Smash and Grab

Glassboys ride into Hurst Cross and take home the points. Report by David Robinson. Pictures Jez Sayle

Ashton’s pitch survived 2 inspections following heavy overnight rain but they might have been left wishing it hadn’t as the visitors from the West Midlands ran out convincing winners. Just 4 minutes had elapsed and Martin Pilkington had already had time to lob a left foot effort wide from Will Haining’s pass when George Bowerman ran onto a loose pass and rounded Paul Phillips in the home goal before squeezing home a left foot effort despite several defenders on the line.

Still in the opening ten minutes and the second goal arrived as a corner was returned by Christopher Lait to the back post where Daniel Scarr was able to force the ball home. Ten minutes before the interval Ashton could have struck back as Martin Pilkington sent Chris Baguley free down the right wing but he chose to fire his effort right across goal with James Dean unmarked in the middle and the Robins were immediately made to pay as Lait went past Cavell Coo and Jay Gorton before being blocked out by Phillips but he was still able to lay the ball back for Karl Hawley to curl home a fine effort.

The Robins made a double substitution on the resumption but it was Pilkington making the most impression as a great run took him to the by line but his cross was just too high for Dean’s header, and Broadhurst put an audacious chip wide from the left wing having charged down Mason’s clearance.

It was just past the hour before the hosts did register as sub Matty Chadwick was released by Pilkington and his cross forced Kristian Green into conceding an own goal at the far post and Chadwick was then put clear by Dean and cut back inside the defender only to see his shot agonisingly miss the near post. Hawley and Justin Richards then combined needing an intervention from Gorton and Mason’s ball into the area saw Dean’s flick on half volleyed just wide by Gary Gee. With 7 minutes to go Stephen Mason’s long ball saw Dean’s flick on poked home past Matthew Gould by Pilkington but this was as close as Ashton came to rescuing a point.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Mason, Gorton, Connor (Frost), Haining (Lees), Baguley, Gee, Pilkington, Dean, Lindfield (Chadwick). SNU: Gray, Morning.