ASHTON maintained their push towards a play-off place with an impressive win at third-placed North Ferriby.

Having lost at Guseley in midweek, the Robins matched their hosts who had been in fine form, scoring six goals in their previous home game.

Ferriby’s Steve Torpey had headed Andy Jackson’s cross over before Ashton took a 16th minute lead when leading scorer Ben Deegan latched onto a long ball out of defence before holding off Liam Chapman and lobbing the advancing Steve Wilson.

Both sides played neat football, passing the ball through midfield and getting crosses in from wide positions, although each side could have found the net as the half wore on.

Ashton’s Nick Prescott cleared Paul Foot’s header off the line while Deegan twice came close at the other end.

However, Ashton’s perseverance paid off in the final minute of the first half when Ian Bennett seized a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired a low shot which beat Wilson and went in off the post.

With Mike Flynn replacing the injured Stephen Rose for Ashton, the Robins held the hosts at bay before a fine piece of skill from Gary Bradshaw halved the hosts’ deficit.

Just after the hour mark he received the ball from Chapman, before turning neatly and striking a left-footed shot past Terry Smith.

Flynn, Alex Frost and Ian Kearnet contained the home attack superbly, but it was Smith’s outstanding save to deny Matty Bloor which ensured all three points.

There was a late moment of controversy when Wilson came out of his area and handled the ball to deny Deegan a goalscoring opportunity, only for the referee to award a free kick without producing a card – fortunately it did not alter the outcome.

Attendance: 198

Bryan Marshall