It was Ashton’s turn to be denied at the last as an injury time penalty saw the Celts salvage a draw having twice recovered a two goal deficit at Throstle Nest. The Robins got off to another swift start as Matty Chadwick (pictured) cut inside on 6 minutes and sent a goal of the season contender whistling into the top corner. 3 minutes later and Chadwick turned provider as his defence splitting pass from halfway found Jack Dyche switching onto his left foot before providing a low finish and the visitors could have been out of sight shortly afterwards as Mark Lees’ measured effort from the edge of the area hit the bar with Chadwick heading the rebound into the side netting.

As the hosts tried to get into the game Carnell needed to tip away a deflected cross from Ryan Watson but after 20 minutes they found a foothold as a square ball saw Ben Atkinson find the top corner from 20 yards. Just before the half hour Liam Tomsett’s corner saw Dyche’s header kicked off the line and at the other end James Walshaw brought a low save out of Carnell after progressing across the area.

Just seven minutes after the restart and Ashton restored their two goal lead as Adam Clayton blocked Tomsett’s run into the area and Chadwick sent McKibbin the wrong way from the spot. Luke Parkin then beat the Robins’ offside trap with a clear run on goal and squared to Walshaw who looked certain to score only for Carnell to recover to make the block and the keeper’s fingertips were then needed to deny Walshaw’s next effort. With just over ten minutes remaining a mistake by Dom Smalley saw Priestley’s low effort saved by Carnell but there was no stopping the sub’s next effort as he fired a corner unerringly back into the opposite top corner.

A neat move down the left wing then saw Nic Evangelinos’ cross touched past the near post by Dyche and Chadwick could have settled matters as he cut past Ellis and saw his effort touched on to the post by McKibbin. There was still time for another twist as a corner saw a penalty awarded for a foul on Walshaw and the league’s leading scorer forced his kick home underneath the frustrated Carnell.

Team: Carnell, Smalley, Beesley, Eckersley, Chalmers, Platt (Roberts 71), Lees, Tomsett, Chadwick, Dyche, Pilkington (Evangelinos 67). SNU: Banim, Woodford.