Rollercoaster ride for Ashton United at Flamingo Land Stadium

PitchingIn Northern Premier League | Scarborough Athletic 1 Ashton United 1 | Tuesday 17 August

Ashton needed a strike from Ben Hardcastle 12 minutes from time to take a point from a high-octane encounter on the 4G pitch in front of a crowd of 1054.

The visitors fielded an unchanged starting eleven and with the Seadogs now managed by Jonathan Greening it was the hosts first to go close as a good low effort from captain Michael Coulson needed Hartley to be alert at his right hand post. Jack Redshaw then latched on to a loose ball and having dummied the keeper saw his scoring pass to Tom Bentham intercepted.

Weledji’s cross then rather landed on Cartman’s head with the result that the ball went over the top and Coulson collected a long ball and cut inside before firing straight at Hartley. Good play by Tserpes for the Robins then led to Hardcastle hitting a low effort just wide and Lewis Turner ghosted in behind Ashton’s defence but headed Watson’s delivery well wide.

The second period opened with Michael Raynes making a couple of important clearances, firstly from Coulson and then a clearing header from Jackson’s left wing cross.

Just before the hour, Redshaw was unable to get enough contact on Bentham’s flick but shortly afterwards the opening goal arrived as a long ball split Ashton’s defence allowing Coulson a clear run on Hartley who conceded the penalty as the winger tried to round him, ex-Robin Ryan Watson firing home emphatically.

Bentham immediately volleyed a bouncing ball straight at Whitley but then had to be replaced after injuring himself in a challenge with Gooda and ten minutes later Ashton found the equaliser as Tserpes’ forward pass was fired home by Hardcastle inside the area to square things up.

Sub Theo Hudson then intercepted in midfield but played his pass too far ahead of Hardcastle and Watson’s speculative effort from way out went straight through to Hartley.

Ashton United team: Hartley, Tserpes, Spratt, Raynes, Coates, Rowney, Brewster (Macadam 46), Hardcastle, Bentham (Hudson 71), Redshaw (Katsamagkas 84), Tomsett. Subs not used: Ollerenshaw, Warren.

Want more local sport stories?

Head to https://www.questmedianetwork.co.uk/news/sport/ to see more of our coverage - from community and non-league football to local and county cricket, boxing, athletics, basketball, Esports and golf.