WORKSOP TOWN 2, ASHTON UNITED 1
Ashton United’s brave challenge for a place in the Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier play- off final ended at the semi-final stage as a goal 14 minutes from time settled a fluctuating encounter in Nottinghamshire.
A crowd of 1,756 squeezed into the Windsor Foodservice Stadium as the Robins fielded their strongest line up with Jason Gilchrist back leading the line as they looked to avenge a 2-0 league defeat in February.
The visitors started off with some early pressure, but the first real chance arrived after minutes as a pass inside Josh Doherty saw Regan Hutchinson’s pull back from the by-line blazed over by Liam Hughes from a great position.
And three minutes later, Jordan Burrow’s far-post header was punched out by Connor Eastham after another flying run by Hutchinson.
After 17 minutes, Louis White’s shot hit Hamza Bencherif’s hand on the edge of the area with Gilchrist’s free kick flying just past the left-hand post.
Just before the half hour, a loose header from Doherty saw the ball drop and when it was pulled back by Hutchinson, Hughes made no mistake from inside the area.
In added time, a great cross from Doherty saw Bencherif concede a corner just in front of the lurking Gilchrist with White driving the subsequent corner into the side netting.
The second period started with Ashton increasing the pressure and Doherty’s deep cross was headed out by Josh Wilde with Alex Byrne over hitting his right wing cross.
Mason O’Malley’s cross was fingertipped away by Eastham before the loose ball ran through to him with Hughes threatening.
Two minutes before the hour, the livewire Hutchinson cut inside Doherty and narrowly missed the far post on his left foot but a minute later Ashton found their equaliser as Byrne’s accurate far post cross was headed home by Gilchrist climbing above his defender.
Joe Leesley was then penalised for tripping James Hardy on the left-hand side of the area with the delivery deflected over the bar for a corner which saw Sam Baird penalised for a foul as he fired home the loose ball.
With both sides searching for the winner Aleksandrs Starcenko’s curling effort was superbly tipped away by Eastham but when the corner was delivered it was headed against the crossbar by Hughes with the rebound helped home by the stooping figure of Burrow.
With Ashton trying to take the game into extra time, a corner saw Sean Newton’s low effort just turned away by keeper Tommy Taylor to preserve Worksop’s advantage as they proceed to host Stockton in the final.
Ashton United: C Eastham, White, Doherty, Newton, Burke, Baird, Byrne, Rowe, Gilchrist (Carver 73), Osei, Hardy (Denton 81). Subs (unUsed): Rose, Cowan, Effunuga.
Attendance: 1,756.
Report: David Robinson.