Match Report: Ashton United 5-0 Lancaster City

Ashton registered their first win since the end of January with a comprehensive victory over the Dolly Blues.

Captain Nathan Lowe was serving the last match of his suspension and with Mitchell Rose injured, Brad Abbott started in midfield with Sam Baird drafted back into the defence. 5 minutes in a great crossfield pass put winger Alex Byrne clear from where his shot was kicked away by Stewart with Abbott firing the rebound narrowly wide.

Stewart then needed to effect another block shortly afterwards as James Hardy's pass sent Jason Gilchrist into the area and Byrne beat his defender but also the far post with his latest cross. The visitors were well in the game at this point as Lawson's instant shot was saved at the foot of the post and Nic Evangelinos helped Bailey's near post cross over the top. Byrne's clever overhead needed to be tipped over after a break between Warren Clarke and Gilchrist but on the half hour the breakthrough arrived as Keilen Adams fired home a rebound after Byrne's shot had initially been blocked from Luke Burke's lay off.

Just two minutes into the second period a great combination down the right wing saw Gilchrist's cross turned against the post by Hardy but ten minutes later Hardy slid home the second converting Byrne's through ball. With the Robins rampant at this point Adams burst into the area and saw his shot kicked away with the rebound again converted by Hardy.

Just past the midway point of the half Gilchrist saw his effort blocked close in from Byrne's delivery but immediatley the same duo combined to convert Ashton's fourth. Hardy then cut inside in search of his hat trick before overrunning the ball before Byrne's snapshot from the edge of the area hit the post and 2 subs then combined for the final strike as a break from midfield saw James Caton set up Benny Couto who fired inside the far post.