GATE: Pennington, Hughes, H. Webster, Chambers, Bartram, Westwood (c), M-Abouzaid, Webster, Pett, Cliffe, Boyd
SUBS: Kay, Yelegon, Riley, Gray, Ball

Following Saturday's defeat to Wythenshawe, Gate were back at home last night, hosting winless Ashton Athletic. Manager Luke Evans made two changes, recalling Nathan Cliffe and Saad Mekkaoui-Abouzaid into the starting line-up in place of Dan Gray and Ryan Riley.

Cliffe repaid Evans' faith inside the first minute, firing Gate in front for the perfect start. James Boyd threaded a lovely pass in behind for Cliffe who set himself and fired clinically into the far bottom corner.

It should have been 2-0 just six minutes later, with an excellent passing move from Gate ending with Mekkaoui-Abouzaid placing agonisingly wide from inside the area.

Gate continued to threaten, with a dangerous ball fired across goal by Cliffe going without the vital touch.

Nathan Bartram was needed at the other end to make a vital block after Ashton found space in the Gate area, before a flying stop by in-form goalkeeper Nathan Pennington kept out a well struck effort from the edge of the box.

Half Time: Squires Gate 1-0 Ashton Athletic

Evans' men started the second half strongly, with good work from Harrison Webster down the left forcing a corner that was headed into the goalkeeper's grasp by Gal Pett. A cross-shot from James Hughes from the right then almost dipped in, clipping the top of the crossbar.

Dan Gray and Ryan Riley replaced Chris Webster and Mekkaoui-Abouzaid, before Gate got their deserved second goal on 56 minutes, with Cliffe grabbing his second of the match. Pett showed brilliant quick-thinking to play a quick throw in behind the Ashton defence for Cliffe, who raced onto the ball and finished clinically past the goalkeeper.

It was almost 3-0 just a minute later, with a free kick from Riley headed back across goal by Josh Westwood but Pett couldn't find the target with his header at the back post.

Against the run of play though, the visitors got a goal back on 65 minutes through Sam Houghton. A corner was only half cleared by Gate, with Houghton reacting first to fire a low drive into the bottom corner from outside the area via a deflection.

Prince Yelegon came on for Pett, giving Gate extra pace up top to keep the game in their favour.

Cliffe missed a difficult chance to seal his hat trick, poking wide on the stretch after a defence-splitting pass in behind from Hughes. Harrison Kay replaced Cliffe just moments later as Gate saw the came out comfortably to record three points.

Full Time: Squires Gate 2-1 Ashton Athletic

A good win for Gate who move up to 12th in the NWCFL Premier Division table. Evans' men are on the road at the weekend, making the trip to Northwich Vics on Sunday.