A goal in each half proved enough for Ashton to see off the pre-season favourites and current league leaders at Hurst Cross. Ashton showed several changes from Tuesday’s draw with Nantwich and Danny Wilkins could have taken advantage in the first minute as he beat Dan Crane to a long ball but put his effort wide from a narrow angle after which a long cross reached Simon Maye at the back post but he could get no power behind his volley.
Maye then spun into the area but was denied by Phillips coming quickly off his line and after Joe Connor had conceded a corner Michael McGrath’s header just clipped the top of the crossbar. The Pitmen once again tested the woodwork as a long ball found Cohen Bramall cutting into the area with Connor again giving away a corner which Maye headed against the outside of the post. Just before the quarter hour and somewhat against the run of play Danny Wilkins won the ball for Ashton and Ryan Crowther then set up Tunji Moses who struck a low shot for his first goal for the club.
Ashton then continued to press and Chris Baguley put Crowther’s pull back on to the roof of the net before Lee Gaskell did the same with Adam Mather’s deep cross. Gaskell then placed a free kick won by Moses wide of goal and after Maye had been booked for diving the task got much harder for the visitors as Jamie Matthews was dismissed for apparently throwing something at the linesman.
After the break Wilkins collected a loose ball but shot straight at Crane and Moses then dummied a pass allowing Baguley to see his low effort just pushed away, Wilkins then providing a great turn before being denied at the near post.
The resulting corner saw Richard Smith blaze a glorious chance over the top after Jay Gorton’s shot was blocked and at the other end an inside pass picked out sub Ashley Sammons who saw a low effort gathered by Phillips. With 10 minutes left the hosts made the points safe as a great move saw Mather’s cross set up by Wilkins for Baguley to provide a fine side foot finish. George Carline was then put clear down the right only to blaze over and Gurjit Singh then made space for himself in the area but just missed the far post for the Pitman and the final effort saw Bramall’s cross cleared for a corner by Gorton amidst claims for a penalty.
Ashton United: Phillips, Mason, Mather, Gorton, Connor, Moses (Gee), Baguley, Smith (Lees), Wilkins Gaskell (Banim), Crowther. SNU: Frost, Dorney.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
9. | Matlock Town | 46 | 75 |
10. | Warrington Town | 46 | 74 |
11. | Ashton United | 46 | 68 |
12. | Rushall Olympic | 46 | 64 |
13. | Stafford Rangers | 46 | 63 |
14. | Barwell | 46 | 62 |
15. | Hednesford Town | 46 | 61 |