Match Report: Leek Town 3-1 Ashton United

A hat trick from home winger Alex Hurst saw the hosts home after Ashton had looked comfortable for most of the first half at the F.Ball Community Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors started up front with Southport loanee Marcus Carver and restored Mitch Rose and Louis White to their midfield and after Hurst had overhit a left wing cross Sam Baird's back post header was held from a corner conceded by Ollie Shenton.

Ten minutes in and Luke Burke progressed through midfield before spreading the play to Alex Byrne whose cross was heading in at the far post by the stretching figure of Darius Osei to give the Robins the advantage. Midway through the half Burke fired a loose ball straight at Visser and James Hardy's pass then saw Carver surprisingly flagged offside as he was tackled by the last man Visser.

Ten minutes ahead of the break Billy Reeves' ball into the area saw Shenton needlessly bundled over by Sean Newton with Hurst sending Eastham the wrong way from the spot. With two minutes of the half remaining Byrne's quick throw in saw Osei turn his defender before firing wide on his left foot and Louis White dwelling on the ball gave Shenton a sight of the visitors' goal with Newton to the rescue.

The second period had just begun when Burke's right wing cross saw White sidefooting wide from Osei's lay off and Newton was then robbed by Liam Buckley who stroke forward before shooting straight at Eastham. Just past the hour mark a move out of defence led to Taylor Bowen laying the ball out to the unmarked Hurst who swept home his second goal and sub Jason Gilchrist then forced a decent save after Byrne had recycled a corner.

With five minutes left good build up play between Hurst and Reeves led to Adam Porter seeing his low effort saved but immediately Matty Waters was penalised for fouling Buckley inside the area with the confident Hurst finishing into the same side of the goal to secure the points.