Bacon double denies Ashton a point

NPL Premier Division: Mickleover Sports 2-1 Ashton United

A goal in each half was enough to see the hosts to a deserved victory on their new 4G surface at the Don Amott Arena. 

The Robins were without injured skipper Michael Brewster and there were just nine minutes on the clock when a forward pass saw Declan Bacon showing neat control to turn past Stavros Tserpes and slide his finish past the advancing Greg Hartley.

Andy Dales’ pass was then just cut out by Tserpes before it could reach Bacon and the former then found space in midfield but put his left foot effort over the top with the hosts in command. 

Approaching half time the home side could have moved further ahead as Stuart Beavon’s shot hit Harry Coates on the goal line following a scramble and Beavon was then blocked out at the near post from Ben Gowing’s through ball.

Just five minutes into the second half and matters got worse for the Robins as Dales’ left wing cross was knocked into his own net by the retreating Chris Rowney and Theo Hudson then showed some good control for Ashton before being blocked out in the area. 

Full back Bennett then reached the by line but fired his cross straight at Hartley and a good turn by Dales saw him close in on goal requiring a good low save from Hartley. 

Tserpes’ cross then saw Ben Hardcastle react too slowly after a defender had missed it and Bacon fired past the near post after being set up following a good break by sub Dempsey Arnott and Bobby Battison. 

The Robins found a lifeline with 4 minutes left as Liam Tomsett’s effort following a corner was heading wide until turned home close in by Tom Bentham and a long ball then saw Jack Redshaw’s effort deflect on to the underside of the bar as they chased an unlikely equaliser.

Ashton Utd: Hartley, Tserpes, Spratt (Warren 68), Raynes, Coates, Rowney, Hardcastle, Tomsett, Bentham, Redshaw, Hudson (Katsamagkas 77). SNU: Ollerenshaw, Hunt.