ASHTON UNITED 1, MARINE 3
Ashton United’s lingering Northern Premier League, premier play-off hopes were finally extinguished at Hurst Cross as Marine secured their own place with a deserved victory.
Three defeats in their last four league matches saw the Robins fall short by three points – it was effectively four by virtue of an inferior goal difference – as there was a disappointing finish to the campaign.
Ashton had earlier strung together an impressive winning run which catapulted them from mid-table to become serious challengers for a top-five place.
James Caton was given a start on the left side of midfield for the hosts as they began with a lone forward, but it took only seven minutes for the opening goal to arrive as Jack Bainbridge moved onto Finlay Sinclair-Smith’s return ball and advanced before poking a finish past keeper Paul Cooper.
Four minutes later and the home side drew level in the most bizarre of circumstances as keeper Cooper launched a long kick from hand which bounced off the dry surface as opposite number Bobby Jones could only palm the ball down from his goal line leaving Warren Clarke with a simple tap in.
Harvey Gregson then volleyed Matty Waters’ pass over the top for the visitors following a right wing move and Cooper was forced into a good save with his foot as Sinclair-Smith’s header connected with Bobby Grant’s cross.
Five minutes from the break, Kielen Adams’ flick sent the ball just wide of the far post from Brad Abbott’s pass and Gregson hit a weak effort straight at the keeper from Sol Solomon’s knockdown.
Soon after the break Bainbridge’s header went wide of goal from Sinclair-Smith’s deep cross but after 55 minutes the visitors regained the advantage as Waters finished a rebound easily after Cooper had denied Grant’s left foot effort resulting from Solomon’s pass.
Waters then guided a left foot effort over after Sinclair-Smith’s shot had been blocked by Sam Baird on his 100th appearance while Adams just failed to connect with Luke Burke’s right foot delivery.
With 15 minutes left, the victory was sealed as Freddie Sass’s throw forced Cooper to concede a corner which saw Solomon’s delivery allowed to go straight into the goal.
Solomon’s cross in the area then saw a clever overhead by Grant just too high and a 25 yard missile from substitute Louis White forced a tip over from the Ashton keeper as Marine could have added to their tally.
Ashton United: Cooper, Baird, Newton, Lowe (Rose 64), Burke, Abbott (Bjork 64), Couto, Hardy, Caton (Charles 78), Adams, Clarke. Subs (unused): Cusani, Simpson.
Attendance: 578.
Report: David Robinson.