HYDE UNITED 2, ASHTON UNITED 2
Scarborough loanee Jake Charles rescued a point for Ashton United with an injury-time goal at the Project Solar Stadium after Hyde United had largely dominated the second period.
Charles, the grandson of Welsh legend John, fired home the equaliser with a neat finish on the turn after Nathan Lowe’s blocked shot had dropped to him.
The draw leaves the Tigers seventh and the Robins ninth with both two points adrift of the play-off places in Northern Premier League, premier.
The action opened with right winger Alex Byrne, restored for Ashton following injury, who overhit a pass out to the opposite wing intended for James Simms.
Twelve minutes into the action, and a long clearance by Sam Waller saw ex-Robin Jack Redshaw put a snapshot against the post with keeper Luke Simpson beaten but midway through the half James Hardy exchanged passes with Charles and slid home the opening goal.
Two minutes later, Harry Bunn fired a fine cross-field pass which picked out the run of Harry Ditchfield and he fired home the equaliser.
Six minutes before the break, a poor square ball from Mitchell Rose played Sean Newton into trouble as he picked up a yellow card for downing Bunn.
An inside pass saw Jason Gilchrist bring a save out of Sam Waller, Ashton’s first effort for some time.
Charles started the second half by putting an overhead kick straight at the keeper and Bunn’s driven pass into the area then picked out the run of Will Russ who was denied by a brave save from Simpson who took a knock in the process.
Redshaw was becoming more influential and fired a free kick straight at Simpson after Makoli had been fouled and then fired a pass comfortably past the near post.
With 25 minutes left, Alessandra’s lay off was fired home first time from the edge of the area by Bunn and two minutes later Bunn’s lay-off was struck goalwards by Redshaw with Simpson needing to touch the ball on to the post.
Substitute Marcus Cusani then won a free kick which Lowe sent right across the area and after Alessandra had scrambled past Sam Baird, Redshaw could have settled the matter but held his head after placing well wide from 12 yards out.
Redshaw still had time to fire straight at Simpson before Charles’s intervention prevented Ashton from suffering three consecutive defeats.
Ashton United: Simpson, Cowan, Newton, Couto, Baird, Rose, Byrne (Cusani 68), Hardy, Gilchrist (Caton 72), Charles, Simms (Lowe 46). Subs (unused): Abbott, Dawson.
Attendance: 986.
Report: David Robinson.