Even Stevens

By Steve Hobson

Cup draw heads to replay on Tuesday. Report by David Robinson.

Honours finished even at Hurst Cross after an entertaining encounter between the Robins and the Ammies. The scoreline was still blank as half time arrived but not through any lack of effort and Ashton went closest when Gary Gee pulled his effort wide after Jack Higgins’ flick had played him through, and midway through the half Moss’s long left wing cross for Salford was pulled back for Webber to chip a delicate effort against the bar.

The Robins had started out in determined fashion again their unbeaten visitors who boasted former players Chris Lynch and Dale Johnson in their line up and it was Kayde Coppin who made first inroads as he beat Edgehill by the touchline and forced keeper Jay Lynch to beat out his cross at the near post. As Salford fought back it was Wiles cross from the right wing which Rother volleyed over the top on the bounce from 6 yards out. Johnson was in the action on the half hour as he played Webber into the area who rounded the advancing Phillips but saw Jay Gorton clear his effort for a corner.

Ashton were back on the attack after the break and Garry Gee spread a fine pass out to Matty Chadwick who cut inside and saw his shot blocked by Jay Lynch – the rebound falling to Martin Pilkington whose goal bound shot hit Moss. The breakthrough arrived on 54 minutes as Brown’s long cross was hooked back from beyond the far post and into the net by Jamie Rother despite Paul Phillips’ best effort in the home goal. Into the last quarter hour and Ashton continued to strive for the equaliser and missed 2 great chances when Kayde Coppin’s cross reached Matty Chadwick at the far post who side footed into the advertising hoardings, and then Coppin saw his cross from Baguley’s pass put over the top from 10 yards out by Jack Higgins.

47 photos

Match photos

Coppin then hit a superb pass to Chadwick who set up substitute Richard Bennett. He should have equalised but allowed Jay Lynch to get enough on the shot to allow Chris Lynch to clear; but with the home fans just about giving up and the game entering injury time Bennett glanced home a header from Chris Baguley’s cross to secure a replay at Moor Lane.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Pearson (Halford), Gorton, Higgins, Young (Bennett), Robinson (Baguley), Gee, Pilkington, Chadwick & Coppin.
SNU: Haslam, O’Keefe & Cook (GK).
Attendance: 234.