It's A Long Way Home

Lacklustre Robins Huff and Puff. Report by David Robinson

A single goal was enough for last season’s play off finalists Workington to register their third successive win over the Robins. With Lee Knight injured before the kick off, Jack Dorney retained his place in midfield and was joined by the returning Tunji Moses but it was the Ashton defence immediately falling under pressure as Jacob Simpson fired a loose ball wide as the hosts dominated the early exchanges.

The hosts were rewarded for their quick start as Newby’s left wing cross was cleared to Rob Wilson who sent an unstoppable volley flying past Terry Smith on 13 minutes and after Lee Gaskell had put Matty Chadwick’s cross wide, Waterston’s pull back found Scott Allison failing to make a clean connection. Midway through the half Taylor in the home goal miscontrolled a back pass leading to Chadwick firing wide from the narrowest of angles before a superb run from the winger forced Sam Smith to concede a corner. Chadwick then got the better of Smith but put his cross just too far ahead of Lee Gaskell and goal scorer Wilson put an effort wide from 20 yards.

After the interval last year’s hat trick scorer Conor Tinnion forced Smith into a low save and loud appeals were waved away as Dorney went down under challenge from Chadwick’s pass. Tinnion then made a great run to the near post before being crowded out and Symington sent in a skidding effort which was well palmed away by Smith before Waterston headed Tinnion’s cross over. The same two players then combined to leave Allison clear from where he put the ball wide of a gaping goal before seeing a shot on the turn deflected wide.

Allison was in the action again as he raced through from halfway only to be denied by Smith with the rebound falling for Waterston to side foot wide. Wilson then exchanged passes with Allison but fired wide and sub Nebson rounded Smith on the edge of the area and went down with nothing being given as the hosts comfortably held on to their lead with the Robins offering little threat.

Team: T.Smith, Coo, Mason (Maiese), Frost, Cowan, Moses, Lees, R.Smith (Steenson), Gaskell, Chadwick, Dorney (Lofthouse). SNU: Banim, .