ASHTON UNITED 0, MORPETH TOWN 1
A goal with almost the last kick of the game from Morpeth Town’s Jack Foalle saw Ashton United’s unbeaten start to their Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier campaign go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after the Robins hit the post in each half.
The hosts, who have slipped to fourth after their first loss after seven league games, were showing several changes from their FA Cup exit at Guiseley and gave a debut in goal to on Blackburn Rovers loan keeper Jordan Eastham with Jason Gilchrist fit again to lead the line.
In the opening exchanges, Rhys Evans was fortunate to get away with a sliced clearance of Darius Osei’s cross which needed Dan Langley to claw the ball away from the goalline.
Nic Bollado then cut inside for Morpeth but saw his near post effort saved. Midway through the half James Hardy brought a tumbling save out of Langley from Dan Cowan’s cross following a one-two with Nathan Lowe and another first-time attempt by Bollado was comfortably held by Eastham.
Two minutes before the half hour, Hardy picked up a loose ball and set Osei free into the area from where his shot rolled against the left-hand post in a carbon copy of an earlier match against Bamber Bridge.
Luke James was then fouled by Sean Newton 30 yards out with Bollado’s skimming effort touched behind.
Hardy then helped a rebound wide after Lowe’s shot had only been palmed out and at the other end Bollado forced Eastham to fist away his free kick with Foalle hitting the outside of the post from the rebound.
Three minutes into the second half, great interplay between Lowe and Osei gave Hardy the chance to fire against the inside of the post – the fourth time this season the home side have hit the woodwork at Hurst Cross.
On the hour, Benny Couto’s cross saw Osei squeeze the ball along the goalline only for Gilchrist to help it over the top and Luke James’s layback from a corner was guided wide by Will Dowling.
Foalle then saw his near-post flick from a corner well saved by Eastham and Lowe comfortably cleared the bar with a 25-yard free kick after Ryan Wombwell had fouled Osei.
The five additional minutes soon became six as Luke Burke went down with an injury allowing just enough time for Foalle’s late winner.
Ashton United: Eastham, Cowan, Doherty, Newton, Burke (Massey 90+2), Baird (Bjork 58), Lowe, Hardy, Gilchrist (Denton 69), Osei, Couto (Bryan 75). Sub (unused): O’Keefe
Attendance: 263.
Report: David Robinson.