ASHTON UNITED 2, GUISELEY 4
In-form Guiseley proved too strong for Ashton United at Hurst Cross to climb to second place in Pitching In Northern Premier League.
The visiting Lions dominated the middle period of the game after Ashton had opened the scoring and ended with a late consolation as they remain in fifth place.
On a freezing night, Callum Rowe was handed his first start for the Robins in midfield and after a cagey opening a quick break saw Louis White’s pass send Benny Couto down the left wing and with no one up in support he fired past keeper Joe Cracknell inside the far post.
Three minutes later, good work from Radcliffe FC loanee Rowe sent Darius Osei into the area with Cracknell out well to block.
Eight minutes later, the visitors were level as Sam Bentley’s persistence saw Joe Ackroyd flick on his cross for Will Longbottom to volley home from six yards.
Centre back Lebrun Mbeka then guided Ackroyd’s cross well wide before a great overlap by Luke Burke saw his cross headed over close in by Couto.
Two minutes after the restart, the visitors moved ahead as Ackroyd’s left-wing cross reached leading scorer Longbottom who had time to control the ball before picking his spot.
And six minutes later, Longbottom was only denied his hat trick by the crossbar as another Ackroyd cross was laid back to him with Bentley on hand to convert the rebound.
With 10 minutes left, Nathan Lowe’s cross into the box saw substitute Jason Gilchrist miss his header with Tom Denton sliding in to put the ball wide.
Longbottom was denied his treble again as keeper Jordan Eastham palmed away his 20-yard free kick after Jordan Thewlis had been fouled.
On 90 minutes, the hosts were made to pay as Adriano Moke split the defence with a long ball which put Thewlis in the clear to slide home the fourth Guisley goal.
The action still hadn’t finished as Trevon Bryan saw his shot blocked close in from Denton’s knockdown before Luke Burke picked up the loose ball and fired home off the far post.
Then with the last kick of the game another Denton header was volleyed over the top by Gilchrist.
Ashton United: Eastham, Cowan, Doherty, White (Denton 58), Burke, Hogan (Newton 70), Couto (Gilchrist 76), Lowe, Hardy (Bryan 60), Osei, Rowe. Sub (unused): Efunnuga.
Attendance: 255.
Report: David Robinson.