ASHTON UNITED 3, MATLOCK TOWN 2
Ashton United moved up to third place in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier after an entertaining encounter against plucky visitors Matlock Town.
The Gladiators, who arrived at Hurst Cross bottom of the table, had recently appointed Ryan Cresswell as new manager after a poor start and were facing an unchanged Robins’ starting line-up from the weekend win at Whitby.
Nine minutes in and Benny Ndlovu won a corner from Sean Newton amidst shouts for handball and, after Sam Baird conceded a second corner, Ndlovu’s effort was deflected narrowly wide. When he delivered the resulting dead ball, Reece Kendall was at hand on the far post to head against the bar.
A throw-in then led to Luke Burke bringing the best out of Rogan Ravenhill as he tipped away a top corner effort and a further throw in then saw a sharp turn by Darius Osei in the box lead to his cross being swept home by James Hardy.
Trevon Bryan’s cross was then blocked with Osei’s follow up delivery from the by-line just evading the run of Burke with the goal gaping.
Four minutes ahead of the break, a long ball saw Connor O’Grady miss-control allowing Hardy to fire a cross for Jason Gilchrist to knock home the second close in.
Within five minutes of the restart, Matlock were back in the game as Kendall’s long ball from the back saw Ndlovu slide his finish home into the far corner as the visitors set out with purpose.
But four minutes past the hour, the Robins restored their two-goal advantage as Hardy retrieved the ball at the right touchline and saw his deep cross met perfectly by the head of Osei to send the ball back into the opposite corner of the net.
Five minutes on, the Gladiators cut the advantage again as a ball into the area by Keenan Ferguson saw Remaye Campbell’s lay off hammered home by Curtis Durose.
After several substitutions and with five minutes remaining, Bobby Bjork played a one-two with Osei before slicing wide and Matlock’s last chance of a draw saw Joseph West’s cross bring a tumbling save out of Jordan Eastham from Ndlovu’s header.
Ashton United: Eastham, Cowan, McCourt (Denton 73), Newton, Burke, Baird, Couto, Hardy (White 73), Gilchrist (Lowe 73), Osei, Bryan (Bjork 84). Sub (unused): O’Keefe.
Attendance: 258.
Report: David Robinson.