Match Report: Ashton United 3-2 Matlock Town

Ashton moved up to 3rd place in the Northern Premier League after an entertaining encounter against their plucky visitors who started the evening bottom of the league.

The Gladiators had recently appointed Ryan Cresswell as new manager after a poor start and were facing an unchanged starting line up from the weekend win at Whitby.

9 minutes in and Benny Ndlovu won a corner from Sean Newton amidst shouts for handball and after Sam Baird conceded a second corner Ndlovu's effort was deflected narrowly wide and when he delivered the resulting dead ball Reece Kendall was at hand on the far post to head against the bar.

A throw in then led to Luke Burke bringing the best out of Rogan Ravenhill as he tipped away a top corner effort and a further throw in then saw a sharp turn by Osei in the box lead to his cross being swept home by James Hardy. Trevon Bryan's cross was then blocked with Osei's follow up delivery from the by line just evading the run of Burke with the goal gaping and 4 minutes ahead of the break a long ball saw Connor O'Grady miscontrol allowing Hardy to fire a cross for Jason Gilchrist to knock home the second close in.

Within 5 minutes of the restart Matlock were back in the game as Kendall's long ball from the back saw Ndlovu slide his finish home into the far corner as the visitors set out with purpose but 4 minutes past the hour the Robins restored their two goal advanatge as Hardy retrieved the ball at the right touchline and saw his deep cross met perfectly by the head of Osei to send the ball back into the opposite corner of the net.

5 minutes on the Gladiators cut the advantage again as a ball into the area by Ferguson saw Remaye Campbell's lay off hammered home by Curtis Durose and after several substitutions and with 5 minutes remaining Bobby Bjork played a 1-2 with Osei before slicing wide and Matlock's last chance of a draw saw Joseph West's cross bring a tumbling save out of Eastham from Ndlovu's header.