GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 0, ASHTON UNITED 3
Ashton United eventually ran out convincing winners in a tough looking opening fixture in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier against Gainsborough Trinity at the KAL Group Stadium in Lincolnshire.
There were plenty of familiar faces in the Robins’ line up with just one full debut handed to Willem Tomlinson in midfield.
The hosts, fresh from a strong seventh place finish last season and good runs in the two major cup competitions boasted summer signing striker Frank Mulhern in their starting line-up, leading scorer Declan Howe having departed for Scunthorpe.
The Holy Blues made the stronger start with Mulhern heading Ashley Jackson’s lofted cross well wide and Javelle Clarke then fired Mulhern’s pass over the bar after Adam Crookes had robbed Tomlinson.
Mulhern would have been clean through if he had controlled Bobby Johnson’s pass into the area then after Callum Rowe had been penalised for a shoulder challenge on Mulhern the centre forward gave Jordan Eastham a routine save with a shot from 30 yards.
With little significant goalmouth action in the first 40 minutes, the game sprung into life just before half time as a left wing throw in led to Sean Newton’s delivery being glanced home by the head of last season’s leading scorer Darius Osei.
Then in added time a long throw in saw Fraser Preston’s snapshot tipped over by Eastham before Louis White almost caught out David Robson in the home goal with a dipping volley.
Four minutes after the resumption, Jordan Helliwell’s burst into the area was just stopped in time before he was able to let fly.
Will Lancaster trod on the ball leaving Ashton’s half time substitute Luca Navarro to see his shot blocked by Robson with Osei guiding the rebound over the top.
Ashton’s other substitute Michael O’Neill then shot wide on the break having exchanged passes with Alex Byrne.
Trinity had a great chance to draw level when Fraser Preston’s cross was headed wide by Lewis from six yards after Mikey O’Neill had given the ball away.
With 17 minutes left, White’s pass sent Navarro racing into the area from where he tricked his way past Will Lancaster and curled a superb effort home into the far corner.
And with three minutes remaining, the debutante winger was on the scoresheet again as O’Neill picked up a loose ball and slid him in for a confident finish to get Ashton’s season up and running.
Ashton United: Eastham, Burke, Doherty, White, Baird, Byrne, Rowe, Gilchrist (O’Neill 64), Osei, Tomlinson (Navarro 46), Newton. Subs (unused): Efunnuga, Denton, Taylor.
Attendance: 711.
Report: David Robinson.