Stoic Ashton Pick Up All Three Points

Report by David Robinson.

Ashton achieved their fourth successive victory in the league with Joe O’Neill’s late winner at Wincham Park. With a significant wind blowing it was Dale Johnson who went closest for the visitors as his effort from Coppin’s cross was deflected out for a corner which Hancock sliced over his own crossbar.

A crossfield pass then found Hancock at the right end cutting inside Coo before providing Phillips with an easy save and Lee Rick’s through ball was picked up by Pilkington who was denied by Cooper as the angle narrowed. Coo then made an important intervention as his tackle averted a potential 3 on 1 situation for the hosts before Gardner made a great run from midfield but found the alert Phillips able to deny him.

The breakthrough arrived on the half hour as Lee Rick’s corner landed perfectly on Gorton’s head for the captain to register his second goal in the last 3 games. Home winger Andrews then bought the best out of Phillips as his fine curling free kick was tipped over before a scramble in the area led to Brown hitting the side netting. Witton’s last chance of reaching the interval level saw Bakkor picked out by a fine pass and round Phillips only to be denied by the covering Greg Pearson.

The second period was mostly something of a non event as the hosts failed to take advantage of the gale blowing at their backs with numerous offside decisions disrupting the flow of the play. Mayo’s swinging cross was headed wide by Simm but with less than 10 minutes left on the clock and somewhat out of the blue the hosts were level as a free kick was returned back into the area by Bakkor for Harrison to touch the ball home.

Joe O’Neill then put fellow sub Chadwick clear but he was denied by Cooper coming quickly off his line and Witton began to look the likelier winners as a quick break saw Simm cut inside before Pearson’s intervention and a fine volley by Dawson had Phillips beaten but missed the far post. With a draw looking likely the Robins had the last word as O’Neill headed home a cross from Coo who had a fine game and the final action saw the appropriately named Breeze see his effort clawed away by Phillips to leave the Robins with all 3 points.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Pearson, Gorton, Higgins, Young, Rick (Lynch), Gee, Pilkington (Chadwick), Johnson (O’Neill), Coppin. SNU: Halford, Steadman