Cool Sanasay Shoots Down Rebels

What A Day To Score Your First Goal For The Club Report by Steve Lee

It is fair to say that Kevin Sanasy hasn’t had the best of times since joining the Robins, a prolific marksman for mainly Yorkshire based clubs, but the striker chose an opportune time to net his first Ashton goal, the winner in a keenly contested game with FC United of Manchester.
FC United, occupying the final play off spot began the game on the ascendency, an early effort saw Adam Jones on the end of a cross from full back Kyle Jacobs, but his glancing header went wide.
Carlos Roca was a constant threat with his trickery on the wing, he cut in from the right and saw his shot deflected for a corner and then Terry Smith, who has missed the last few games with injury, proved equal to a Roca free kick, as he tipped the ball over the bar.
FC United missed the poaching skills of the suspended Michael Norton and were soon reduced to shooting from long range, Daniel Grimshaw tested Smith, who tipped his effort away and Jacobs pounced on a loose ball before his 25-yard shot went over the bar.
The Robins defence continued to deal well with United's attacking threat although Matthew Wolfenden wasted a decent chance as his glancing header went wide from a cross by Roca.
Ashton's first and only attempt of the first half was when Aaron Burns had his initial shot blocked, the striker was first to the rebound, but fired over the bar.
Roca made early inroads into the Ashton half as he once more cut in from the wing, only to fire wide and Jake Cottrell produced a run that ended with a shot over the bar.
Smith was called upon to make a fine saw after fine move that saw Jacobs on the overlap following a pass by Roca, but the Ashton keeper tipped his shot over the bar.
As the game wore on, both teams struggled to get any moves going on an energy sapping pitch, Chris Amadi tried his luck from long range without any success and although he looked to have the beating of Jacobs for pace, he rarely got the best of his marker.
Ashton forced several corners that were repelled by the visiting defence as the Robins came more into the game as it wore on.
The key moment of the game came with just eight minutes left on the clock as substitute Danny Lambert found himself free in midfield and his pass put Sanasy in the clear and he produced a confident finish past James Spencer to give Ashton the lead.
FC United were reduced to playing the long ball which was food and drink to the Robins defenders with both Craig Robinson and Alex Frost outstanding at the heart of the back four.
The Robins confidently played out the remaining minutes to continue their fine record of not having been beaten at home in the league by the Rebels in four attempts.
ASHTON UNITED: T Smith, Harrop, Caldecott, Murphy (Lambert 75), Frost, Robinson, Kosylo, Beattie, Burns (Middleton 88), Amadi, Peers (Sanasy 60). subs not used Rose, Bennett