ASHTON UNITED 0, STOCKTON TOWN 1
The battle of the fourth and fifth placed teams in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier saw visitors Stockton Town close the gap on Ashton United to just one point after a narrow victory at Hurst Cross.
Sean Newton, making his 100th appearance for the Robins, cleared Josh Baggs’ early cross before Ashton’s injury crisis worsened within the first six minutes as Dan Cowan pulled his hamstring and had to be replaced by Sam Baird.
Ten minutes in, Callum Rowe’s initial pass led to Darius Osei’s shot being deflected before Rowe’s attempt from the rebound was easily saved by Nathan Harker.
Harker had to fingertip Alex Byrne’s right wing cross away with Josh Doherty firing home the loose ball with the whistle already blown for an infringement.
After 25 minutes, a long return ball into the Ashton area saw Adam Nicholson’s header come back off the right-hand post and shortly afterwards Connor Eastham got lucky as Joshua Scott charged down his clearance with the loose ball being grabbed by keeper Connor Eastham.
Eastham then spilled Baggs’ cross with Byrne helping out to concede a corner and a decent build up then saw Osei’s lay off fired well over by James Hardy.
Into the second period and Hardy’s interception saw his attempted cross cut out for a corner which ended with Baird’s attempt clearing the bar.
Michael Sweet’s cross from the right then saw Scott’s effort deflect wide off Baggs before Darius Osei headed over close in under pressure after Byrne had squeezed his cross over.
With 18 minutes remaining, a left-wing cross from Glen Butterworth was glanced home by Baggs to break the deadlock.
Doherty saw his left foot effort blocked after Donald Chimalilo pulled the ball back. The hosts’ last chance saw Doherty’s floated cross headed wide of the near post by substitute Tom Denton.
Ashton United: C Eastham, Cowan (Baird 6), Doherty (Jeffers 90), Newton, Burke, Effunuga, Byrne (Denton 77), Rowe, Hardy (Gilchrist 60), Osei, Chimalilo (Waters 78).
Attendance: 333.
Report: David Robinson