LANCASTER CITY 1, ASHTON UNITED 0
A late goal at the Giant Axe saw Ashton United denied a brave point after their squad was decimated due to illness for the Northern Premier League game against Lancaster City.
Substitute Brad Carroll’s 86th minute goal inflicted a loss which leaves the Robins 12th but still only six points off second spot in the congested premier division.
Callum Jakovlevs was drafted in as stand-in goalkeeper in place of Greg Hartley and left back Tom Warren was shunted over to the opposite wing.
The Robins could have still got off to a flyer as a short back pass from Sam Bailey after six minutes put Jack Kenny in on Burnley loanee goalkeeper Sam Waller who made the block inside the area.
The hosts also had an early chance through ex-Ashton winger Nico Evangelinos who was set up by David Norris with Sam Baird needing to time his last-gasp tackle correctly.
The conditions were playing their part with a strong wind at the Dolly Blues’ back and Kyle Brownhill’s left wing cross held up on the wind before Norris sliced a good chance wide.
Callum Saunders then had a shot on the turn blocked for the Robins before Cole Lonsdale’s swirling cross saw him miss his attempted header.
Dale Whitham’s searching pass then picked out Evangelinos’s run into the area with Baird again to the rescue and a sharp turn by the winger saw him steer a left foot effort over the bar.
Evangelinos then almost turned provider as his cross saw Brownhill fail to get any power behind his header. Evangelinos then won a header leading to Brad Carsley steering his effort just too high. Whitham’s close range effort then appeared to hit Jakovlevs after he had attempted to punch clear as the interval arrived with the scoreline goalless.
Midway through the second period it needed a last-ditch tackle from Lamine Toure to prevent Callum Saunders latching on to George Milner’s clearance and after Bailey had seen a cross headed clear by Milner his next delivery saw substitute Dom Lawson’s volley well tipped over by Jakovlevs.
With the home side still pressing, a loose ball dropped for Norris to hammer it just too high and at the other end Dana Amaral’s cross forced Waller into a desperate tip away.
Just as it appeared the visitors might hold on to a valuable point, a long throw in by Bailey was flicked on for substitute Carroll to force home amid protests about whether the ball had crossed the line.
Ashton United: Jakovlevs, Warren, Lonsdale, Milner (Baillie 85), Regan, Baird, Amaral, Brewster, Saunders (Adams 69), Robbins (Jenkins 70), Kenny.
Report: David Robinson.