A dramatic turnaround saw the visitors take all 3 points and put a spanner in the works of Ashton’s play-off hopes. With Celtic having played less than 24 hours previously Ashton were without the injured Josh Granite but brought Jack Dyche back to lead the line.
Liam Tomsett picked up a loose ball for Ashton with just 4 minutes gone but fired over and Nicky Platt’s pass just failed to squeeze through to Nic Evangelinos and Tomsett and Evangelinos then took it in turn to fire straight at Sykes-Kenworthy in the visiting goal.
Midway through the half the opening goal arrived as Tomsett’s deep corner was met at the far post by the head of Lewis Baines and Dyche then picked up Sam Sheridan’s pass before finding the outside of the post from a tight angle. A great move by the Robins then saw Evangelinos’s cross pass just too far ahead of Daniel Mooney, and Evangelinos side footed wide at the second attempt after collecting Sheridans’ long free kick.

At the start of the second period Sheridan’s return ball into the area was helped home by Aaron Chalmers with the offside flag raised and Tomsett slid an effort wide before his flick through to Mooney saw him well stopped by Sykes-Kenworthy. At the other end Hughes cut inside and brought a tumbling save out of Carnell and Tomsett’s cross brought a decent catch out of the keeper as the game opened up.
Carnell then played a loose ball out of defence and after the visitors picked up possession Pouamoun’s cross was headed home by Ashton’s nemesis from the return fixture Matty Wolfenden. Tomsett then just failed to turn on to Baines’ ball into the area and Dom Smalley forced a tip over at the near post. Hughes’ cross was then just too far ahead of Pouamoun but immediately Charles collected a through pass, beating the offside trap and after seeing Carnell block his first effort, fired home despite Dom Smalley’s best efforts on the goal line.
To add injury to insult, Carnell had to be replaced in goal by Aaron Chalmers and Hughes then got a clear run on goal with Olapede needing to block. The hosts could have still rescued a draw but Platt guided Evangelinos’ pull back over the bar and a loose ball broke to Dyche who was denied by a point blank save from the impressive Sykes-Kenworthy.

Team: Carnell (Olapede 86). Dom Smalley, Baines, Woodford, Chalmers, Sheridan, Platt, Tomsett, Dyche Evangelinos, Mooney (Deane Smalley 70). SNU: Banim, Roberts, Makhosini.