Canaries Knocked Off Their Perch

Match report by David Robinson

Ashton got their promotion push firmly back on track and in doing so denied the visitors their 13th consecutive victory in all competitions. With Martin Pilkington dropping to the bench Ashton gave a start to Ben Wharton and it was he who was picked out by Gary Gee’s ball over the top after 6 minutes, the forward firing over from a narrow angle. The Canaries then threatened at the other end as Nisevic progressed down the left and saw his cross pick out Brady Hickey whose side footed effort clipped the outside of the post.

Gee then blocked an attempted clearance, the ball falling to Adam Morning whose low effort was disappointingly weak and Wharton then moved down the right wing and saw his cross reach Paul Marshall who sliced his shot wide as Ashton got closer to the target. Gee again picked out Wharton who was surprisingly given onside and took the ball past Castle before running it out of play, and the centre forward then outwitted Castle again but saw his shot blocked after exchanging passes with Morning. On the stroke of half time a corner reached Marshall whose central shot found Castle saving right on the goal line.

Wharton was back in the action following the break as approaching the hour mark he returned a long ball to Craig Lindfield who squeezed his shot past Castle at the near post for his second goal in as many games. Hickey then won a free kick for a block by Jay Gorton 22 yards out but fired it comfortably over the top, and Ashton’s own free kick on the corner of the area was sent skimming over the bar by Morning with Castle a spectator.

With 18 minutes left substitute Martin Pilkington showed his quality as he ran across the area, exchanged passes with Lindfield before picking his spot with his right foot. As the visitors tried to strike back a long ball dropped to Hickey on the edge of the area and his half volley went straight into Phillips’ arms and the final chance on 90 minutes saw Hickey’s knockdown helped wide by Owen Story from the 6 yard line.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Mason, Gorton, Connor, Lees, Lindfield (Haining), Gee, Wharton (Pilkington), Morning (Baguley), Marshall. SNU: Melia, Halford.