FC UNITED 1, ASHTON UNITED 2
A close fought local derby saw Ashton United emerge victorious at FC United in front of a bumper crowd of 2,005 on North Manchester Football Day.
It was a result which lifts the Robins to second place in Northern Premier League, Premier and only behind neighbours Hyde United on goal difference. Macclesfield, who are third, have also collected 14 points from their first six league matches.
Benny Couto was back on the left wing for the visitors, and he was immediately involved after seven minutes as he fired Dan Cowan’s cross back across goal where a scramble in the area resulted in Joe Ferguson being credited with an own goal.
Five minutes later, Ferguson made a great run at the other end and fed Jay Fitzmartin whose cross was steered home by Jordan Preston and still in the first 20 minutes Couto was just unable to get a touch on James Hardy’s cross with Cowan again involved.
Just past the half hour, Ashton were back in front as Darius Osei won a corner and when the ball was recycled Hardy teed up Cowan to rifle home from inside the area.
Couto’s cross shot then just evaded Jack Massey, who had replaced the injured Nathan Lowe, with Osei’s return ball also just squeezing right across the goalmouth and on the stroke of half time Cowan was only denied a second goal by a fine save from Ollie Battersby after he collected Couto’s deep cross.
Couto started the second period by picking up a loose ball and sending a speculative attempt off target as the tempo of the game slowed and former Stockport striker Adam Le Fondre sent in a tame effort after Fitzmartin had tricked his way past Sam Baird.
Le Fondre then forced keeper Conor O’Keefe into a save picking up Dec Evans header back from a free kick and Louis White put a first-time effort over following a neat interchange between Hardy and Tom Denton.
WIth time running out, Sean Newton made a vital interception from Ferguson’s pullback and entering added time Le Fondre took charge of a free kick right on the edge of Ashton’s area bringing a fine fingertip save out of O’Keefe to preserve Ashton’s advantage.
Att: 2,005
Ashton United: O’Keefe, Cowan (Bjork 64), Doherty, Newton, Burke, Baird, Lowe (Massey 25, Denton 64), White (Chmiel 76), Hardy, Osei, Couto (McCourt 76).
Attendance: 2,005.
Report: David Robinson.