt and the goalkeeper was then back in the action soon after as Morning’s through ball saw him just get there ahead of Pilkington, sustaining a slight injury in the process. The Dabbers then had a left wing corner which saw Bailey’s header kept out by Phillips with Shotton being denied from the rebound.

The game was only 2 minutes into the second half when the visitors took the lead following a mix up in the home defence, Gorton and Goulding leaving the ball to each other resulting in a short backpass from the latter and giving Liam Shotton the chance to charge down Phillips’ clearance and leave himself with a tap in. The Robins responded in the best possible fashion as Pilkington reached the byline and put a great cross over to Melia who took too long and saw his effort blocked but the hosts were not to be denied as Morning’s cross found Pilkington providing a superb finish on the turn.

The game had now caught alight and Hancock sent a free kick whistling just wide of the goal when Gorton fouled Shotton 25 yards out but midway through the half Ashton moved ahead as the livewire Pilkington made a fantastic run into the area and teed up Eddie Toner for a debut goal fired into the opposite corner. Town could have levelled matters again as Gordon headed Bell’s corner on to the top of the crossbar and Bell himself put Thornton’s cross on to the roof of the net. With 4 minutes left Pilkington and Chadwick combined superbly running from inside their own half for the winger to fire home but with the points appearing to be safe a loose ball fell to Steve Jones who fired home from the edge of the area despite Phillips getting a hand to the shot and Matty Chadwick had the last word for Ashton as Jeff King sent him clear to seal the victory.

Ashton United: Phillips, Coo, Mason, Gorton, Goulding, Melia (Chadwick), Gee, Pilkington (King), Toner, Morning (Haining). SNU: Banim, Connor.