ASHTON UNITED 2, LANCASTER CITY 1
A spirited fightback from visitors Lancaster City could not prevent Ashton United from winning their fifth successive home match to move up to joint second place in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier.
The Robins are on the same number of points as second-placed Guiseley but have an inferior goal difference but a game in hand on their Yorkshire rivals.
Ashton fielded an unchanged starting 11 from the defeat at Worksop and 12 minutes into the action former Robin Marcus Cusani collected a pass from a quick break before firing over.
One minute later, Harrison Beeden cleared Louis White’s cross for a corner which reached White at the back post who shot straight at keeper Aidan Dowling.
Nathan Caine then sliced Lewis Coulton’s return pass well wide of the far post before Josh Doherty advanced and saw White’s left-wing cross evade Dowling to leave Alex Byrne with a tap in.
On the half hour, a throw in was flicked on to Caine who saw his effort pushed away by Ashton keper Jordan Eastham and Charlie Bailey then found Cusani in acres of space on the left-hand side of the area from where he dragged his left foot effort wide.
In added time, a long free kick from halfway by Luke Burke saw Sam Baird head home at the far post to give the scoreline a rather flattering look at the interval.
The Dolly Blues made a impressive start to the second half and pressure saw Jason Gilchrist just nick the ball off Brayden Shaw’s foot as he was about to shoot.
And on the hour, James Hardy missed a great chance for a third as his shot hit the prone Dylan Thompson with the goal gaping.
Five minutes later, Coulton hammered home from 22 yards with the aid of a possible deflection after Sam Bailey’s cross had won a corner and Cusani’s shot on the turn was held following another cross from Bailey.
Cusani then sent a glancing header across the goa from another Sam Bailey cross and the teams exchanged bookings with Callum Rowe and Lewis Coulton the guilty men.
With four minutes left, Ashton substitute Donald Chimalilo won a corner which was touched away by the keeper and the hosts were able to hold on for the four added minutes which became five.
Ashton United: Eastham, Rose (Efunnuga 66), Doherty, Newton, Burke, Baird, Byrne (Chimalilo 76), White, Hardy (Denton 83), Rowe, Gilchrist (Osei 66). Sub (unused): Cowan.
Attendance: 318.
Report: David Robinson.