Hard Work Job Done

Ashton toil but prevail in the end. Report by David Robinson

Ashton got the better of the ‘other’ Robins more easily than the final score suggested with only a fine performance by Jamie Hannis in the visitors’ goal preventing something of a landslide. With Gary Gee still absent Cavell Coo was drafted into midfield with Matty Chadwick taking his place on the right wing after Adam Morning pulled up in the warm up, and it was Chadwick who nearly got the Robins off to a flyer as a quick throw in sent him into the area only for Matt Baker to block his effort.

Liam Brownhill’s floated free kick then saw James Dean’s header just saved on the goal line by Hannis but the opening goal arrived on 19 minutes as Matty Chadwick skilfully lobbed home a loose ball after Liam Brownhill’s ball over the top had seen Hannis deny James Dean well from 12 yards out and then block a follow up effort from the same player.

Beforehand Ilkeston could have taken a shock lead as Dexter Atkinson got the better of Brownhill and lobbed his effort past Paul Phillips with Joe Connor needing to get back to clear off the line. A Craig Lindfield pass then put Dean in on goal again requiring another good block from Hannis and Lindfield himself then forced a save from Hannis who also denied Dean but the loose ball fell for Chris Baguley to lash home the second. Baguely then picked out Lindfield’s run into the box superbly with the winger steering his effort just wide before a long ball down the middle split the Ashton defence but found Roy Lee lobbing his effort just wide.

With the weather deteriorating significantly after the break the action failed to match the first half but the Derbyshire side came close to reducing the deficit as Curtis Burrows teed up Lee with Phillips needing to be out quickly to block and Cavell Coo’s misplaced back pass putting Atkinson in but his week effort was cleared away by Lees. The visitors did set up a tense finish with 3 minutes left as a cross field pass picked out Lee who cut inside Stephen Mason and curled home a fine effort. Coo then reached the by line and saw his cross drop onto the top of the bar but the final word fell to Hannis who denied both Martin Pilkington and Lindfield from Reece Gray’s cross.

Team: Phillips, Mason, Brownhill, Gorton, Connor, Lees, Lindfield, Coo, Dean (Pilkington), Baguley (Gray), Chadwick (Morning). SNU: Frost, Halford.