ASHTON UNITED 1, STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 0
Stalwart centre back Sam Baird crowned a man-of-the-match performance with the winning goal 13 minutes from time against visiting Stocksbridge Park Steels who were back in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier for the first time in over 10 years.
It leaves the Robins unbeaten after three league matches as they sit fourth in the table.
After a minute’s applause for club legend Barney Daniels, who died recently, and an award to club captain Luke Burke on his 100th appearance, the game got off to a quiet start.
Louis White foiled Oliwier Grzelak after some good control and White then gave Ben Townsend a comfortable save after robbing Alexander O’Connor.
A throw in saw Darius Osei’s flick on just evade Willem Tomlinson for the Robins before Luke Rawson’s header flicked O’Connor’s cross past the far post.
The first period, which had little to recommend it, ended with a replacement for each side and Luca Navarro came as close as anyone as he curled Callum Rowe’s cross-field pass beyond the far post.
Burke’s ball into the area saw White’s flick over a defender bring a good block from Townsend with Byrne volleying the loose ball wide and a late corner won by Thomas Marshall from Sean Newton saw Baird head clear.
The action immediately picked up on the restart and within two minutes a poor clearance by the home defence saw substitute Samuel Kay catch hold of a tremendous effort from outside the area which cannoned back off the crossbar with the help of a touch from keeper Jordan Eastham.
The keeper then blocked out Rawson at the second attempt and midway through the half Alex Byrne’s cross was cleared to Callum Rowe who sidestepped a challenge before firing narrowly too high.
Navarro then had a couple of efforts as he flicked Josh Doherty’s right foot cross past the near post and then sent a wild effort off target from White’s lay off.
With 18 minutes left, Navarro’s latest effort rolled beyond the far post for a corner which saw Baird’s header cleared in front of goal.
But five minutes later, the centre back was not to be denied as he forced home a cross from the by line by substitute Mikey O’Neill.
Steels then had an immediate chance to equalise as substitute Jack Degruchy brought a fingertip save from Eastham with an effort from the edge of the area.
Ashton United: Eastham, Burke, Doherty, White, Baird, Byrne, Rowe, Gilchrist (Navarro 35, Denton 87), Osei, Tomlinson (O’Neill 68), Newton. Subs (unused): Efunnuga, Taylor.
Attendance: 305.
Report: David Robinson.