WORKINGTON 5, ASHTON UNITED 0
Ashton United’s new Northern Premier League, premier season got off to an inauspicious start as they were soundly beaten at Borough Park in front of a crowd of 830.
The Robins had no answer to veteran striker Scott Allison who helped himself to four goals and to add to their misery they also had Keilen Adams sent off to round off a day to forget in Cumbria.
The visitors were fielding several new faces, including Luke Burke as captain at right back and recent signing James Caton up front and, playing against a strong breeze, started with a decent run from Marcus Cusani before Cole Lonsdale provided a poor delivery from the resulting free kick.
Allison got off the mark after 12 minutes as winger Conor Tinnion played a return pass before lifting the ball over advancing goalkeeper Luke Simpson for Allison to apply the finishing touch.
Lonsdale then fired well off target on his right foot after persistent work down the right by Alex Byrne but after 17 minutes Greg McGaragher’s right-wing cross reached Allison who had time to steady himself before steering a neat finish inside the right-hand post.
Things went from bad to worse for Ashton six minutes later as a right-wing corner saw Conor Tinnion’s back-post delivery volleyed home by centre back Sam Smith and the influential Tinnion then turned in the area and saw his chip kept out only by a combination of Simpson and the post.
The scoring had still not finished in the first period as McCaragher robbed Chris Dawson and saw his cross converted by Allison to complete his hat trick.
Ashton came out in more determined fashion after the break and immediately a loose ball saw Adams cut on to his left foot only for his low effort to rebound off the inside of the post.
Sean Newton then tested Jim Atkinson in the home goal with a 30-yard free kick and a rebound then gave a clear chance to Byrne whose attempted chip was easily held by the keeper.
Adams was then shown a red card following a clash with home centre back Dan Wordsworth and Simpson then needed to keep out a long-range effort with Allison’s follow up rebounding off the post into the keeper’s arms.
Byrne’s cross then found Cusani steering his header wide from a decent position but confirmation that it wasn’t Ashton’s day arrived with three minutes left as a quick break saw McCaragher spread the play to Allison who curled home his fourth goal.
Ashton United: Simpson, Cowan, Newton, Lonsdale, Burke, Cusani, Byrne, Abbott (Bianga 79), Caton (Potts 64), Adams, Dawson (Milner 46). Subs (not used): Gilchrist, Da Silva.
Report: David Robinson.