GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 0, ASHTON UNITED 1
A single goal in added time at the end of the first period from Darius Osei was enough to see Ashton United home in a somewhat disappointing encounter at Gainsborough Trinity.
It maintains the Robins’ unbeaten start as they are fifth in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier with seven points from a possible nine.
Ashton were without Sam Baird through illness and gave first starts of the season at the Kai Group Stadium to Nathan Lowe and Benny Couto and a first competitive start to Leon Johnson on the right wing.
After a quiet start, Jordan Helluwell poked an effort wide for the home side after Fraser Preston’s initial shot had been headed clear.
In the 20th minute Couto’s throw saw Osei send an effort swinging wide on the turn and three minutes later Johnson gave the ball away allowing Declan Howe to race from his own half only to chip his effort wide as keeper Corey O’Keefe advanced.
With the interval approaching, Couto’s dangerous cross evaded Jason Gilchrist before Johnson’s follow up was deflected out for a corner which saw Lowe’s delivery headed home inside the six-yard area by Osei.
Osei was straight back in the action on the resumption with his inside touch seeing Johnson’s snapshot just clear the bar and a bullet cross by Couto then needed Sisa Tuntulwana to concede the corner from which a return ball needed Dylan Wharton to field Osei’s touch.
Just before the hour, O’Keefe palmed away Lewis Butroid’s header with the offside flag raised and Ashley Jackson’s cross then saw Sean Newton’s loose header led to Fraser Preston being crowded out as the home side showed more purpose.
Three minutes later another cross from Jackson saw Butroid’s swerving shot come back off the far post before being helped out for a corner by O’Keefe while at the other end Lowe burst on to a loose ball and stepped past Jackson before placing his effort wide.
With six minutes left, Couto raced from his own half into the penalty area before overhitting a simple pass to James Hardy and Hardy himself picked up a loose ball in midfield before setting up fellow substitute Jack Massey to steer over the top.
Three minutes into added time Butroid’s free kick saw Jackson’s effort scraped away from near the post and Will Lancaster put a free header over the top as the Robins held on for an important away win.
Ashton United: O’Keefe, Cowan, Doherty, Newton, Burke, Couto (Massey 85), Lowe (Hardy 71), White, Gilchrist (Denton 65), Osei, Johnson (Bjork 64). Sub (unused): Chmiel.
Attendance: 603.
Report: David Robinson.