Wonder Strike wins points for Quakers

Report by David Robinson. Pictures Jez Sayle

Ashton were beaten by a wonder strike with 7 minutes remaining in County Durham having given a good account of themselves. Fielding an unchanged team at Blackwell Meadows the Robins were forced into an early change after just 14 minutes as Aaron Chalmers had to be replaced by Liam Martin with Liam Goulding switching to right back.
Beforehand Saunders had escaped from Josh Askew with James Jones to the rescue at the cost of a corner which Hughes headed past the far post. A loose ball was then fired over by Tom Elliott from the edge of the area and Nelson’s deflected cross was just cleared away for a corner. Matt Regan was then just unable to reach Anghel’s header from Scott Kay’s return ball following a corner and Goulding reached the by line and Chadwick’s right foot effort was blocked as Ashton started to get the upper hand.
All their good work was then undone as Kay failed to control Sam Sheridan’s square ball allowing Nelson to nip in and chip his effort over Pilling.

On the restart Palmer found himself in space and advanced to bring a low save out of Pilling and at the other end Liam Tomsett sent a header drifting wide from Chadwick’s ball into the box. Jones then volleyed Tomsett’s corner beyond the far post whilst off balance and an Ashton corner then led to a quick break which saw Palmer put Saunders away to beat Pilling but also the far post.
Immediately the hosts did extend their advantage as Nelson picked up a pass and strode forward before firing home emphatically from 25 yards out. Sub Thompson then turned and fired over from the edge of the area but with 3 minutes left Askew’s deflected return ball into the area found Tomsett heading home to bring the Robins back into the contest.
With the majority of the 1407 crowd now anxiously awaiting the final whistle Jones placed an effort just wide from the edge of the area and Henshall ran the length of the pitch for the Quakers before dragging his shot wide.

Team: Pilling, Chalmers (Martin 14), Askew, Jones, Regan, Kay, Tomsett, Goulding, Chadwick, Sheridan (Ennis 67), Anghel (Hill 53). SNU: Roberts, Crowther.