One of their best performances of the season saw Ashton record their fifth successive victory over their high flying hosts to move back up to 8th place in the NPL table.

James Hardy was making his first full start of the season for the visitors with Jason Gilchrist back to lead the attack and the Rebels were forced into a late change as ex-Robin Charlie Ennis dropped out of the original 11 with Jordan Buckley stepping off the bench leaving only three subs for the home side.

It was Buckley who almost had the first word as he volleyed Adam le Fondre's pullback from the by line past the near post before a quick break by Le Fondre needed an interception to prevent the ball reaching the unmarked Buckley.

Just past the quarter hour Gilchrist won a free kick which when retrieved by Sean Newton saw Callum Rowe's effort clip the crossbar but seven minutes later a swinging cross from Matty Grivosti saw Buckley fouled by Rowe with a penalty awarded only for Le Fondre to hit his shot straight down the middle from where it rebounded clear off Jordan Eastham.

Two minutes before the half hour Rowe's return ball into the area found Hardy steering a left foot effort narrowly wide but shortly afterwards a long thow in led to Alex Byrne delivery a deep corner which was knocked back for Dylan Cogill to register his first club goal.

Two minutes before the break Charlie Hayes-Green sold Cogill short with Buckley taking too long over the chance allowing Eastham to block.

Ten minutes after the restart Byrne's right wing cross found the prostrate figure of Gilchrist poking his effort past the near post and with Ashton collecting most of the loose balls Byrne's delivery from a free kick glanced off the crossbar from Hayes-Green' header.

With three minutes left a break between Louis White and sub Mikey O'Neill set up Luca Navarro who delayed before Atherton made a good save and the last chance to equalise saw Thomson's right wing cross bring a tipover out of Eastham from Misambo's header.

Att: 2084

Team: Eastham, Burke, Cogill, Newton, White, Hayes-Green, Byrne (Tomlinson 79), Rowe, Gilchrist (Navarro 84), Osei, Hardy (O'Neill 63). SNU: Denton, Doherty.