ASHTON UNITED 2, BLACKBURN ROVERS 0
Ashton United’s final pre-season friendly saw them comfortably beat Championship visitors Blackburn Rovers who were fielding an U23 team and were reduced to 10 men by Isaac Dunn’s early dismissal.
The early action saw Alex Byrne’s right-wing cross lead to Louis White making space on the edge of the area only to fire over, and still in the first 10 minutes Luke Burke’s left foot shot was blocked after one-two with Byrne who immediately fired a cross which dropped over keeper Felix Goddard and into the far corner to put the Robins ahead.
Jake Batty’s deep cross for Rovers was then headed over by Joe Boggan after good approach play by Harrison Wood.
The influential Byrne’s next cross was headed wide of the near post by opposite winger Luca Navarro.
After 19 minutes, Batty’s latest overlapping run won a corner which saw a bout of pinball in the area with several shots blocked but two minutes later Dunn’s error gave Darius Osei a clear run on goal with Dunn receiving a red card which stood after consultation with the home bench.
A great pass from Louis White then released the run of Willem Tomlinson whose delayed shot was easily saved and good pressing led to Byrne setting up Navarro to fire straight at Goddard. Nine minutes before the break Callum Rowe won a free kick which saw Byrne curl home a fine effort from 20 yards for his second goal.
White picked up a booking eight minutes after the break and two minutes later Byrne almost completed a hat trick as his cross glanced away off the bar before White fired the rebound over on his right foot.
Persistence from Navarro then led to him rolling an effort right across goal before Sam Baird headed his corner comfortably over.
Home keeper Jordan Eastham was called into action for the first time with a save at the near post.
A trialist then collected a long pass for the Robins and stepped past Lucas Houghton before slicing wide and right on time a loose ball saw Patrick Farkas move into space before firing against the crossbar.
Ashton United: J Eastham (Smith 77), Burke, Doherty, Baird, White, Tomlinson, Byrne, Rowe, Trialist, Osei, Navarro. Subs: Efunnuga, Denton and five trialists.
Attendance: 202.
Report: David Robinson.