Robins fly away with the three points

NPL Premier Division: Bamber Bridge 0-1 Ashton United

Ashton made their first away win of the season a memorable one as they comfortably beat the fourth placed team with the score line not reflecting their superiority. Ollie Martin was back in goal at the Sir Tom Finney stadium and a crowd of 441 saw the Robins straight onto the offensive as Ben Hardcastle collected Adam Senior’s throw and crossed straight into Hewelt’s arms and Jordan Hulme’s cross was acrobatically volleyed over by Florian Yonsian.

Hulme’s shot was then deflected through to Yonsian whose low effort was just deflected out for a corner and a good break via Hulme saw Macadam set up Hardcastle who didn’t really test Hewelt. Hulme then also failed to get enough behind his attempt having robbed Spooner and after Hardcastle had been penalised for handball Yeates’ free kick was tipped out for a corner which was headed wide by Pond.

On the half hour persistence by Hulme saw the ball fall to Tomsett whose goal bound effort was handballed away but after a long delay Senior saw his spot kick saved to his right by Hewelt. Shortly afterwards Tomsett’s stretching effort rolled agonisingly wide of the home goal and Senior became the latest person to shoot straight at the keeper from Yonsian’s deep cross.

Just before the hour mark a great move inside by Senior saw his driven effort just deflect out for a corner which saw Hardcastle’s delivery dropped by Hewelt allowing Senior to fire it home. Martin then failed to hold Yeates’ free kick with Rodwell-Grant knocking the rebound wide and a decent move saw Sinclair-Smith in space 20 yards out from where he just missed the left hand post.

Captain Brewster saw his effort just turned around by Hewelt before sub Bentham sent a spinning volley just wide from a corner but there was still time for a couple of scares in the Robins’ defence as Thomson’s overlapping cross saw Green somehow manage to miss close in and Carney’s shot was cleared off the line by Sam Baird after Wilson’s pass had sent Apter clear down the left.

Team: Martin, Senior, Warren, Baird, Coates, Brewster, Macadam, Tomsett, Hulme (Tserpes 87), Hardcastle, Yonsian (Bentham 53). SNU:  Mee, Anghel, Raynes.