PRESCOT CABLES 1, ASHTON UNITED 0
Prescot Cables brought Ashton United’s recent run of decent form to an end on Merseyside with a goal in the last five minutes of a disappointing encounter.
It was their first defeat in eight matches in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier, though they remain third in the table.
The hosts are clearly difficult to beat at the Auto Safety Centre Stadium but won for the first time since October in completing a league double over the Robins.
The pitch at Hope Street was heavy and liable to cut up which made flowing football difficult and three minutes in James Foley picked up a loose ball and was only denied by a tackle from Callum Rowe.
Two minutes later a long clearance saw Scott Butler’s clearing header volleyed over first time by Alex Byrne and Foley’s cross was then cut out by Rowe at the expense of a corner.
Approaching the interval, Michael Carberry placed his cross too far ahead of Jack Goodwin after Ben Elliott had held the ball up and Alex McNally’s header from Francis Smith’s free kick was held under the crossbar by keeper Jordan Eastham.
The second half opened with Smith’s free kick winning a corner from Sam Baird which Scott Butler headed over at the back post and Matthew Devine and Carberry then combined for Smith to head home close in, pulled back by an offside in the build-up.
Midway through the half, Louis White glanced Byrne’s free kick wide of the far post before White’s near post cross was juggled out of play by Calvin Hare with the resulting corner headed clear.
With 16 minutes remaining, Carberry’s return ball into the area saw McNally’s header beat the advancing Eastham but also the crossbar with Liam Hollett booked for protesting.
Debutante substitute Donald Chimalilo then won the ball from a throw in and set up Darius Osei for a fierce shot which was palmed away before Chimalilo was booked for diving.
With four minutes remaining, Callum Rowe received what appeared to be a straight red card for a trip in midfield and Smith’s resulting free kick fell for James Foley to burst into the area before firing past Eastham.
With time running out, Jack Goodwin beat the slipping Josh Doherty before being blocked out at the near post and a great turn in the area by Osei saw him shoot straight at Hare.
Ashton United: Eastham, Effunuga (Rose 72), Doherty (Gilchrist 90), Newton, Burke, Baird, Byrne (Chimalilo 72), White, Hardy (Denton 60), Osei, Rowe. Sub (unised): Cowan.
Attendance: 586.
Report: David Robinson.