Robins Stretch their Legs

Pre-season gets under way. Report by David Robinson

Ashton stretched their legs in their latest friendly encounter with a much more familiar line up featuring many of last season’s side. With Joe Connor & club captain Jay Gorton reunited in the centre of defence, Steven Mason returned at right back and Adam Mather made his debut at left back and it was another of the returning players Ryan Crowther whose pass was neatly chipped home by Rhys Nevins with just 3 minutes on the clock.

Shortly afterwards Crowther was involved again as Mason converted his corner and centre forward Sam McMahon then touched Jody Banim’s shot against the post as Ashton dominated the proceedings. Banim himself then hit the woodwork from a tight angle following a corner before Crowther forced the ball home from Nevins’ cross. Banim then provided a neat flick which put McMahon in for an easy finish and Mather then got clean through only to be denied by the Darwen keeper.

The second half saw several changes for the Robins and the closest they came to adding to the score line was when Scott Metcalfe forced a low save out of the home keeper and when Chris Baguley put a free kick over the top.

Team: Shenton, Mason, Mather, Gorton, Connor, Lees, Crowther, Gee, McMahon, Banim, Nevins, Dorney, Brownhill, Smith, Forbes, Moses, Baguley, Metcalfe