By Dave Robinson

Ashton's first drawn game of the new season was ultimately a fair reflection of the entertainment on show in West Yorkshire with both sides possibly feeling that they could have taken all three points.

Over 20 years separated their last meeting and with Callum Spooner suspended Nathan Okome replaced him in the Robins' midfield on a bright sunny day with the first real chance arriving after ten minutes as a quickly taken free kick by Aaron Haswell gave ex- Guiseley Striker Gabby Johnson a clear sight of goal from where he missed the far post.

Joe Stacey's dangerous left wing cross was then cleared by the covering Reece Kendall and miscontrol by Hayden Lindley allowed Kurt Willoughby to pick up the possession before firing wide from the edge of the box.

Johnson threatened again 10 minutes before the break sliding his effort wide having won the ball from Al Byrne and Stacey's cross was then just too high for Johnson having got the better of Lufudu.

Five minutes ahead of the break Ashton almost made the breakthrough as James Hardy's sidestep in the area was only halted by a last ditch tackle from Rinor Ejupi with the rebound reaching Willoughby who looked sure to score before Charlie Barks blocked his effort.

The second period opened with Diego de Girolamo being crowded out on the edge of the area from Johnson's pullback but on the hour mark the game sprung to life as Ejupi's cross reached Haswell whose mis-hit effort came back off the crossbar before a lightning break from the visitors ended with Willoughby turning on to Justin Johnson's pass before providing an unnerring finish.

Within two minutes Gabby Johnson ran beyond Okome on to Farrar's ball into the area before firing straight at Taylor but a throw in soon saw Johnson's layback swept home from the edge of the box by strike partner de Girolamo.

A great run by Gabby Johnson then saw his cross needing to be cleared by Harry Flowers at the expenses of a corner and Barks' diagonal ball forced Darius Osei to concede a corner which ended with Jack Cowgill heading the loose ball narrowly wide. Good work by Mikey O'Neill then won a corner off Cowgill which ended with Dylan Cogill guiding Hardy's delivery past the near post and Hardy himself could have won it at the last as his close in effort was kicked away by the falling figure of Bottomley in the home goal.

Att: 412

Team: Taylor, Lufudu (Knight 65), Kendall (Doro 78), Cogill, Flowers, Turner, Byrne (O'Neill 78), Okome, Willoughby, Johnson (Osei 75), Hardy. SNU: Geddes.