ASHTON UNITED 5, LANCASTER CITY 0
Ashton United registered their first win in Northern Premier League, premier since the end of January with a comprehensive home victory against Lancaster City.
It was a lift for the Robins who moved back into the top 10 and within seven points of the play-off spots.
Captain Nathan Lowe was serving the last match of his suspension and, with Mitchell Rose injured, Brad Abbott started in midfield with Sam Baird drafted back into the defence.
Five minutes in a great cross-field pass put winger Alex Byrne clear from where his shot was kicked away by goalkeeper Tom Stewart with Abbott firing the rebound narrowly wide.
Stewart then needed to make another block shortly afterwards as James Hardy’s pass sent Jason Gilchrist into the area and Byrne beat his defender but also the far post with his latest cross.
The Dolly Blues were well in the game at this point as Dom Lawson’s instant shot was saved at the foot of the post and Nic Evangelinos helped Sam Bailey’s near post cross over the top.
Byrne’s clever overhead needed to be tipped over after a break between Warren Clarke and Gilchrist.
On the half hour, the breakthrough arrived as Keilen Adams fired home a rebound after Byrne’s shot had initially been blocked from Luke Burke’s lay off.
Two minutes into the second period a great combination down the right wing saw Gilchrist’s cross turned against the post by Hardy.
Ten minutes later Hardy slid home the second converting Byrne’s through ball. With the Robins rampant at this point Adams burst into the area and saw his shot kicked away with the rebound again converted by Hardy.
Just past the midway point of the half, Gilchrist saw his effort blocked close in from Byrne’s delivery but immediately the same duo combined as Gilchrist converted Ashton’s fourth.
Hardy then cut inside in search of his hat trick before overrunning the ball and Byrne’s snapshot from the edge of the area hit the post.
Two substitutes then combined for the final strike as a break from midfield saw James Caton set up Benny Couto who fired inside the far post.
Ashton United: Cooper, Cowan, Newton, Abbott, Burke, Baird, Byrne, Hardy, Gilchrist (Charles 73), Adams (Caton 77), Clarke (Couto 69). Subs (unused): Cusani, Simpson.
Attendance: 239.
Report: David Robinson.