Eight On The Trot

Robins Form continues into New Year

Ashton continued their recent fine form taking an ultimately decisive victory against the team who had started the day just one point behind them. The visitors started the brighter and Burrell’s header from Jamie Green’s corner required Phillips to tip over before Alex Wiles had a low shot held. Liam Hardy could have done better than to side foot Bradley Barraclough’s pull back straight at Paul Phillips and the Robins then entered the fray as Chris Baguley’s touch almost played in Dale Johnson but for a last ditch interception.

Somewhat against the run of play the hosts moved ahead as Adam Morning’s early cross was just cut out by Joel Bembo-Leta at the cost of a corner which was headed home by the flying figure of Jay Gorton. Just past the half hour Doran reached the by line for the Bucks and his cross dropped to Wiles who couldn’t keep his effort down but Ashton could have doubled their advantage as Dale Johnson latched on to a short back pass and picked out Eddie Toner with his cross, the goal bound effort just being blocked by Greg Young. Right on the interval a fine move on the edge of the area saw Johnson play in Toner who sliced wide of the target on his left side.

On the resumption Burrell played a fine pass inside the full back to Hardy who cut inside but could only chip his effort straight at Phillips and on 63 minutes Morning rounded Glennon in the visitors’ goal and was only denied by a combination of Glenn Belezika and the post. Ashton looked like they had been made to pay 2 minutes later as the Bucks were level with Barraclough’s cross finding Greg Young placing his header well to notch the equaliser.

Ashton immediately moved back on to the attack and after sub Martin Pilkington had forced Glennon to tip over left back Stephen Mason headed home Chris Baguley’s corner and just a couple of minutes later Baguley himself put the matter beyond doubt curling home a superb free kick from 20 yards after Johnson had been brought down. Burrell could have reduced the deficit as the ball broke to him in the area with Phillips speeding off his line to block and scorer Young sent another header just wide from Green’s corner.

Team: Phillips, Lees, Mason, Gorton, Connor, Haining (Frost), Baguley (Melia), Gee, Toner, Johnson, Morning (Pilkington). SNU: Melia, King.