A sterling effort by the ground staff allowed Ashton’s game to go ahead at Hurst Cross when many others were postponed and saw them eventually run out comfortable winners and move up to third place in the league. With Aaron Chalmers injured Lewis Baines moved to centre back with Sam Sheridan restored in midfield and it was his pass which found Matty Chadwick in acres of space after just 3 minutes with the disappointing result being a shot well wide.

Two minutes later and a catastrophic clearance by David Carnell gave ex-league player Lee Hughes a clear opportunity with Carnell eventually making amends and saving with his foot. Josh Granite then saw a fine volley from John Pritchard’s corner tipped over but after 21 minutes Mark Lees’ low effort from the edge of the area was palmed away by Daniel Platt allowing Deane Smalley to convert his first goal for the club. John Pritchard’s flick then put Daniel Mooney into the area from where his shot was deflected narrowly wide and Lees suffered the same fate from the resulting corner. Dom Smalley then progressed into the area and collected Mooney’s pass before steering his effort disappointingly wide.

After the interval Lee Knight just failed to collect Ivor Lawton’s pass for the visitors and then saw appeals for a foul go unanswered as his shot was held by Carnell. Pritchard, having now moved forward on to the left wing, sent in a long range effort which went flying across goal.
With 12 minutes left Daniel Mooney’s pullback saw Dom Smalley’s measured left foot effort just miss the far post but just a minute later Pritchard’s pass picked out Mooney’s run and he guided his shot into the far side of the goal. With time running out Pritchard sent an effort skimming over but then a generous looking penalty was awarded against Kyle Morrison as Pritchard tried to go past him and it was the left back who converted himself with Liam Tomsett then forcing Platt into a low save right at the end.

Team: Carnell, Dom Smalley, Pritchard, Granite, Baines, Sheridan, Lees, Tomsett, Deane Smalley (Makhosini 74), Mooney (Roberts 82), Chadwick (Evangelinos 61). SNU: Ollerenshaw, Platt.