ASHTON UNITED 2, GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 3
Substitute Harry Lewis came off the bench to bag two goals for Gainsborough Trinity who maintained their fine away record in a lively encounter at a chilly Hurst Cross.
The goals helped play-off Trinity, the team with the best record on the road in Northern Premier League, premier, to a ninth victory on their travels.
It was a loss that leaves the Robins 16th and only five points clear of the relegation places as they face a nervous finish to the season.
Ashton moved striker Craig Hobson into centre defence and restored Dale Whitham in midfield and the game started in bizarre fashion as Nathan Lowe, apparently injured in the warm up, had to be replaced by James Baillie as soon as the game kicked off.
Five minutes in and Fraser Preston’s ball was just too far ahead of Curtis Durose after Jack McKay had misplaced a pass.
Matty Regan then appeared to bring down Clayton Donaldson just outside the area with the referee unmoved. After both sides had largely cancelled each other out in the opening salvos, Regan needed to deny Durose as he almost collected Donaldson’s pass in the area.
The breakthrough arrived five minutes before the interval as Cole Lonsdale was fouled on the angle of the area and curled his free kick on to the head of the unmarked Jason Gilchrist to open the scoring.
Trinity emerged a different proposition after a couple of interval substitutions and within five minutes Donaldson won a penalty turning inside Regan which saw him convert confidently.
Four minutes later and Ashton were back in front as Baillie’s long free kick was flicked on by Keilen Adams for Whitham to squeeze home his first goal for the club.
Harry Bunn then hammered an effort over after a right-wing cross had eventually fallen to him and at the other end Lonsdale conceded a corner heading a right wing cross just past his own post, the delivery beating everyone in the area.
Hobson then denied Lewis in the area before quickly picking up a booking for a foul on Donaldson whose curled free kick was just too high.
With 10 minutes remaining, and after a series of corners, Andrew Wright’s latest delivery to the near post was glanced in by Lewis and with three minutes left a pull back from the by-line saw Lewis fire home his second with Andre Mendes possibly at fault.
Ashton United: Mendes, Milner, Hobson, Lonsdale, Regan, Lowe (Baillie 1), Gilchrist, Whitham, Adams, McKay (Guilfoyle 88), Bunn. Subs (not used): Jenkins, Hough.
Report: David Robinson.