DARWEN FC 0, ASHTON UNITED 3
Ashton United posted their first pre-season victory with a comfortable scoreline against opponents from the North West Counties, first division north.
With an unchanged starting line up from the 4-1 defeat at Buxton, the Robins moved straight on to the attack as Jack Massey won an early corner from Gary Basterfield which led to Nathan Lowe’s shot being tipped away by Harry Turner and two minutes later a trialist set up Jason Gilchrist who turned in the area before bringing a good block out of Turner.
Massey’s next involvement sent James Hardy racing down the right wing and his delivery was converted by Gilchrist from inside the six-yard box.
Dale Bury then collected a rebound and his pass to Leon Creech saw the centre forward bring a comfortable save out of Conor O’Keefe and Darius Osei picked up a short back pass from David Lynch which again needed Turner to block.
A great run by Hardy then set up Gilchrist whose left foot shot was blocked with Sam Baird heading Josh Doherty’s resulting corner home from close in.
Seven minutes before the break Hardy’s pass picked out Massey who steadied before rolling a finish into the corner.
Wholesale changes for the Robins at the interval saw new signing Tom Denton send in a volley which forced a corner and a trialist then made a fine run from halfway before being denied at the last by Turner.
Sam Lloyd then forced O’Keefe into a tip over following a free kick and a trialist sent a good effort towards goal from Nathan Lowe’s lay off.
Ashton United: O’Keefe, Doherty, Newton, Baird, Burke, Trialist, Lowe, Hardy, Gilchrist, Osei, Massey. Subs: Bjork, Catt, Denton, Cowan and four trialists.
Report: David Robinson.