Two goals early in the second half were enough to see the hosts home and leave their visitors still in the relegation battle despite pulling one back with two minutes left.

Ashton's threadbare side showed an unchanged starting line up but it was the away side who threatened in the first 30 seconds as Daniel Hopper's fine pass spread the play to Josh Galloway who cut inside before firing well off target.

Steady rain then arrived as Galloway progressed into the area only to scuff his shot against the covering Sean Newton and James Hardy progressed through the midfield before teeing up Mikey O'Neill for a low effort which was easily saved - O'Neill having to be subbed shortly afterwards by Jason Gilchrist.

Six minutes before the break a great move sent Bradley Carroll into the area with Josh Doherty across just in time to cover and on half time Gilchrist was just denied by Alexander Mitchell from Alex Byrne's lofted pass.

The elements may well have played a part in the opening goal four minutes into the second period as Darius Osei won a corner which saw Byrne's delivery straight into the far side of the net despite the protests of Mitchell in goal.

Five minutes later Spencer Knight's fine overlapping run saw his cross cleared just in front of goal with the resulting corner seeing Hardy's shot reach Osei who steadied and fired home on his left foot.

With 18 minutes left Doherty's left wing cross saw Gilchrist's header well saved as the rain got torrential and after Hardy was just denied at the near post Tom Stephenson won a corner from Knight which saw Jake Allan's delivery glanced home by the head of veteran striker Matthew Tymon.

Two minutes into the added five saw a throw in lead to a scramble which ended with Jordan Little steering his effort wide.

Att: 272

Team: Eastham, Spooner, Doherty, Newton, Knight, Cogill, Byrne, Rowe (Mampala 71), O'Neill (Gilchrist 31), Osei (Taylor 88), Hardy. SNU: Denton, Jenneh.