WORKSOP TOWN 1, ASHTON UNITED 0
Play-off contenders Worksop Town consolidated their position in Northern Premier League, premier with a narrow win against Ashton United at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium when an early goal proved the only strike of the match.
It left the Robins 10th in the table and six points adrift of the top five.
Ashton’s custodian Paul Cooper was facing one of his former clubs, but it took only two minutes for him to concede as Sam Wedgbury’s cross into the box saw Jay Rollins header loop over him and cross the line.
After Vaughan Redford had shot straight at Cooper from the edge of the area, Rollins thought he had doubled the advantage helping home a rebound from Luke Hall’s shot only to be denied by the offside flag.
Cooper then made a good tip away from Rollins’ right-wing cross and from a subsequent corner Hamza Bencherif’s header hit the side netting.
Approaching the interval Benny Couto hit a fine swerving effort which was palmed out by Seb Malkowski and converted by Byrne from an offside position and Luke Burke got a vital headed block on Aleks Starchenko’s goalbound effort following Rollins’ right-wing cross.
Ten minutes into the second period, Burke moved on to Byrne’s flick but could only hit the side netting and Burrow’s cross from the by-line was sliced clear by Dan Cowan.
With 15 minutes left, Jake Charles won a corner as his shot was deflected out and when Byrne’s delivery reached the back post Dan Cowan turned it against the upright at full stretch.
Couto’s decent run into the area then saw Charles force a low save and Warren Clarke’s header deflected over after Byrne’s fine cross on the run.
With three minutes remaining, Hall’s corner escaped Cooper’s grasp and rebounded off the far post and a disappointing day for the Robins concluded with the dismissal of captain Nathan Lowe for a strong challenge on Jack Broadhead.
Ashton United: Cooper, Cowan, Newton, Couto, Burke, Rose, Byrne, Lowe, Hardy (Adams 67), Charles, Clarke (Gilchrist 85). Subs (unused): Abbott, Cusani, Caton.
Attendance: 719.
Report: David Robinson.