After the drama and excitement of Tuesday's Emirates FA cup it's back to league action with the visit of Hanley town. Hanley are currently on a good run of form winning their last 3 games which has lifted them to 3rd in the league.

- Ashton Athletic Joint Manager, Jay Foulds

League action returns to Brocstedes Park as Ashton Athletic welcome Hanley Town on Saturday with the Yellows still seeking their first league win of the season.

Ashton will be hoping to carry the good feeling from Tuesday's FA Cup penalty shootout win against Worksop Town into the game. Worksop took the lead in the 3rd minute when Steve Woolley found himself free in the box and fired the ball in the top right hand corner. The lead lasted 4 minutes, Joel Brownhill laid the ball off the Adam Gilchrist, who slotted the ball past Jon Kennedy at his near post. Adam Somes put Worksop ahead 3 minutes into the 2nd half. The ball ricocheted in his direction and he placed the ball past a stretching Martin Pearson. The scores were level 6 minutes into injury time when a long ball avoided everyone in the Worksop area and Danny Regan picked it up and fired past Jon Kennedy sending the game into extra time.

The deadlock couldn't be broken in the extra 30 minutes that followed, though the Tigers did have the ball in the back of the next in the first period, only for it to be ruled out for offside. The game had to be decided with a penalty shootout.

Ashton converted all their penalties but Martin Pearson saved from Steve Woolley and Kieran Fenton and the Yellows went through to the next round with a 4-1 win setting up a tie against Mossley.

Hanley Town go into the game in excellent form. After going out of the FA Cup at the hands of Sporting Khalsa after a replay and losing their first game of the season at home to Runcorn Town, they have gone on an excellent run of 3 wins in 3, beating Maine Road 3-1 away, Abbey Hey 3-0 and most recently Congleton Town 4-1 at home.

After a goalless first half an hour, Sean Mountford gave Hanley the lead on 30 minutes before Joel Stair doubled the lead just before half time in the 43rd minute. Brian Matthews pulled a goal back for the Bears with a 60th minute penalty, but an Angelo Errico 3 minute double (65 & 68) ensured that Hanley moved up to 3rd with 9 points from 12.

This is the first ever league meeting between the clubs, which is sure to be a cracking match.

Ashton Athletic Joint Manager, Jay Foulds:

"After the drama and excitement of Tuesday's Emirates FA cup it's back to league action with the visit of Hanley town. Hanley are currently on a good run of form winning their last 3 games which has lifted them to 3rd in the league. They defeated congleton 4-1 on Tuesday which not many teams will do this season. We again have key players missing with Luke Holden, Sam Bailey and Adam Gilchrist all on holiday plus Ross shepherd still struggling with a groin injury. This gives the young lads from the youth team a chance to gain valuable experience with us and we know they are capable if called upon. Hopefully come 5pm on Saturday we have recorded our first league win of the season."

Ashton Athletic Last 6 Games
23/28/16 - Worksop Town (H) D 2-2 AET (Ashton won 4-1 on pens) Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Replay
21/08/16 - Worksop Town (A) D 2-2 Emirates FA Cup Preliminary
16/06/16 - Bootle (A) L 3-0
13/08/16 - Maine Road (H) D 2-2
08/08/16 - Barnton (A) L 1-0
06/08/16 - AFC Blackpool (A) W 1-0 FA Cup Extra Prelim

Hanley Town Last 6 Games
23/28/16 - Congleton Town (H) W 4-1
20/08/16 - Abbey Hey (H) W 3-0
15/08/16 - Maine Road (A) W 2-1
09/08/16 - Sporting Khalsa (H) L 3-1 Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replay
06/08/16 - Sporting Khalsa (A) D 1-1 FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Admission
Adults: £6
Consessions: £3
U16's: £1

Programmes £2
Half-Time Raffle: £1
Hot and cold refreshments available.