ASHTON UNITED 0, CHORLEY 2
Visitors Chorley strolled to a convincing victory in Ashton United’s last pre-season friendly in an early kick off at Hurst Cross.
Last season’s losing play off semi-finalists in the National League North needed just one minute to move ahead as former Warrington Rylands striker Mo Touray controlled a loose ball on his chest before volleying home from 25 yards.
Sam Baird needed to make a good recovery in the home defence after Tom Carr’s great touch had almost put him clear but five minutes later a trialist’s snapshot from just outside the area deflected off Luke Burke to wrongfoot Conor O’Keefe in the home goal who couldn’t recover in time despite getting a touch.
Two minutes later a short corner routine saw Touray fire narrowly wide of the far post with the home defence struggling to cope.
Nathan Lowe then tried his luck but was well wide from a return pass before his next effort hit the new stand at the Lees Road end and he then put a free kick narrowly over after Mark Ellis had fouled Darius Osei on the edge of the area. And it was Osei who deflected Sean Newton’s return header just wide with the interval approaching.
One of the half time substitutes for Ashton, Jack Massey then came as close as anyone turning Lowe’s far post cross into the side netting and a curling effort then just beat the far post from one of Chorley’s trialists.
Massey’s attempt was then turned straight at Matthew Urwin by Osei requiring a sharp save from thr keeper while at the opposite end Tom Carr’s low effort provided an easy save for O’Keefe.
Ashton United: O’Keefe, Doherty, Newton, Baird, Burke, Cowan, Lowe, White, Hardy, Osei, Trialist A. Subs: Bjork, Catt, Massey, Gilchrist, Denton and three trialists.
Attendance: 213.
Report: David Robinson.