Ashton Athletic continued their relentless league form with a 2-0 victory over local rivals Skelmersdale United at Brocstedes Park. Despite the scoreline, The Yellows had to be patient in a game where missed chances and tricky conditions threatened to disrupt their momentum.

Ashton, riding high with seven wins from seven league games before kick-off, dominated early proceedings, pinning Skem back in their half. However, the visitors, still searching for their first win of the season, defended resolutely. The breakthrough finally came in the 38th minute when in-form striker Dek Hill slotted home to give Ashton a deserved 1-0 lead going into the break.

The second half saw Ashton continue their dominance, playing some attractive football despite unpredictable weather that ranged from sunshine to heavy rain and hail. Skem grew into the match as time wore on, and the home crowd grew anxious for a second goal to put the game to bed.

Hill, once again, proved decisive late on, chasing down what seemed a lost cause. Skelmersdale keeper Joe Langford misjudged the ball, allowing Hill to pounce for an easy tap-in and secure his second goal of the match in the 79th minute. The last 10 minutes was one-way traffic and Ashton could have easily added more, but their 2-0 win and 3 points pushes them into 5th place and back into the playoff mix.

Man of the Match: Dek Hill.

Next Fixture:
**Ashton Athletic vs. Maine Road**
**Saturday, October 19th, 3:00 pm kick-off at Brocstedes Park**. A key clash with only three points separating the two promotion hopefuls.

Starting XI
1 Joe Beswick
2 Conal Larkin
3 Nathan Whalley
4 Calum Wilson
5 Joe White
6 Zach Conway
7 Joshua High
8 Jack Smith
9 Deklan Hill
10 Joshua Nicholson
11 Jamie Nicholson

Substitutes: Nathan Beca, Emmanuel Ujahchuku, Ben Glendon, Niall Partridge, Kingston David.

Attendance 92 - Read The Match Programme HERE

Media and Photographs by Nic Cain

Next Five Matches:
Date Opponent K.O.
19/10/24 Maine Road (H) 15:00
25/10/24 Daisy Hill (A) 19:45
02/11/24 Garstang (A) 15:00
09/11/24 Steeton (A) 15:00
11/11/24 AFC Liverpool (A) 19:45

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Match Preview: North West Counties Division One North

This Saturday, we welcome Skelmersdale United to Brocstedes Park as Ashton Athletic look to continue their excellent run in their league campaign. On paper, this match may seem a formality, with Athletic sitting high in the table and boasting a flawless seven wins from seven in the league. However, as football often reminds us, no match can be taken for granted.

Skelmersdale United currently occupy 18th place, propping up the Division One North standings. They have yet to win this season, recording just two draws—a 3-3 away result at Garstang and a 2-2 home draw against Route One Rovers. The latter side dealt Ashton a rare blow earlier this week, defeating the Yellows 3-0 in the Edward Case Cup, underlining the unpredictable nature of the sport.

When these two sides met in August, it was a tight affair, with a third-minute wonder strike from Jack Smith giving Ashton a narrow 1-0 victory. Skem had their chances to equalise and even snatch a win, so Jay Foulds and his management team will be fully aware of the potential threat.

Kick-off is set for 3 pm, and we expect plenty of action as Ashton continue their pursuit of a playoff place. We hope to see you at Brocstedes Park to cheer the Yellows on!

Ground: Brocstedes Park
Address: Downall Green, Ashton in Makerfield
Postcode: WN4 0NR

Admission prices are set at £6 for adults, £3 for concessions, and £1 for under-16s. Juniors accompanied by adults can enjoy the game for free, making it an affordable outing for families. Additionally, Wigan Athletic and other season ticket holders are eligible for the £3 concession price.

Please note, it's cash only at the turnstile, while the bar and kitchen accept card and contactless payments.