Ashton travelled to Bootle with high hopes of taking 3 points away from the Delta Taxis Stadium after defeating the bucks only a few weeks earlier.
Both teams started with 442 formations which seemed to cancel each other out until the hosts Lee Thompson broke through on goal, only to be denied by a wonder save from joint manager Jay foulds, 5 minutes later it was that man again Thompson causing the Ashton defence problems as a low cross was delivered into the box by Riley, Thompson managed to wrap his foot around it only to see that man again Foulds at full stretch to tip it around the post for a corner.
Ashton only real chance of the first half came from good work down the right as Livingston delivered a telling cross that was met by Mahoney but his tame effort was easily collected by Moran in the Bootle goal.
HT0-0
The second half started as the first finished with Bootle taking the game to the Yellows but it was not until the 60th minute when a change from the home side sparked the game into life, O'Connor came on for Thompson and suddenly made an impact, his tireless work off the ball caused no end of problems for the Ashton back four.
Bootle had two penalty claims turned down in quick succession before they finally took the lead on 79 minutes,
a cross from the right was headed away by Rowlands but failure to close down the second ball quick enough was to prove Ashtons downfall as it was O'Connor who had time to take a touch inside the 6 yard box and riffle his shot past a helpless Foulds.
Ashton were pressing forward by now and were unlucky not to draw level as Mahoney caught the sweetest of left foot volleys, only to be denied by a full length save from Moran.
As time was running out, so were Ashtons ideas of getting the equaliser as they failed to threaten the Bootle goal again
As the referee blew for full time you could see what it meant to the Bootle players after what has been a difficult week for all involved with the club and to be honest they thoroughly deserved the 3 points
The Ashton managment team will be left wandering where their next goal will come from, after drawing a blank on their last two outings, but with no mid week fixture im sure the 3 of them will have the boys raring to go for next Saturday when we entertain Bacup.
FT1-0
Ashtons MOM went to Danny Mahoney but how Jay Foulds never got it I will never know!
Foulds,Edwards, Casey(Bailey), Wood, Rowlands,Kay, Gilchrist, Hull, Small(Downing), Mahoney,Livingston(Williams).
not used- Holden,Graham