Ashton sette for a point

NPL Premier Division: Ashton United 0-0 Bamber Bridge

The conditions were the real winner at Hurst Cross as a heavy surface saw chances at a premium throughout. The visitors had the best of the first period which saw Adam Dawson advance and send a bouncing effort which Greg Hartley needed to push away for a corner.

Dawson then tried an audacious attempt from halfway which was just too high and at the other end Harry Coates’ header was held as he latched onto Harry Spratt’s knock across the area.

Nathan Pond then cut inside John Lufudu and brought a low save out of Hartley and Jordan Simpson put in a great cross which saw Mateusz Hewelt’s palm out only as far as Spratt who fired over from the penalty spot.

Spooner then deflected Jack Redshaw’s cross into Hewelt’s arms before Michael Brewster steadied but fired Lufudu’s delivery over the bar.

Just past the half hour Thomson’s run into the area saw his lay off steered just over by Fin Sinclair Smith and Simpson put in a vital tackle as Sinclair Smith burst into the area minutes later.

Hartley needed to save with his feet from Chris Churchman after the restart and then needed to be out smartly to deny Rhys Turner who had sped past Coates.

Lufudu then had to block out substitute Jake Thompson’s effort and Lufudu’s overlapping cross saw Florian Yonsian’s attempt have insufficient pace to beat Hewelt.

Hartley again needed to be on his game as Thompson was played in on the left with the Ashton custodian deflecting his effort out for a corner.

Bridge could have snatched the spoils in added time as a rebound off Harry Coates rolled just past the left hand post after Jacob Holland Wilkinson had cut inside Spratt on the break.

Pictures by John Porter