ASHTON UNITED 0, HYDE UNITED 6
Hyde United hit Ashton United for six, a result which cost Robins’ manager Michael Clegg his job.
Clegg, whose side was also heavily beaten at FC United on Boxing Day, resigned after the latest loss.
In a statement, the club said recent results had not been up to the high standard that both Michael and the club would expect, with both parties accepting that the time has now come for a change in direction.
Joint chairmen David Burke and Jonathan Sayer said: “We have the utmost respect for Michael and the work he has put into Ashton United has been immeasurable.
“Sadly, that effort has not brought the successful outcomes on the pitch that we all desire. Everyone at the club wishes Michael, and his management team, well for the future.
“We would in particular like to put our thanks on record for how he helped guide the club through Covid during challenging times and for winning the Frank Hannah Cup last year which is a memory we will long cherish.”
While the Robins are experiencing turbulent times – they are 12th and only seven points shy of the play-off places but only five clear of the relegation spots – Hyde are enjoying a season to remember as this win maintained their hold on second spot.
Who would have believed the Tigers have been struggling to find the net as they put six past the Robins, and it might have been even more but for home goalkeeper Matthew Gould.
Hyde had scored only twice in their previous four league games, an issue which looked like being an Achilles heel in their promotion bid.
But everything clicked into gear as they experience derby joy after losing 1-0 at home to Stalybridge Celtic on Boxing Day.
“The boys were disappointed as that was the first time this season we had let the fans down,” explained manager Nick Spooner.
“I have been saying for weeks, and have been like a broken record, that we need to be more ruthless, something we have only been in this game and against Bamber Bridge (7-0 win).
“Ashton is a tough place to come but we had a game plan, in which we got more players running forward, and it worked well.”
Hyde made a quick breakthrough in the third minute when Tom Pratt looped a header into the top corner from Manasse Manpala’s cross.
Manpala struck the bar before the Tigers doubled their advantage just after the half hour when Liam Tongue robbed George Milner before firing high into the top corner from outside the box.
Hyde added a third shortly before the break when Matt Fearnley slid in at the far post to convert a cross from Pratt.
Pratt provided the assist for Hyde’s fourth immediately after the restart when his low cross was converted at the near post by Manpala.
Five minutes into the half and Clegg made a triple change to try and inject some spark into their lacklustre display.
Hyde made it five mid half when Ashton failed to clear Tongue’s corner and Fearnley fired home.
Ashton, who had made all three changes, had to play the last 23 minutes with 10 men after substitute Dana Amaral, a loanee from Preston North End, limped off.
Pratt scored his second with 11 minutes left when he showed nifty footwork on the edge of the area before finding the net with a terrific shot which went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Hyde would have scored even more but for Gould who in the last quarter of the game pulled off super stops to deny former Ashton player Jack Redshaw, Adam Dawson and Manpala.
- Hyde had increased their striking options by signing Alex Sami from Altrincham. He is a player Spooner and Gavin McCann worked with in the academy at Bolton Wanderers.
Midfielder Luke Daley, who had also been with Spooner and McCann at Bolton, has decided to leave the club.
- Former Oldham Athletic managers Iain Dowie and Frankie Bunn were both at Hurst Cross. Dowie, working for Preston North End, was watching loanee Amaral while Bunn, who is at Wigan Athletic, was seeing how their loan player Ethan Mitchell was doing.