STOCKTON TOWN 1, ASHTON UNITED 2
A dramatic second-half turnaround saw Ashton United victorious in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier for the first time since mid-September in the first ever meeting with Stockton Town on the plastic surface in the North East.
Dan Cowan was back in the visitors’ defence and the action got underway on a chilly November day with Kevin Hayes’ cross for the Anchors being well held in front of Stephen Thompson.
Another dangerous cross by Hayes needed Sean Newton to head clear before a rebound from Luke Burke saw Hayes cut inside before winning a corner off Cowan which was headed clear.
The clearest chance of the half saw Cameron Painter’s ball over the top pick out the run of Michael Sweet with Jordan Eastham out smartly to block and the hosts came close again as Scott was eased off the ball by Baird in the area with Hayes then seeing his shot deflect narrowly over the top off Cowan.
Scott then saw his header from a second corner flick away off the top off the bar and the Robins were forced into two changes approaching the break as Jason Gilchrist went down on the edge of the area to be replaced by Benny Couto and Sam Baird had to be helped off for Nathan Lowe.
Two minutes after the restart, the hosts moved ahead as Scott progressed down the right wing and saw his pull back swept home by Glen Butterworth with a low finish and five minutes later Eastham had to be alert again as Hayes set up a clear chance for Michael Sweet with the keeper blocking well.
The Robins then created a great chance of their own as a fine passing movement saw Louis White pick out James Hardy on the right-hand side of the area and he brought a decent tip over from keeper Elliott Stephenson.
With the game now much more open, a quick break saw Sweet pick out Hayes who curled his shot narrowly past the far post.
Lowe then slid a shot wide from Couto’s left wing cross. Two more substitutions followed for the Robins and both players made an impact as firstly Luke Burke’s long free kick was headed down by Tom Denton for Darius Osei to finish close in and two minutes later Trevon Bryan’s cross found Stephenson only able to palm it out to Hardy who nodded Ashton ahead.
With the hosts now somewhat deflated, Denton’s header from Nathan Lowe’s cross was scraped away and Thompson’s pull back from the by-line saw Cameron Painter side foot into Eastham’s arms as the visitors held on to the points.
Ashton United: Eastham, Cowan, McCourt (Denton 71), Newton, Burke, Baird (Lowe 45), Doherty (Bryan 71), White, Gilchrist (Couto 41), Osei, Hardy. Sub (unused): Massey.
Attendance: 781
Report: David Robinson