Ashton suffer defeat at the Giant Axe

BetVictor Premier Division: Lancaster City 3-0 Ashton United

High-flying Lancaster ran out easy winners on Non League Day and moved up to third in the league table.

Just two minutes into the action, Steve Tames’ pass set Liam Tomsett on to a great overlapping run and Casian Anghel's header was just tipped over by Lancaster keeper Sam Ashton.

Aaron Smith’s shot was then blocked with the ball rebounding to Jordan Slew, who was just denied in time with Nicky Clee's subsequent cross headed away under pressure by Mathew Williams.

A long ball then led to the opening goal as Sam Bailey’s cross found David Norris completely unmarked to head the ball home. Paul Dawson then found space outside the box but hammered his shot off target before some good play saw him watch Matthew Blinkhorn fire a low effort wide.

A free-kick was then flicked on to Lewis Fensome, who was denied by Robins keeper Lloyd Allinson coming quickly off his line. Two minutes later and Jonathan Hunt miscontrolled a pass in the area, resulting in him bringing down Charlie Bailey, with Rob Wilson sliding home the spot kick.

Dawson was then flagged onside, which required Allinson to make a point-blank save and tricky winger Bailey drew bookings from both Hunt and John Lufudo as the interval arrived.

Hunt’s header just evaded Tames at the start of the second period and Lufudo’s overlapping run saw Slew and Anghel get in each other’s way. 

Fensome then picked up a yellow card against Tomsett, with Sam Sheridan forcing a good low tip away out of Ashton. Just before the hour mark, the third and final goal arrived as a free-kick saw Blinkhorn’s header neatly converted from a tight angle by Norris.

Blinkhorn then lobbed narrowly wide from Norris’s clever through ball and Bailey controlled a high ball superbly before just missing the far post.

Ashton’s luck was summed up as Clee’s overlapping run saw his cross helped against the post by Josh Wilson, with Tames’ follow up cleared off the line and Wilson forced another good save out of Ashton in injury time.

Ashton United team: Allinson, Lufudo, Clee, Wilson, Hunt, Sheridan, Smith (Rowney 46), Tomsett, Slew (Gonzalez 62), Anghel, Tames. Subs not used: Woodford, Worsnop, Field.

Image by Lancaster City FC