It was a tough afternoon for Ashton Athletic as they fell to a 4–0 defeat away at Maine Road in the North West Counties Division One North. The hosts, full of confidence after a strong start to the season, produced a clinical display in front of goal, while The Yellows struggled to make their mark in the final third.

Maine Road struck first in the 11th minute through their lively No.7, Emmanuel Osayogie, who would go on to be named Man of the Match. His composed finish set the tone for the afternoon, with Ashton immediately facing an uphill task.

Despite the early setback, The Yellows worked hard to stay in the contest. Defensively, they stood firm for long spells and limited clear-cut chances, while looking to find opportunities of their own. However, creativity in the attacking third proved difficult to come by, and Ashton went into the interval trailing 1–0.

The second half began more brightly for the visitors, who enjoyed their best spell of the match after the restart. The introduction of fresh legs brought energy and drive, but the crucial second goal arrived at the wrong end. In the 63rd minute, Maine Road doubled their lead, leaving Ashton with a mountain to climb.

As the game wore on, the home side continued to press with intensity, closing down space and forcing errors. A third goal followed on 75 minutes, effectively ending any chance of a comeback. The best was saved for last, as substitute Jack Coop unleashed a stunning strike from distance in the closing stages. His looping effort soared over goalkeeper Billy Davies and into the top corner — a goal worthy of sealing the contest.

In truth, Ashton were beaten by the better side on the day. While the effort and work rate could not be questioned, the lack of cutting edge in front of goal made it an uphill battle once Maine Road took control.

Manager Jay Foulds and his coaching staff will now look to regroup quickly, with attention turning to next weekend’s FA Vase clash against Premier Division side Charnock Richard — a challenging fixture, but also an opportunity to bounce back and show resilience.

Starting XI
1 Billy Davies
2 Jake Greene
3 Aleksander Calaku
4 Calum Wilson
5 Ethan Pearce
6 Samuel Oko
7 William Adams
8 Niall Partridge
9 Emmanuel Ujahchuku
10 Jonathan Sodhi
11 Joshua Nicholson

Substitutes:Luke Crompton, Zach Conway, Joseph Barlow, Dylan Yates, Charlie Brown

Attendance 75

All Photographs and Media by Nic Cain

Next Five Matches:
Date Opponent K.O.
23/08/25 Charnock Richard (A) 15:00
30/08/25 Droylsden (H) 15:00
02/09/25 Bacup Borough (H) 19:45
06/09/25 Holker Old Boys (A) 15:00
13/09/25 Nelson (H) 15:00

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MATCH PREVIEW

North West Counties Division One North.
Ashton Athletic are back on the road this weekend as they make the trip to Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, for their third league fixture of the season — a clash against a Maine Road side who have started the campaign with intent.

The hosts have laid down an early marker, winning two of their opening three games, most notably beating MSB Woolton 5-0 last weekend and only falling narrowly in a 3-2 defeat away at Colne. Sitting in the playoff positions at this very early stage, Maine Road will be keen to keep their momentum rolling in front of their home supporters.

For The Yellows, the story so far has been one of promise tinged with frustration. With one win and one defeat from their first two league games, Jay Foulds’ side have impressed in terms of performance but have been hampered by misfortune — including two red cards in as many matches, both to central defenders. Yet, the depth of the squad has shone through, with others stepping up to fill the void and keep the team competitive.

Last weekend’s dramatic late heartbreak at Thornton Cleveleys — when the hosts snatched victory with the last kick of the game — will undoubtedly serve as motivation for Ashton to put things right. The grit, work rate, and attacking threat are there; now it’s about turning performances into points.

Manager Foulds, along with coaches Dave Tickle and Liam Hook, will demand another high-energy display, knowing that Maine Road pose a significant test. But with many players already catching the eye this season, The Yellows travel with belief.

The short journey to Manchester promises another fiercely contested fixture, and as always, the players will be spurred on by the loyal travelling supporters.

Kick-off: 3:00pm – Saturday
Venue: Brantingham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Postcode: M21 0TT
Come On You Yellows

£6 Adults, £4 Concessions