ASHTON UNITED 2, HEBBURN TOWN 0
Ashton United finally returned to winning ways at Hurst Cross with two first-half goals good enough to see off their in-form Hebburn Town in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier.
It was the Robins’ first victory in seven league and cup matches as their barren run came to an end.
Owen German was making his debut in midfield on loan from Altrincham with Sean Hogan also restored at right back allowing captain Luke Burke to move into midfield.
There was little to shout about in a cagey opening quarter of an hour before Luca Navarro’s pass released Darius Osei who was dispossessed in the area.
One minute later Aidan Heywood’s right wing cross for the Hornets saw Sam Baird slice the ball narrowly over his own bar.
Just before the half hour, Mikey O’Neill was just denied close in by Daniel Cameron but when the keeper cleared the ball Alex Byrne pounced to fire the Robins ahead.
Five minutes later, Byrne’s first-time cross saw a great chance for Osei who was denied close.
Three minutes later, the play was spread to the left wing where Navarro moved past two defenders with the aid of a rebound before unerringly finding the far corner.
Seven minutes before the break, German’s pass into the area released O’Neill whose cross beat everyone including the lurking Osei and Byrne’s driven cross then saw Heywood allow the ball to reach Navarro who fired it over the top.
The second period also got off to a slow start before Baird conceded a corner against Gary Martin which saw Jack Foalle’s far-post header cleared and Hebburn continued to have the lion’s share of possession without really threatening the home goal.
Joe Oliver then had to be alert as a misplaced header almost put Byrne in and a further corner for the visitors was flicked on for Foalle’s shot to be blocked at the back post.
With six minutes left, Will Tomlinson’s free kick won a corner off Jack Donaghy which saw O’Neill’s header blocked close in and a decent run from new loanee Eric Yahaya saw his cross just fail to reach Osei.
Hebburn’s last chance seeing Olly Martin’s lay-off fired past the near post by Kai Chorlton.
Ashton United: Eastham, Burke, Doherty, Newton, Hogan, Baird, Byrne (Tomlinson 82), German, O’Neill, Osei, Navarro (Yahaya 69). Subs (unused): Denton, Ogwuru, Efunnuga.
Attendance: 225.
Report: David Robinson.