ASHTON UNITED 2, WORKINGTON TOWN 2
An injury time header from defender Sean Newton rescued a point for Ashton United after Workington Town had looked set to inflict a league double on the Robins.
Newton headed home Benny Couto’s deep corner at the far post two minutes into added time after the visitors had moved ahead for the second time with 10 minutes left.
It was a point which keeps Ashton third in Northern Premier League, premier as they remain in the play-off places.
Newton could have opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour as he headed another Couto delivery against the post with Jake Charles firing the rebound over the top.
After 25 minutes, Luke Burke strode forward and saw his deflected effort hit the same post before Jason Gilchrist’s header was fisted away by James Atkinson.
But eight minutes before the interval Workington moved ahead as a good move through midfield saw the ball reach Kitt Nelson who stepped inside before sliding home a neat finish.
The hosts were level within two minutes as Luke Burke’s right wing cross found Charles connecting with a right foot volley which saw the ball roll into the bottom corner, the goal being confirmed after the referee had consulted one of his assistants.
Gilchrist then saw a flick header from Nathan Lowe’s cross held and Lowe fired a subsequent effort across the goalmouth before Gilchrist’s touch from James Hardy’s cross brought a fine save from Atkinson.
The second half was a calmer affair with few clear chances until David Symington collected a cross-field pass and stepped outside Mitchell Rose before firing home a left foot effort off the far post.
Entering added time, Charles’ shot deflected narrowly wide of the right hand post and it seemed that Ashton could be heading for their first home defeat since October until they rescued the matter in the closing moments.
Ashton United: Simpson, Baird, Newton, Couto, Burke, Lowe, Hardy, Rose (Caton 90), Gilchrist, Cusani (Dawson 86), Charles. Subs (unused): Milner, Culkin, Abbott.
Attendance: 257.
Report: David Robinson.