Robins continue play-off push

Ashton duly completed a league double against their near neighbours FC United of Manchester to retain 5th place in the Northern Premier League on a New Year's Day when all the top 7 teams were victorious.

With Alex Byrne making his first full start for the hosts since serious injury the action got underway on a surface which had stood up well to the recent persistent rain and just 2 minutes in Darius Osei moved past Declan Evan with Hates-Green cutting out his cross and Byrne's deep delivery being palmed away by O'Keefe.

The FC defence were under further pressure just 2 minutes later as Louis White's header was blocked but just one minute further on Byrne and James Hardy combined for the former to provide an unmissable chance close in for leading scorer Osei. With all the danger coming from the right wing the dynamic Luke Burke provided another great cross which was headed away before Byrne's latest cross reached White at the far post who fired over leaning back.

A minute later White tried an audacious attempt to catch former Ashton custodian Conor O'Keefe off his line with the keeper just able to tip the ball over and White then curled home a 25 yard free kick after Charley Munro had been penalised for pulling down Byrne.

5 minutes into the second period a loose pass from Remi Efunnuga saw former Premier League striker Adam Le Fondre latch on with Sam Baird making a vital tackle in the area, fairly in the view of Mr Hussain. Le Fondre then fired a poor clearance by Jordan Eastham past the near post and Burke's cross was squeezed away from the near post before Hardy's effort was blocked close in.

With 20 minutes left sub Declan McLoughlin was fouled on the edge of the area by Josh Doherty with Le Fondre's free kick hitting the wall and as Byrne's cross won a corner at the other end Doherty's blockbuster brought a full length save out of O'Keefe. Le Fondre then provided the cross which saw Jordan Buckley turn the ball goalwards with Eastham saving low down and Hardy's cross saw Osei just fail to convert at the far post, albeit from an offside position. Nathan Lowe sent a long range effort past the left hand post and Jordan Preston's snapshot was straight at Eastham as the action ended with Ashton comfortable winners.