Hatters go mad at Hurst Cross

Report by David Robinson. Pictures Jez Sayle

One of the pre-season favourites Stockport ran riot as they inflicted Ashton’s heaviest defeat of the season at Hurst Cross in front of a bumper crowd of 838. On a pitch quite heavy after persistent rain the hosts restored John Roberts in midfield to replace the departed Bradley Jackson and the visitors started by winning a corner off Liam Tomsett, the second delivery coming back off the near post before a deep cross was volleyed narrowly over by Adam Thomas.
Tomsett was then just unable to collect Matty Chadwick’s return pass and Matt Regan dragged his shot wide after Liam Martin’s cross had been headed clear. Jake Kirby headed Thomas’s cross wide under pressure and Regan again failed to make clean contact following good work by Josh Askew. Luke Pilling then made a tumbling save from Frank Mulhern as the play switched from end to end, a quick break then seeing Scott Kay booked for bringing down Matty Warburton who exacted revenge by curling home the free kick despite Pilling getting a touch.
Just before the half hour a ball into the area broke to Kirby who fired it home and 2 minutes later James Jones looked to be harshly adjudged to have fouled Mulhern who stroked home the resulting penalty. Pilling then needed to deny Duxbury’s fine run at the near post and just ahead of the break Warburton side footed wide after Mulhern had beaten Jones.
4 minutes after the interval and the speedy Duxbury beat Liam Goulding and saw Warburton steer his cross home and after another 4 minutes Kirby was able to head home a corner unchallenged from inside the 6 yard box. Pilling then made a fine save from a header and Duxbury beat Ryan Crowther and skimmed the cross bar. Askew forced a low save out of Hinchliffe after a good run and Ramirez Howarth just failed to collect Regan’s return ball.
On 90 minutes the scoring concluded as Osbourne’s claims for a penalty were waved away but Paul Turnbull was on hand to fire the loose ball home.
Team: Pilling, Goulding, Jones, Chalmers, Kay, Regan, Roberts (Hill 55), Askew, Chadwick (Howarth 65), Martin (Crowther 55), Tomsett. SNU: Stead, Harris.