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07.11.09 - UniBond Premier Division

Ashton United 0-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels

Ashton United’s poor home form continued as third placed Stocksbridge left Hurst Cross with all three points thanks to a goal in first half injury time.

The visitors ensured Ashton’s bright start didn’t bring a chance due to some good defending and they had the first opportunity when a long range shot from Tom Jowett went wide.

Terry Smith then made a comfortable save from Mark Ward, whilst at the other end a speculative volley from Iain Howard was saved at the second attempt by Ben Scott in far from ideal conditions with the ground only passed fit to play in the morning.

Ashton were lucky to survive a corner by Jowett as it was headed into the path of Darren Schofield, but his header went wide of goal when well placed.

Schofield set up a chance for Ward from a free kick, but he was wasteful with his chance.

The Robins came more into the game as the half progressed, a Danny Byrne free kick drilled in at pace just missed an Ashton boot by inches, Howard had a shot deflected wide for a corner and Ian Bennett shot over from the edge of the area.

With the game in first half stoppage time, Stocksbridge took the lead when a through ball from Ward caught the Ashton defence flat footed and Richard Stirrup raced through before beating Smith with an accomplished finish.

Early in the second half Scott produced the save of the game to deny Ryan Moore, who had let fly from 25-yards, but the keeper managed to get a hand on the ball and tip it over the bar.

Ashton were the dominant force in the second half, but were left to rue some poor shooting that saw good build up play wasted.

Byrne pounced on a loose ball before a forceful run ended with a shot over the bar, Gareth Richards then beat several challenges only to see his shot go over the bar, whilst Bennett was wide with a shot after another good run.

The Robins worst miss of the game was when Howard’s cross fell into the path of Richards who put the ball wide from a foot out, but a late flag from the assistant referee spared the on-form striker’s blushes.

Steels offered very little as an attacking force but Smith almost gifted them a second as his goal kick went straight to Andy Ring, but his effort went wide.

The industrious Bennett cut in from the right only to see his shot go wide and Callum Flanagan saw his shot go wide of the target after Richards had won the ball on the edge of the penalty area.

Close to full time Ben Smith’s cross was deflected into the path of Gareth Johnson, but the centre back shot over the bar as the Robins failure in front of goal continued.

After being second best for the majority of the second half, Steels almost grabbed a second goal close to the end when Smith could only get a hand to a shot by Ward, but Matt Daly shot over from an open goal.

Ashton were unable to make the most of his miss to suffer their third successive home defeat in three different competitions.

Ashton United: T Smith, Frost (B Smith 81), Caldecott, Weston, Kearney, Johnson, Byrne (O’Neill 63), Bennett, Richards, Moore (Flanagan 63), Howard. (subs not used) McFadden, Robinson.

Stocksbridge Goals: Stirrup (45)

Attendance: 153

Reporter: Steve Lee