Late Equaliser Steals The Show

Report Steve Lee

The Robins ended their home campaign with a draw against mid table Whitby Town that guaranteed them a top half of the table finish.
The home side could have taken the lead inside the first minute as Kevin Burgess misjudged the flight of the ball in a blustery wind, presenting Chris Baguley with a chance that was saved by Nick Liversedge.
Tom Moore headed over from the resulting corner by Matty Burke.
Whitby’s first chance was more fruitful on three minutes as Paul Phillips palmed a shot from Nathan Mulligan away, but Shane Henry reacted quickest to tap home.
The Robins deservedly levelled ten minutes later as Moore passed to the supporting Burke, whose effort was deflected past the keeper for his first goal of the season.
Phillips got down brilliantly at his near post to keep out a spectacular effort by Armstrong after a cross from the tricky Henry and then made a more conventional save to keep out Graeme Armstrong.
Baguley had a free kick that the keeper comfortably held as the Robins began to dominate the rest of the half.
Matty Barlow had a shot saved by Liversedge and then Moore headed over from a corner by Burke and he did likewise to head Baguley’s corner over whilst off balance.
Liversedge palmed away a Moore header from a corner early in the second half before Whitby were guilty of a glaring miss as Craig Robinson’s sliced clearance fell to Steven Snaith, who contrived to miss the target from six yards out.
Ben Smith, making a cameo appearance after replacing Barlow had a shot in a goalmouth scramble that was blocked by the keeper.
The move of the match resulted in a second Ashton goal as Matty Kosylo’s incisive run down the right ended with a cross that was struck home by Chris Amadi.
Whitby refused to lie down and Armstrong twice headed over as they started to take control of the game.
Mark Robinson volleyed over from long range and then substitute Nathan Evans tried his luck with a strong breeze at his back, but his effort went over.
The Seasiders pressure finally paid dividends when McTiernan converted a Darren Williams cross with two minutes remaining.
In injury time, the Robins almost fashioned a winner when Liversedge palmed away Baguley’s shot after a pass by Smith and another Smith pass fell to Dennis Sherriff, but he was crowded out.

ASHTON Phillips, Harrop, Lambert, Moore, Robinson, Frost, Kosylo, Burke, Barlow (B Smith 46), Baguley, Amadi (Sherriff 90). subs not used Riley, McCartney, Caldecott