ASHTON UNITED 0, HEDNESFORD TOWN 1
A single second-half goal was enough for Hednesford Town to maintain top spot in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier following a tight encounter at Ashton United.
Within four minutes, the Robins had the first chance as an incisive pass from Luca Navarro saw Alex Byrne’s cross knocked wide of the far post by Darius Osei.
Two minutes later, left back Joel Taylor sent a raking effort past Ashton’s right-hand post for the Pitmen.
Byrne’s next delivery was just too high for Louis White with Navarro winning a corner on the far side which saw an unconvincing punch clear from Tony Breeden.
Taylor’s cross for Hednesford then saw Daniel Turner control the ball past Josh Doherty with debutante Dylan Cogill, who is on a three-month loan from Worksop Town, coming to the rescue for the Robins.
Scott Burgess then won a corner following a swift move which ended with Charlie Hayes-Green denied at the far post.
Eight minutes before the break, Taylor’s forward run saw Akheem Rose win a throw in which saw a series of headers end with Montel Gibson’s thunderbolt touched on to the cross bar by keeper Jordan Eastham.
The visitors made two changes at the break, but the second period got off to a slow start before just ahead of the midway point further substitute Dom McHale turned inside before picking a pass through the midfield which gave Rose a clear run on goal from where he finished at the second attempt after a good block by the advancing Eastham.
McHale then won a corner from Navarro which saw a tremendous shot from Simon Maye blocked before White collected a booking for catching McHale.
With eight minutes left, Gibson’s snapshot from the edge of the area was palmed out with Rose’s follow up deflected wide.
The closest Ashton came to finding the equaliser was following a free kick won by Byrne 25 yards out which saw Cogill’s low effort force a good save from Breedon, and the action concluded with Mikey O’Neill winning a corner which ended with Osei directing his header over the bar.
Ashton United: Eastham, Burke, Doherty, Cogill, White (O’Neill 76), Hayes-Green, Byrne, Burgess, Navarro (Anaebonam 72), Osei, German (Denton 89). Subs (unused): Newton, Tomlinson.
Attendance: 352.
Report: David Robinson.