ASHTON UNITED 2, WARRINGTON TOWN 1
Veteran Sam Sheridan rolled back the years for Ashton United at Hurst Cross with an assist and a goal proving decisive as the Robins triumphed against the same town for the second successive Saturday having previously beaten Rylands.
Sheridan was making his second start of the season with James Baillie injured and Max Harrop was back on the bench having taken a knock last Saturday.
The visitors were first to threaten as Sean Williams’ incisive pass put Isaac Buckley-Ricketts in the clear, but a slight hesitation allowed Greg Hartley to block.
The Wire came close again as Andrew White’s effort was blocked by Michael Brewster after Joshua Seary’s return ball had seen Hartley’s punch come back off Buckley-Ricketts.
After 30 minutes, the Robins moved ahead somewhat against the run of play as Sheridan picked out Callum Saunders at the far post and he emphatically fired home his fourth goal of the season.
On the stroke of half time, the home goal survived again as Josh Seary’s cross was cleared in front of Hartley which led to a quickly taken corner seeing Buckley-Ricketts’ header bounce down off the crossbar only for Evan Gumbs to head the rebound over the top.
Eight minutes into the half a scramble led to the unlikely figure of Sheridan striding through from midfield before rolling home a calm finish on his left foot to make it 2-0 to the Robins.
Just past the hour, the Wire could have been back in it as substitute Jordan Buckley outpaced Harry Coates at the by line and saw his effort clip the left-hand post, but they reduced the deficit with three minutes left as another substitute Luke Duffy squeezed home his effort from a narrow angle despite the best efforts of Matty Regan on the goal line.
In added time, Ben Hardcastle could have made the points safe from Harrop’s pass but his shot hit goalkeeper Tony Thompson before going out for a corner.
Ashton United: Hartley, Battersby, Warren, Sheridan (Harrop 70), Regan, Coates (Baird 73), Brewster, Hough, Saunders (Kenny 70), Hardcastle, Lonsdale. Subs (not used): Spinelli, Simpson.
Report: David Robinson