Robins win battle of the Play-Off Contenders

Report by David Robinson. Picture Jeremy Sayle

On the occasion of Ashton’s 140th anniversary the Robins turned in a fitting performance as they came from behind to maintain their push for a play off place beating fellow contenders Witton in the process. Having played less than 48 hours previously the hosts got off to a slow start as James Foley put a free kick into the side netting for Albion and Ashton hit back with Liam Tomsett volleying Sam Sheridan’s free kick wide.

John Pritchard’s cross then just rebounded to safety and he then fired well wide from a decent lay off and Pritchard then blasted over after Dom Smalley’s cross had squeezed through to Liam Tomsett and Mark Lees’ effort had been blocked. Tomsett himself then sent a free kick into the area where Lewis Baines was denied from point blank range by Calvin Hare before Tomsett’s shot was blocked with Daniel Mooney putting the rebound too high.

Tomsett was then penalised for fouling Haywood 25 yards out with the free kick deflecting through to Carnell and just before the hour the keeper had to tip Matty Devine’s near post cross away. 2 minutes later Albion took the lead as Tom Owens’ pullback saw Steven Tames finish at the second attempt driving the ball low to Carnell’s left.
The hosts were now up against it but hit back as 8 minutes later Mark Lees’ well controlled left foot volley hit the crossbar with Deane Smalley doing similarly from the rebound before Smalley steered the second rebound into the corner of the goal. Ashton then worked the ball across the area to Pritchard who sliced well wide and Baines robbed Owens in the nick of time from Tames’ pass.
With 7 minutes left on the clock Sheridan’s pass picked out the run of substitute Jack Dyche and he squeezed his effort in at the near post past Hare who may have felt he should have done better. Right on time Devine’s cross into the area deflected through to Carnell off Baines as the home team ran the clock down to hold on to the points.

Team: Carnell, Dom Smalley, Pritchard, Granite, Baines, Sheridan, Lees, Tomsett (Chalmers 86), Deane Smalley (Johnson 90), Mooney (Dyche 79), Evangelinos. SNU: Platt, Basso