BAMBER BRIDGE 1, ASHTON UNITED 2
Ashton United finished their Northern Premier League, premier campaign on a positive note as they inflicted only a second home defeat of the season on Bamber Bridge at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.
The Robins, who had at one stage slipped to the edge of the relegation places, eventually finished 14th and seven points clear of the drop zone under new manager Steve Cunningham.
And the win at Bridge ended a run of four straight defeats as the season looked set to fizzle out in a damp squib.
George Milner was restored at right back and the action opened with a long ball over Sam Baird which required keeper Tom Scott to come off his line to deny Fin Sinclair-Smith on the edge of the area.
Still in the opening minutes, and Bridge could have moved ahead as Rowan Roache miskicked Connor Stanley’s pull back before Isaac Sinclair side footed the loose ball wide.
Cole Lonsdale then won the ball in midfield and released Keilen Adams to win a corner which saw Dale Whitham’s header eventually held by Preston North End loanee James Pradic in the home goal.
Just past the half hour a quick break saw Adams’ shot deflect for a corner off Sinclair which saw Baird’s header cleared in front of the goal line.
With Ashton well in the game Adams was denied close in from Nathan Lowe’s cross and after Sinclair’s ball had given Sinclair-Smith a sight of goal the visitors took the lead with Dale Whitham sliding home Jason Gilchrist’s neat ball into the area.
Within a minute of the restart the visitors doubled their advantage as a great interchange between Milner and Harry Bunn set up Adams who switched on to his left foot and curled a shot beyond Pradic.
Sinclair’s cross was then headed out for a corner by Baird with his subsequent shot blocked by Adams and Whitham rescued Scott from the next delivery with another corner missing everyone in the six-yard box.
The hosts made a substitution on the hour and Rhys Turner almost made an instant impact just unable to keep his header down from Roache’s terrific cross.
Bunn then hit the side netting after Adams had just failed to connect with Gilchrist’s header. Baird then felled Roache with a wild miskick just outside the area and Stanley’s free kick deflected just over with Sky Sinclair’s header missing the far post from Roache’s corner.
Twelve minutes from time, Turner’s flick header from Skinner’s cross glanced off the crossbar and after Turner had been fouled by Milner 20 yards out, Roache’s free kick was pushed out by Scott for Turner to turn the rebound home.
Ashton United: Scott, Milner, Thompson, Lonsdale (Regan 71), Baird, Porter, Gilchrist, Whitham, Adams (Hobson 71), Lowe (Jenkins 67), Bunn. Subs (unised): Baillie, McKay.
Report: David Robinson.