Robins Ride The Breeze

Ashton blow away visitors at windy Hurst Cross. Report by David Robinson

Ashton continued their recent good form with a comfortable win in their first ever encounter with their visitors from the Midlands. With Dale Johnson back up front it was he created the first chance as his flick on sent Martin Pilkington running into the area before he took the ball too close to James Wren. Kettle then put a free header over the top for Sutton Coldfield from Edmunds corner before a long cross into the area saw Jay Gorton’s attempted clearance give Ramone Stephens a chance which he volleyed well over.

It wasn’t long before Pilkington opened the scoring on 9 minutes as Jeff King spread the ball wide and he feinted inside before moving outside James Beresford before firing home a low effort. Wren was back in the action in the visitors’ goal as he got a foot in to deny Pilkington and then blocked Gary Gee’s follow up before Jay Gorton fired too high.

With the hosts playing against the wind following the resumption Pilkington won a corner which eventually saw Adam Morning’s cross see Johnson’s header bringing the best out of Wren at close range before Morning squeezed past 2 defenders and brought another decent stop out of the custodian.

15 minutes into the second period Ashton made a double substitution to immediate effect as Joel Melia moved the ball on for Matty Chadwick to fire home a left foot effort with his first touch. The Royals could have hit back as Lyseden Christie set up Ramone Stephens needing Phillips to be quickly off his line and Aaron Ford then set up Christie who took too long and saw his second effort blocked by a sharp save and in the same attack Lycett’s header from Ford’s cross was cleared off the line by Chadwick.

Melia cut back on to his left foot but fired well over and Chadwick could have extended the Robins’ lead following a great run into the area but was halted by Wren and Mark Lees’ effort then brought a fine stop out of the keeper but Pilkington was to have the final word picking up a short back pass and easily converting Ashton’s third goal.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Mason, Gorton, Connor, Lees, King (Melia), Gee, Pilkington, Johnson (Chadwick), Morning (Haining). SNU: Baguley, Banim