NWCFL MEN United Cup 2nd Round: Barnoldswick Town 1 Ashton Athletic 3

TOWN crashed out of the NWCFL MEN United Cup at the second round stage with a disappointing home defeat.

The hosts made six changes to the starting line-up from the midweek loss to AFC Darwen. Into the starting line-up came Anthony Pollard, Jake McEneaney, Arley Barnes, Billy Crawshaw, Dalton Hutchison and Ben Gorman.

The game started with Ashton on the attack winning a free-kick just outside the Town penalty area.

Stephen Kay clipped it in, with Dean Midgeley heading on towards the far post before the ball was scrambled clear.

Town went straight down to the other end, with Gorman driving on past two tackles and slipping the ball to Thomas Henderson, who saw his shot blocked.

A quick raid down the Town right saw Ashton’s Daniel Regan put over a cross which was headed on by Midgeley to the far post, with Liam Britton just managing to head the ball out for a corner.

In Ashton’s next attack a Daniel Smith cross found Jon Robinson at the far post but he slid the ball wide of Jordan Gidley’s left-hand post.

Town’s first real shot came from Crawshaw after 10 minutes from just outside the penalty area, but it flew wide of the target.

Ashton were pressing for the opening goal and it was no surprise on the quarter hour mark when they took the lead. A neat move between Smith and Regan saw the latter’s cross converted by Robinson from close range.

The away side nearly increased their lead two minutes later. Regan’s corner to the near post fell at the feet of Aaron Cringle, but he side footed the ball wide from three yards out.

Despite that pressure, Town equalised after 22 minutes when a great move involving Pollard, Thompson and Henderson saw the ball back at the feet Thompson to fire home.

Ashton finished the half on the attack; Regan was allowed to run unchecked as the Town defence retreated with his final shot curling just past Gidley’s post.

The visitors started the second half with a claim for a penalty as Gidley appeared to make contact with Robinson. Nothing was given and the ball fell for Midgeley who blasted over.

Town then made their first substitution with new signing Matthew Simpson replacing Hutchison in the 57th minute.

But it was still Ashton making all the running with Robinson just failing to slip Smith through on goal.

Town swept straight to the other end and a quick interchange between Thompson and Gorman saw the latter shoot straight at keeper Martin Pearson.

Regan lofted his shot over Gidley’s crossbar at the other end, and Ashton full back Adam Howard was unlucky to see a fierce shot cannon off the Town crossbar with the stopper beaten.

Town then substituted Crawshaw for John Beckwith (73). But it was Ashton who had the next chance. Howard delivered a corner to the near post and Robinson, trying a speculative overhead kick, saw the ball go inches wide.

Ashton did regain the lead after 79 minutes – a free-kick halfway inside the Town half taken by Howard glanced off Gorman’s head and looped into the back of Gidley’s net at the far post.

With Town pressing for an equaliser in injury time, Smith cleverly flicked the ball over a Town defender before advancing towards goal and drilling a fierce shot past Gidley.