ILKESTON TOWN 2, ASHTON UNITED 2
The clash between the two Robins ended all square after an entertaining encounter on the plastic surface at the New Manor Ground.
After four draws and one loss in their last five league games, Ashton United have slipped from second to seventh, but are still only one point outside the play-off spots in Northern Premier League, premier.
James Hardy returned from Macclesfield for his second spell with the visitors and his influence on the game led to Ashton’s equaliser after 19 minutes as he converted Marcus Cusani’s cross from close in following a pass from Mitchell Rose.
Ilkeston Town had moved ahead seven minutes earlier as a left-wing cross saw a penalty somewhat surprisingly awarded for handball against Luke Burke which was confidently converted by Jamie Walker, the league’s second highest scorer.
Hardy had already seen a decent chance blocked by James Perch from Alex Byrne’ s flick and just before the equaliser a decent moved ended with Benny Couto hitting the outside of the post, albeit from an offside position.
The open nature of the game continued as one minute after the leveller Connor Dixon progressed into the Ashton area and saw his far post cross provide an easy finish for L’Varn Brandy after which captain Nathan Lowe fired a good chance wide from Cusani’s pass and a through ball saw Keilen Adams sidestep Matt Yates in the home goal before being crowded out.
Just past the half hour mark, Hardy put Adams clear on Yates once again with the keeper blocking on the edge of his area but entering added time Byrne’s pass from the right wing saw Nathan Lowe turn past two defenders in one movement before firing the visitors back level.
The second period was a calmer affair after Brandy had collected a loose ball and fired a snapshot past the near post.
Twenty minutes in the hosts were reduced to 10 men as Luke Cox saw red for hauling down Adams as he latched on to Byrne’s pass.
A long ball then saw Walker evade Tom Scott before his shot was scrambled away but the winger could have settled the matter with two minutes remaining as Alex Marshall won a free kick 25 yards out and the winger’s curling effort struck the bar with Scott well beaten.
Ashton United: Scott, Baird, Newton, Couto, Burke, Rose, Byrne, Lowe, Adams, Hardy, Cusani (Caton 86). Subs (unused): Milner, Bianga, Cowan, Jebbison.
Attendance: 359.
Report: David Robinson.