Robins continue play-off push

Ashton's push towards the play off positions gathered momentum as they achieved their first victory at Broadhurst Park since Aug 2018.

Mitchell Rose was brought into the Robins' line up as their only change and the action got underway on a soft surface following steady drizzle.

The Rebels were first to threaten as Kelan Swales hit the side netting from Paul Ennis' through ball and Swales then got no power on Dec McLoughlin's chipped pass. Alex Byrne's cross was then cleared at the back post by Joe Ferguson after a great interchange between Nathan Lowe & James Hardy and Curtis Jones's last ditch tackle blocked Dan Cowan's run into the box from Hardy's set up pass.

On 21 minutes Sena Newton advanced out of defence and exchanged passes with Hardy before steering narrowly wide on his right foot and Warren Clarke then moved forward before being tackled by Ferguson before Newton's deep cross was headed home close in by Jason Gilchrist with just sufficient power to cross the line. 4 minutes later Cowan converted close in at the second attempt after Lowe's shot had pinballed in the area only to see the linesman's flag raised for offside.

Entering added time at the end of the half Clarke's pass gave Gilchrist a clear sight of goal which he put past the right hand post from the edge of the area. Kielen Adams replaced captain Lowe at half time who had taken a knock in a heavy challenge and within 30 seconds shot straight at Murray-Jones from Gilchrist's pullback. Newton then intercepted another pass and gave himself a second clear sight of the target with his left foot effort just saved by Murray-Jones at the expense of a corner.

Five minutes before the hour mark Byrne's second attempt landed on the roof of the net after his first cross had been blocked but 3 minutes later a clever turn by Clarke enabled him to fire a left wing cross which was converted at the far post by Adams to emphasise Ashton's dominance.

The closest the hosts came to striking back was a twisting run by Charlie Munro which won a corner which was headed past the near post and the visitors could have registered again as Byrne's cross was headed wide from the 6 yard line by sub Jake Charles.