Robins ride their luck

Report by David Robinson. Photo Jez Sayle

A replay will be required to decide who moves into the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy and with it the £4000 prize money after the Robins emerged with a draw from a game largely dominated by the hosts. Ashton moved captain Mark Lees into the centre of defence as the home side set off on the attack with Vassallo’s deflected cross reaching Sanogo at the far post.
Evangelinos’ inside pass then saw Liam Tomsett’s shot blocked from a promising position before a loose ball saw Tomsett just get underneath his next effort too much. Midway through the half Matty Chadwick moved inside onto his left foot before just beating the near post and McDonald then got the better of Chalmers but shot straight at Carnell. Ashton’s keeper was in the action again straight away saving with his feet as Vassallo’s pass put Sanogo clear in the area. The Yellows then produced their best chance of the half as a pass through the middle saw Scott Bakkor round Carnell but unable to keep his shot on target with McDonald then once again firing straight at Carnell.

The second half opened with sub Mason Fawns playing a loose pass across defence to McDonald but he and Bakkor combined to over elaborate the chance before Bakkor’s shot was cleared off the line by Nicky Platt after McDonald had rounded Carnell with the keeper grabbing Sanogo’s follow up header. Carnell again rescued Ashton after McDonald had been put clear by Jennings but then a mistake by the opposing keeper McMillan put Gumbs under pressure from his clearance from where he was robbed by Ashton’s talisman Chadwick who curled the ball home.
Just three minutes later the home side were level as Vassallo’s corner was helped home by the giant Sanogo and sub Gray then brought a tumbling save out of Carnell. The Ashton custodian then excelled himself even more with a world class save from Sanogo’s header following Williams’ free kick and the final action saw Chadwick hit the side netting after being released by Fawns’ pass.

Team: Carnell, Smalley, Beesley, Lees, Chalmers, Platt, Roberts (Fawns 46), Tomsett, Chadwick , Dyche, Evangelinos (Pilkington 66). SNU: Ollerenshaw, Eckersley, Khayne .