MORPETH TOWN 3, ASHTON UNITED 3
Ashton United resumed Northern Premier League, premier action but were disappointed with a draw in the North East having reached the interval two goals up against Morpeth Town.
And further squandered points saw the Robins lose ground in the race for a play-off place as they slipped to ninth and six points adrift of the top five.
A cold, breezy day greeted the players and the match which would surely have been called off but for the artificial surface got under way with a loose ball dropping to home centre forward Sam Hodgson on the edge of the area and he brought a tumbling save out of the visitors’ debut keeper Paul Cooper, on loan from Barnsley.
After five minutes, some good play from Mitchell Rose put Warren Clarke in on Dan Lowson and after his effort was blocked Jake Charles steered the rebound wide.
Benny Couto’s fine overlap saw James Simms blocked out at the near post but three minutes later a loose pass in the home defence gave Charles the chance for a first-time effort which squeezed into the corner of the goal under the dive of Lowson.
Liam Noble then found space for Morpeth and brought a sharp save out of Cooper and Simms slipped along the by line before Charles was crowded out at the near post with Luke Burke seeing the same outcome to his subsequent cross.
Two minutes later the home side were level as Nic Bollado made his way into the area and saw his delivery comfortably swept home by Andrew Johnson.
Bollado then fired over from the angle before Ashton retook the lead as a left-wing cross from Clarke was controlled by James Hardy who fired a fine left foot finish just inside the far post and two minutes later Charles ran free from midfield and set up Clarke for his first Ashton goal with a calm left foot finish.
The second period opened with a tremendous run by Burke seeing him fail to test Lowson from Simms’ pass.
On the hour, Josh Robson’s cross deflected up kindly for Bollado to head home and Morpeth thought they had equalised as a corner was turned home close in with Michael Turner being penalised for handball.
Entering added time substitute Jack Foalle’s near post header from Noble’s delivery sent the ball into the top corner and rescued a point for the Highwaymen.
Ashton United: Cooper, Cowan, Newton, Couto, Burke, Abbott, Hardy (Milner 80), Rose, Simms (Byrne 64), Charles, Clarke (Gilchrist 69). Subs (unused): Cusani, Caton.
Attendance: 451.
Report: David Robinson