Ashton do the double over Radcliffe

NPL Premier Division: Radcliffe 0-2 Ashton United

The Robins completed back-to-back wins for the first time since November and a league double over Radcliffe with a comfortable victory at the Neuven Stadium. 

With Jack Redshaw and Ben Hardcastle coming back into the starting line-up from the Avro match, the Robins began playing down the slope in the first half on a breezy day and Florian Yonsian saw his early effort blocked from a promising position following a fine pass from Harry Coates.

Yonsian then failed to direct his header on target from John Lufudu’s cross and at the other end Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro’s pass inside Lufudu saw the full back recover well.

Luca Navarro cut inside Hardcastle and saw his effort comfortably held by Greg Hartley before Redshaw’s cross on the break was cleared at the near post and Lonsdale’s delivery found Sam Sheridan slicing off target.

Matthew Crothers’ cross then saw Bobby Grant get the better of Hartley in the air with Coates needing to be alert to clear off the line spectacularly and shortly afterwards Navarro brought a fingertip save out of Hartley after making space for a shot inside the area.

Six minutes before the break, Hardcastle picked up a loose ball, cut inside and saw his left footed shot deflect home off Olly Thornley and on the stroke of half-time a corner for the home side saw Hartley punch clear, followed up by a Hardcastle pass which sent Yonsian into the area where he cut inside Thornley before firing home the second.

The second period was a quieter affair with the outcome looking like a forgone conclusion and a poor clearance by Cameron Belford allowed Hardcastle to try his luck from halfway which was easily collected, before he made a great run, however, he was eventually crowded out on the edge of the area.

A wild effort on his left foot by Jack Baxter rather summed up the home side’s efforts in the second half and Crothers’ cross saw Hartley at full stretch before Grant’s effort was blocked on the goal line as the Robins saw out the remaining time comfortably.