By David Robinson

3 goals in the opening twenty minutes saw the hosts victorious in Lewis Hardcastle's first game in charge at their home ground of the Vestacare Stadium despite a late fightback by the visitors. Ashton were without suspended captain Alex Byrne and started Justin Johnson on the left wing but it was the home side straight on to the attack as Tommy Taylor had to concede an early corner from James Simms' effort before James Hardy put a cross too far ahead of Kurt Willoughby.

A great run into the area by Benito Lowe then saw him beat 3 defenders before Taylor pushed his effort away but the opening goal wasn't far away as Harry Salt was fouled 25 yards out and when Taylor was unable to hold on to Lowe's effort, Salt was on hand to tuck the rebound away. On the quarter hour a right wing move saw Holland-Wilkinson's cross reach the unmarked Simms who sidefooted home and still in the first 20 minutes an Ashton corner saw a lightning break end with Ehimamiegho firing home Salt's set up with the Robins' defence reeling.

Just past the half hour Lowe was only denied by the advancing Taylor having collected Harrop's return pass and Taylor needed to make a good low save from Holland-Wilkinson following Ehimamiegho's overlap as the interval arrived.

The Robins made 3 half time changes and ten minutes after the break Spencer Knight's pullback saw James Hardy steer past the far post after which a scramble in the area saw both John Lufudu and Mikey O'Neill denied close in. The hosts however could have moved further ahead as a mistake by Charlie Naylor saw Holland-Wilkinson set up Lowe who was only denied by Taylor's legs and Holland-Wilkinson then sidefooted wide from 6 yards out from Owen's left wing cross.

WIth 15 minutes left Avro's 3 front men combined for Salt's effort to come back off the inside of the post with Thiam sending the next chance wide but 2 minutes later the visitors reduced the deficit as Naylor fired a rebound home after a left wing free kick had been recycled and 2 minutes further on a good move from their own half saw Hardy's turn set up O'Neill for a neat finish. Scott Burgess could have registered an unlikley equaliser with his snapshot bringing a fine save out of Robinson before Hardy could only hit the wall with a free kick after Harrop had fouled him.

Att: 409

Team: Taylor, Knight, Kendall (Nelson 73), Okome, Naylor, Spooner (Lufudu 46), Burgess, Johnson (Scanlon 46), Willoughby (Swales 72), Osei (O'Neill 46), Hardy.