LEEK TOWN 3, ASHTON UNITED 1
A hat trick from Leek Town winger Alex Hurst inflicted defeat on visiting Ashton United who are now six games without a win in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier.
The Robins remain in the last play-off place and five points clear of sixth-placed Ilkeston Town but cannot afford many more slip-ups.
Ashton took the lead had looked comfortable for most of the first half at the F Ball Community Stadium before their afternoon unravelled as Leek secured a win which lifts them further away from the foot of the table and towards mid-table.
They started up front with Southport loanee Marcus Carver and restored Mitch Rose and Louis White to their midfield.
After Hurst had overhit a left-wing cross, Sam Baird’s back post header was held from a corner conceded by Ollie Shenton.
Ten minutes in and Luke Burke progressed through midfield before spreading the play to Alex Byrne whose cross was heading in at the far post by Darius Osei to give the Robins the lead.
Midway through the half, Burke fired a loose ball straight at keeper Dino Visser and James Hardy’s pass then saw Carver surprisingly flagged offside as he was tackled by the last-man Visser.
Ten minutes ahead of the break, Billy Reeves’ ball into the area saw Shenton needlessly bundled over by Sean Newton with Hurst sending keeper Connor Eastham the wrong way from the spot.
With two minutes of the half remaining, Byrne’s quick throw in saw Osei turn his defender before firing wide on his left foot and Louis White dwelling on the ball gave Shenton a sight of the visitors’ goal with Newton coming to the rescue.
The second period had just begun when Burke’s right wing cross saw White side-footing wide from Osei’s lay off.
Newton was then robbed by Liam Buckley who stroke forward before shooting straight at Eastham.
Just past the hour, a move out of defence led to Taylor Bowen laying the ball out to the unmarked Hurst who swept home his second goal.
Substitute Jason Gilchrist then forced a decent save after Byrne had recycled a corner.
With five minutes left, good build up play between Hurst and Billy Reeves led to Adam Porter seeing his low effort saved but immediately Matty Waters was penalised for fouling Buckley inside the area with the confident Hurst finishing into the same side of the goal to secure the points.
Ashton United: C Eastham, Rose, Doherty (Denton 81), Newton (Waters 59), Burke, Baird, Byrne, White, Hardy (Gilchrist 77), Osei (Chimalilo 77), Carver. Sub (unused): Effunuga.
Attendance: 802.
Report: David Robinson.