ASHTON UNITED 3, ATHERTON COLLIERIES 0
Ashton United secured a huge home win against Atherton Collieries to move six points clear of the relegation places in Northern Premier League, premier.
With teams below them in the table picking up points, it was an important victory as it keeps the Robins in a position of relative safety.
Assistant manager Sean Newton weighed in with his third goal of the season at a muddy Hurst Cross where Ashton avenged their defeat in the reverse fixture.
The defender glanced home a Nathan Lowe free kick just before the midway point of the first period after the visitors had possibly made the better start and almost taken the lead after minutes as Gareth Peet cut inside on to his right foot and saw his effort bounce out off the underside of the bar.
Colls’ Ben Hardcastle, playing against his former club, saw his lobbed pass to Adam Haw just cut out.
Newton’s long pass won a corner for Ashton which saw Harry Bunn’s subsequent shot swing off target.
Debutant Adam Porter, on loan from Salford City, then put a chip to the back post which Jason Gilchrist volleyed right across the face of goal.
Marcus Cusani flicked Haw’s corner past the near post while at the other end visiting keeper Mackenzie Chapman pulled off a great save 10 minutes before the break as he fisted away Lewis Thompson’s volley from another Lowe cross.
Two minutes after the break an early corner for Ashton saw Lowe’s delivery headed home by the stooping figure of Gilchrist.
Substitute Keilen Adams then made a decent run from midfield before putting a wild effort over the bar.
With the rain threatening under dark skies, a long clearance by Cole Lonsdale saw Luca Defreitas-Hansen under hit his headed back pass allowing Adams to capitalise and make the points safe with a third goal.
Colls kept pressing forward and after a long ball reached Adam Rooney he turned in the area and brought a decent save out of Tom Scott before Jay Fitzmartin squeezed along the by-line and saw Scott kick his cross away to safety.
Ashton United: Scott, Milner, Newton, Lonsdale, Baird, Porter, Bunn (Adams 46, McKay 80), Whitham, Gilchrist, Lowe (Regan 77), Thompson. Subs (not used): Baillie, Hobson.
Report: David Robinson.