Visitors hold Ashton to a draw to force FA cup replay

Ashton Utd 2 Atherton Collieries 2 Emirates FA Cup

Visitors Atherton mounted a brave fight back to rescue a replay having been two goals down midway through the first half.

The scoring started as early as the sixth minute as a fine pass from Alex Byrne sent Louis Potts down the right touchline and having paused he picked out Mitchell Rose for an emphatic first time finish, registering his first goal for the club.

Centre forward Louis Mansell then sent a curling effort past the post for Colls after Rose’s pass has been intercepted and Alex Byrne’s pass picked out Marcus Cusani in space from where his attempted lob was easily caught.

Cusani’s cross then found Potts totally unmarked and with more time than his scuffed effort recognised but midway through the half good work on the edge of the area by Nathan Lowe saw Potts’ short pass reach James Caton who finished close in.

Eight minutes before the break, Sean Newton picked up a booking for stopping the run of Louis Mansell through the middle and full back Ben
Rydel curled home a fine 20 yard finish.

The game could have swung either way in the second period and Caton saw his left foot effort fisted away following a quick break before Cusani’s dangerous cross was just too far ahead of Keilen Adams and Lowe’s shot deflected wide off Jordan Fagbola. With 15 minutes left Cole Lonsdale conceded a corner which saw Dylan Moonan volley home the equaliser after some head tennis and Moonan could have won the tie when his chip landed on the roof of the net.

Att: 265

Team: Simpson, Cowan, Newton, Lonsdale, Burke, Rose, Byrne, Caton (Bianga 66), Potts (Adams 62), Lowe, Cusani. SNU: Gilchrist, Abbott, Robbins, Seol.