Ashton win battle of the Robins

Pre-Season Friendly: Ashton United 4-3 Swindon Town

A highly entertaining encounter at Hurst Cross saw Ashton get the better of last season’s League Two champions. The hosts took only ten minutes to move ahead as flying fullback John Lufudu provided the perfect pullback from the by line for Louis Almond to add a confident low finish. Millenic Alli was then fouled 25 yards out but skied the free kick well over but midway through the half a throw in to the area saw Liam Tomsett fouled with Josh Wilson his usual reliable self from the spot and on the half hour Mathieu Baudry halted Tomsett’s run on the edge of the area with John Pritchard superbly curling home the resulting free kick.

Almond’s flick then saw Tomsett sidestep into the area and provide a low right foot finish but 6 minutes later Matt Smith set up Tyler Smith for an easy conversion after a mix up in the home defence. Immediately Doughty’s cross saw Jack Payne’s stretching header go wide and Tyler Smith converted Jaiyesimi’s pass but was ruled offside before Hunt brought a good save out of Ashton’s keeper from Twine’s pass.

The second half was a quieter affair but just past the hour Hallum Hope neatly headed home Matty Palmer’s right wing cross and Payne squeezed past Brewster at the by line but was blocked out at the near post.

Tyler Smith turned on to a ball into the area but curled his effort well wide of the far post and with a minute left Payne’s free kick picked out Odemayo totally unmarked at the far post from where he scuffed his effort wide. In added time Jack Payne’s fine deep cross was touched home close in by Hope to narrow the final score.

Following the game, manager Michael Clegg spoke to Ashton’s media team and said: ““It felt like a real afternoon, you’ve got people watching and there was a little bit of an atmosphere.

“I was really proud of how as a club we’ve conducted ourselves, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch.

“It has been testing times for everyone, we’re getting new rules through, the subs have to sit in the stand, their subs do, there’s only so many allowed in the changing room.

“I think as a football club we’ve handled this fantastically.”

Clegg’s side return to action next on Tuesday with a short trip to Runcorn Linnets.

Pictures by John Porter