ASHTON UNITED 2, GUISELEY 0
Ashton United continued their impressive recent form with a fourth successive victory as a goal in each half saw off visitors Guiseley.
The Robins, whose winning run has lifted them to 12th place, were missing George Milner and Dale Whitham.
The Yorkshire side started the better as Benni Smales-Braithwaite was fouled 30 yards out but aimed his free kick inaccurately past the near post. Ross Daly’s pass then gave Callum Chippendale a sight of goal with Sam Baird needing to be alert to block and the subsequent corner saw Tom Scott holding Jameel Ible’s header after Courtney Meppen-Walters’ initial contact.
Scott then had to be alert to hold Ible’s header resulting from a second corner but the breakthrough arrived nine minutes before the interval as Nathan Lowe’s free kick won a corner which saw Lowe’s delivery headed against the far post by Sam Baird with the rebound turned home by Jack McKay for his second goal in successive games.
The Lions opened brightly on the restart and Smales-Braithwaite effort had to be kicked away by Scott but immediately the Robins struck on the break as Jason Gilchrist got the better of Meppen-Walters and saw McKay hit his effort against the post with Lewis Thompson following up for his first goal in Ashton’s colours.
Midway through the half, Gilchrist won a free kick from Kwame Boateng on the edge of the area with Cole Lonsdale’s delivery eventually reaching Gilchrist who flicked it home from an offside position.
As the Lions tried to fight back a long clearance saw Baird’s header fall to Jake Cassidy who brought a decent save out of Scott and Ible hit the side netting after Scott had palmed away Smales-Braithwaite’s shot.
The day went from bad to worse for the away side as a quick break saw Smales-Braithwaite bring down Lonsdale with the referee deeming him to be last man, showing a red card and the action finished with Scott making a tumbling save from Cassidy’s 20-yard effort.
Ashton United: Scott, Baillie (Regan 69), Newton, Lonsdale, Baird, Porter, Adams (Hobson 74), McKay (Greenwood 82), Gilchrist, Lowe, Thompson. Subs (unused): Mendes, Bunn.
Report: David Robinson.