10 Man Robins Battle To Welcome Three Points

Report by David Robinson

Ashton ultimately ground out the victory against league newcomers Stamford at Hurst Cross after making the worst possible start as debutant Cavell Coo was sent off after 20 minutes for an apparent 2 footed challenge, with the home side already trailing as Chris Lynch’s short backpass allowed Robbins to round Phillips for the opening goal.
A long cross then fell to Coppin who pulled his effort wide of the near post before Carlos Logan’s deep cross was headed just wide by Ashley Young, as Ashton struggled to find their normal passing fluency. Poor passing in the home penalty area then set up Robbins who screwed his left foot effort wide as the interval approached and Robbins then made a great run to the byline and saw his cross reach Wesley whose effort was blocked.

It took 10 minutes of the second period for the Robins to draw level as another long cross by Logan saw Chris Denham’s (pictured) lay off hit home from 20 yards by Young, before which Lee Rick made a good turn in the area, before seeing his shot blocked. A quick break by the visitors saw Richards turn past Rick before being denied by Phillips.

Ashton had now upped the tempo and Denham set Martin Pilkington running into the area and his pullback found Lee Rick firing too high, but what turned out to be the winner arrived in bizarre circumstances on 65 minutes as Pilkington harried defender Jarvis into slicing an attempted clearance into his own net. Rick rolled a cross right across the area for stand-in full back Coppin to strike too high and at the other end Robbins went past Lynch all too easily and was stopped by Gorton with penalty appeals waved away.

As tempers flared Richardson saw red for retaliation against Denham to level the sides up to 10 men each but Ashton were able to comfortably hold on to their advantage despite Robinson’s effort on the turn which was just over the top.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Pearson, Gorton, Lynch (c), Young, Denham, Rick, Coppin, Pilkington (O’Neill), Logan (Halford). SNU: Burke, Freakes, Abadaki
David Robinson