ASHTON UNITED 1, HYDE UNITED 1
A 99th minute equaliser from substitute Tom Denton rescued a point for Ashton United from a fiercely fought derby at home to Hyde United.
It was a result which sees Ashton slip from second to third in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier by virtue of an inferior goal difference to Worksop Town.
The mid-table visitors were without ex-Robin and captain Jack Redshaw but still made the better start as 10 minutes in Ben Kershaw’s cross saw Bradley Holmes just miss the far post with a left foot effort.
Four minutes later, Frankie Sinfield got the better of Luke Burke who tripped him in the area with centre forward Matthew Fearnley converting the penalty low down.
The dangerous Sinfield, who is on loan from FC Halifax Town, then won a corner from Sean Newton which ended with Harry Ditchfield heading well over.
On the half hour, Darius Osei’s cross saw Will Hall’s skimming header evade two Ashton forwards and Callum Spooner’s run through midfield then saw Ben Kershaw narrowly miss the right hand upright.
Eight minutes before the break, Louis White made space before bringing a fine save out from keeper Callum Hiddleston following a series of corners for the hosts.
On the stroke of half time only a last-ditch tackle from Josh Doherty denied Brad Holmes in the area.
Seven minutes into the second period, Osei’s pass picked out Jason Gilchrist on the edge of the area from where he placed his left foot effort wide.
Holmes’ effort from the edge of the Ashton area then needed keeper Jordan Eastham to tip away for a corner.
On the hour, the Robins were thrown a lifeline as a long clearance saw former Sheffield United stopper Hiddleston fouling Gilchrist in the area. When both players had recovered, the keeper dived to his right to save Gilchrist’s spot kick.
Six minutes were added on which saw Sam Baird’s header out of play from a corner but with time added for more injuries Denton headed Mitchell Rose’s cross wide from a deflection after Newton’s shot was blocked.
And following a scramble from the dead ball delivery, Denton forced the ball home from close range to spark jubilant scenes.
Ashton United: Eastham, Rose, Doherty, Newton, Burke, Baird, Waters (Chimalilo 76), White, Gilchrist (Denton 76), Osei, Hardy (Efunnuga 76). SNU: Cowan.
Attendance: 633.
Report: David Robinson.