WARRINGTON TOWN 3, ASHTON UNITED 0
Home centre forward Josh Amis was the pivotal figure at Cantilever Park as two first half goals put the play-off chasing Warrington Town in the driving seat as Ashton United’s four match winning run in Northern Premier League, premier ended.
The mid-table Robins were second best to the Wires who extended their unbeaten run to a remarkable 21 matches.
Ashton restored Matty Regan to the captaincy in the absence of Sean Newton and the action got underway on a surface which had clearly been watered but still showed dry patches.
In the opening minutes, Matty McDonald’s cross was cleared by Sam Baird before Declan Walker lost his footing attempting a shot and Baird then crowded out Isaac Buckley-Ricketts after George Milner had misjudged goalkeeper Tony Thompson’s long clearance.
The opening goal arrived in the 17th minute as Connor Woods crossed at the second attempt for Amis to convert close in having collected a rebound.
Jack McKay then forced Thompson into a routine save before Andy White picked up a yellow card for stopping the Ashton forward on the break.
With half time approaching, Woods’ run through midfield saw him cut on to his right foot and bring a diving save out of Tom Scott with a bouncing effort but with no indication of how many minutes were being added a right-wing corner was flicked on by Evan Gumbs for Amis to turn it home at the back post to make it 2-0.
Following several substitutions, a long clearance for the Wires saw Amis’ header guided past the near post by Woods from a great position and a loose ball was hit by ex-Robin Bohan Dixon needing a flying save from Scott to concede a corner.
With time running out and the home side well on top, substitute Stefan Mols hammered a cross following a neat turn and a great run into the area saw fellow substitute Luke Duffy steer a left foot effort high past Scott to extend the lead.
Amis then had the chance to complete his hat trick as Duffy was adjudged to have been pushed over by Baillie with Scott dropping to his left to make the save and Stefan Mols blazing the rebound over as Warrington extended their unbeaten run to 21 matches in front of a crowd of 912.
Ashton United: Scott, Milner (Baillie 38), Regan, Lonsdale, Baird, Porter, McKay, Whitham, Gilchrist (Hobson 63), Lowe, Thompson (Adams 63). Subs (unused): Jenkins, Bunn.
Report: David Robinson.