WORKINGTON AFC 5, ASHTON UNITED 1
Ashton United manager Steve Cunningham clearly had his sights fixed on the play-offs as key players were rested for their final Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier match at Workington AFC which ended in a heavy defeat.
For the second successive season, Workington ran out convincing winners at Borough Park in Ashton’s final league game before the play-off semi-final.
Dan Cowan was a surprise name on the visitor’s team sheet as captain on the day and with several other changes the action got under way on a chilly day in Cumbria.
Donald Chimalilo was starting on the Robins’ left wing and his run led to him firing a left foot effort dangerously across goal.
But after 13 minutes, Jordan Little’s forward pass sent Josh Galloway into the area and his lofted cross was headed home by the leaping Alfie McDonough.
Just past the midway point of the half, another headed goal put the Robins two down as a left wing throw in was flicked on by Steven Rigg for Connor Pani’s back header to beat Connor Eastham in the far corner despite the keeper getting a hand to it.
Just past the half hour, loose play saw Pani send Rigg through on goal with Remi Efunnuga on hand to cover and five minutes later a good run from livewire Chimalilo saw him exchange passes with Jason Gilchrist before firing home his first Robins’ goal from six yards.
Multiple changes for the Robins at the interval immediately saw Sean Newton dispossessed by a combination of David Symington and Rigg before the ball eventually reached Rigg who set up McDonough to sweep home his second.
Five minutes later, a quick break saw a three-against-two situation with Symington teeing up Josh Galloway for a low finish.
Twenty minutes into the half, Pani’s chip into the area found Rigg in too much space with Eastham out to block before the centre forward sliced the rebound wide.
Chimalilo then saw a low effort saved after good build up play between substitutes Marcis Carver and Darius Osei before Symington scuffed a chance wide at the far post.
The scoring was completed nine minutes from time as Galloway’s deep cross was headed in at the far post by Bruce Strachan as Eastham and Efunnuga hesitated, leaving all eyes on Tuesday’s play-off semi-final at Worksop.
Ashton United: C Eastham, Cowan (Burke 70), White, Rose, Westwood, Efunnuga, Byrne (Newton 46), Rowe (Carver 46), Gilchrist (Denton 46), Hardy (Osei 46), Chimalilo.
Report: David Robinson.