Ashton Athletic’s final away game of the season ended in disappointment as a determined Darwen side, still fighting for a playoff spot, secured a 4-1 victory in an eventful evening of football.

Despite the scoreline, The Yellows started brightly and stunned the home side by taking the lead just 10 minutes in. Manny Ujahchuku continued his impressive form, to give Ashton an early advantage. However, their joy was short-lived, as Darwen responded almost immediately, capitalising on a corner just two minutes later to level the scores.

Darwen’s playoff ambitions meant they were always going to fight for every ball, but Ashton matched them for large parts of the first half. Goalkeeper Joe Beswick, returning to the side, was outstanding throughout the game, making crucial saves to keep his side in contention.

However, the game turned in the 31st minute when Darwen edged in front, punishing The Yellows after a spell of pressure. Ashton were still well in the contest, but just as the half-time whistle approached, the home side snatched a third goal in the 45th minute, giving them a comfortable cushion heading into the break.

Half-Time Drama
As the teams left the pitch, tensions boiled over, leading to a heated argument between both sides. The dispute continued into the changing rooms, and in a dramatic turn of events, Ashton’s manager Jay Foulds was sent off and was not allowed to return for the second half.

Second-Half Struggles
With the drama of the break behind them, Ashton regrouped and looked to find a way back into the game. Once again, Joe Beswick was called into action, producing a string of excellent saves to keep The Yellows in contention.

However, Darwen’s pressure eventually told, and in the 59th minute, they grabbed their fourth goal, effectively ending any hopes of an Ashton comeback.

Despite battling until the final whistle, the damage had already been done, and Darwen saw out the game to secure a crucial three points in their pursuit of promotion.

Looking Ahead
Ashton now turn their attention back to Brocstedes Park for their penultimate game of the season against Route One Rovers on Saturday. The Yellows will be looking to bounce back and finish the season on a high in front of their home crowd.

Player of the Match Joe Beswick – The returning goalkeeper produced a string of excellent saves to keep Ashton in the game for long periods, despite the result.

COYY!

Attendance 162

Starting XI
1 Joe Beswick
2 Conal Larkin
3 Ethan Pearce
4 Joe White
5 Calum Wilson
6 Niall Partridge
7 Jack Smith
8 Zach Conway
9 Emmanuel Ujahchuku
10 Nathan Beca
11 Joshua Nicholson

Substitutes: Harry Stephens, Jamie Nicholson, Luke Crompton, Oscar Rothwell, Zakaria Ouaal.

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All Photographs and Media by Nic Cain

Remaining Matches:
Date Opponent K.O.
05/04/25 Route One Rovers (H) 15:00
12/04/25 Euxton Villa (H) 15:00

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MATCH PREVIEW: NORTH WEST COUNTIES DIVISION ONE NORTH
Tuesday, 2nd April 2024
⏰ Kick-off: 19:45
Multevo Group Anchor Ground

Ashton Athletic hit the road for their final away fixture of the season as they take on Darwen FC under the lights in East Lancashire. With just three games remaining, both sides will be eager to finish the campaign on a high, setting the stage for an exciting encounter.

For the hosts, the stakes are high. Darwen currently sit 6th in the North West Counties Division One North, and while their playoff hopes remain slim, they are far from extinguished. Sitting on 61 points from 31 games, they trail Euxton Villa and Holker Old Boys by seven points. With three games left, every point is crucial, and Darwen will be battling for all three to keep their slim promotion dreams alive.

Recent results show they are more than capable of competing with the league’s best—most notably, a 3-1 victory over 2nd-placed Nelson just 10 days ago. They will be full of confidence heading into this fixture.

Meanwhile, Ashton Athletic may be sitting comfortably in mid-table, but there is still plenty to play for. With pride, momentum, and a strong finish to the season on the line, The Yellows will be determined to produce a performance that showcases their progress.

With the Multevo Group Anchor Ground set for an electric atmosphere, and the weather looking promising for a great night of non-league football, we’d love to see as many of you making the trip to back the lads.

Kick-off is at 19:45—see you there!

Come On You Yellows!

Ground: Multevo Group Anchor Ground
Address: Anchor Road, Darwen, Lancashire
Postcode: BB3 0BB
Telephone: 07778191788