Ashton Make The Short Journey For A Huge Game

Ashton United travel to Buxton this weekend as they aim to kickstart a good run of form and put more distance between themselves and the relegation zone. 

It’s a clash that many would have thought at the start of the season would be between two promotion rivals fighting to finish at the top of the table. Fast forward to November and the two clubs have struggled this season and are both lingering near the relegation zone. Both managers have also been under pressure to perform with the two having big budgets and talented squads meaning this weekend’s game has the potential to be a cracker. 

Ashton have been up and down so far this season and it seems that as they look to have turned a corner they are hit with injuries and produce poor performances. They currently sit in 17th place in the league on 12 points but that already leaves them 19 points away from the playoff places. Their last fixture in the league was a 3-1 win against Gainsborough Trinity but their last competitive fixture was a brilliant 1-0 win away at Warrington Town in the FA Trophy. Two wins in a row to take some good form into this important fixture for Jody Banim’s side. 

It will be a familiar face for Ashton as Buxton’s manager is Paul Phillips who has been the joint manager of Ashton in the past and enjoyed a good stint at Hurst Cross. Current Robins manager Banim was signed to the club as a player by Phillips. Buxton have been poor as well this season as they reached the playoffs last season and they looked to go one better this time around and achieve promotion. But their form has been poor and they have been on the end of some embarrassing losses including a 7-0 loss against     FC United Of Manchester. 

Buxton’s last league fixture was an impressive 2-0 win against Witton Albion and like Ashton, they are through to the next round of the FA Trophy after a 3-2 win at home to Hyde. 

With both teams needing a victory it’s sure to be a hotly contested fixture but who will come out on top?