Single strike good enough

Fans kept on the edge of their seats though. Report by David Robinson.

A match originally scheduled for October finally went ahead with Ashton recording a vital home win which reversed the score line from the first match. With John Pritchard unavailable Nicky Platt was handed a start in midfield and there was an early scare for the Robins as Tyrell Waite knocked Josh Granite’s back header past David Carnell but ran the ball out of play.
5 minutes later and a superb run across midfield from Daniel Mooney saw him put his cross onto Deane Smalley’s head to open the scoring. Morris then made insufficient contact on Thompson-Brown’s corner with Abadaki driving a loose ball into the side netting. A quick break then saw Waite cut inside Dom Smalley with Carnell needing to save with his right foot and the keeper then cleared Thompson-Brown’s free kick with the assistance of Granite.
Midway through the half Platt picked up a loose ball and hit a rocket against the left hand post with Whitehouse nowhere and Mark Lees’ lofted cross then found Deane Smalley who steadied but was blocked out by the advancing Whitehouse with Lees also being blocked from the subsequent cross. Shortly afterwards Deane Smalley’s ball put Nic Evangelinos clean through but having dummied the keeper he allowed Whitehouse to make the save with his trailing leg.
Waite then saw an effort beaten away by Carnell and Abadaki just failed to connect with Westwood’s return ball into the area.

At the start of the second half Abadaki ran from halfway before blazing wide and at the other end Evangelinos picked up a pass and saw Platt guide his effort wide. Evangelinos then made no contact with Sheridan’s free kick near the penalty spot and a through ball saw sub Tomsett put his attempt straight at Whitehouse.
Tomsett then went even closer as he took down Aaron Chalmers’ sublime pass but placed his effort past the near post with the goal gaping and with 4 minutes remaining Mooney’s cross saw Tomsett hit the crossbar from 2 yards out. The final action saw Mooney work his way along the goal line before slicing well wide.

Team: Carnell, Dom Smalley, Baines, Granite, Chalmers, Sheridan, Lees, Platt (Tomsett 63) , Deane Smalley, Mooney, Evangelinos. SNU: Ollerenshaw, Roberts, Woodford.