Browse Sections

• Local football
• Local cricket

Ashton Utd 2-0 Marine

10/ 9/2008

ASHTON moved to the top of the UniBond League Premier Division with a comfortable victory over Marine at Hurst Cross on Monday night.

Goals from Ben Deegan and Ben Smith ensured a lofty position for the Robins and it was no more than they deserved.

The home side started brightly, with Matty O’Neill a constant threat on the right wing, forcing a corner which ended with Ian Fitzpatrick’s header cleared off the line.

Ryan Moore then had a shot deflected wide for another corner, from which another Fitzpatrick header was saved by Sean Lake.

Lake saved Smith’s 20-yard effort before Ashton took the lead on the half-hour when Lake dropped Alex Frost’s cross under pressure from Deegan, the Ashton striker slotting the ball into an empty net.

In the 39th minute, a long-range shot from Kevin Lynch brought a brilliant full-length save from Ashton keeper Terry Smith before Liam Atherton shot wide in the second half.

However, in the 54th minute, a great run by O’Neill culminated in Fitzpatrick’s header rebounding off the upright to Smith, who scored his fourth goal in as many games.

Atherton was booked for a high challenge on Terry Smith as the visitors started to show signs of frustration.

Substitute Peter Cumiskey came closest to reducing the arrears when he turned inside and shot just wide of the far post.

Attendance: 160

Bryan Marshall