REDDITCH UNITED 3, ASHTON UNITED 0
Ashton United’s FA Trophy campaign came to an abrupt end as they were soundly beaten on the plastic surface at Redditch United’s Valley Stadium.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges but once the home side found the net just before the 20-minute mark they never looked likely to be troubled.
Alex Byrne’s early corner for the Robins found Sean Newton half volleying over in the penalty area and Cole Lonsdale’s overlapping run saw his cross cleared before another dangerous Byrne delivery by-passed Jason Gilchrist and found Marcus Cusani failing to get any meaningful contact at the far post.
Redditch moved ahead with a neat move through midfield which saw Jaiden White’s pass pick out Danny King in the area and he provided a confident left-foot finish into the corner.
Chris Dawson was then robbed on the edge of the area with Prince Henry’s shot only blocked by the intervention of Dan Cowan and in added time King turned on to a right wing cross and fired narrowly wide.
On the restart substitute Luke Burke made a vital tackle in the area to deny White and after Byrne had forced another corner Mitchell Rose eventually fired past the far post.
Midway through the half, George Milner was dispossessed leaving White’s low effort to be touched against the post by Luke Simpson but a minute later captain Reece Flanagan strode into the area and made space before firing home the second.
Inside the final 10 minutes, Byrne’s pass saw Gilchrist crowded out at the near post before Byrne himself shot over.
A a mix up at the back involving Newton then provided Henry with sufficient time to fire the third in off the post. Henry’s intended cross then clipped the top of the crossbar.
Ashton had the last word when Benny Couto’s shot was palmed away, and Burke was also denied in added time.
Ashton United: Simpson, Cowan, Newton, Lonsdale, Milner, Cusani (Caton 60), Dawson (Couto 46), Rose, Gilchrist, Adams (Burke 46), Byrne. Subs (unused): Baird, Culkin, Bianga, Robbins.
Report: David Robinson.