It is an early return fixture for Ashton United as they travel to Staffordshire to take on Hednesford Town, just under a month after the sides locked horns at Hurst Cross.

The Robins first met Saturday’s hosts in the league on 20 August when Hednesford topped the league with Ashton coming away with a 2-0 win.

A lot has changed in the month that has followed, with Hednesford dropping 4 places and now occupying 5th place in the league table. That is a minor change compared to what has gone on in Tameside as Ashton United travel to Keys Park under new management and undergoing major changes in the playing staff.

Steve Halford and Paul Phillips moved across to Stalybridge Celtic and have since been joined by Gary Gee and Adam Mather, who will pitch up at Bower Fold with fellow former Robins Jay Gorton and Danny Wilkins.

The Robins appointed senior players Will Haining and Jody Banim as caretaker managers and the new era got off to the perfect start, winning 3-1 away at Stafford Rangers.

Ashton United remain unbeaten in the league and will be hoping there is no further disruption to the squad, particularly now it has been agreed no more players will move from Hurst Cross to Stalybridge.

The new era rolls into it’s second week and now we are true to see the mettle Ashton United are made of.