Ashton Athletic kicked off their 2025/26 North West Counties Division One North campaign with a performance full of grit, heart, and resilience, sealing a stunning 1-0 away victory at Daisy Hill—despite playing 86 minutes with ten men.

It was a dramatic start at as The Yellows were dealt a major blow just four minutes into the contest. Centre-back Cal Wilson was shown a straight red card after a challenge on Daisy Hill’s striker was judged to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity. With almost the entire game left to play, Ashton were forced to dig deep—but what followed was a masterclass in unity and determination.

Every single player rose to the challenge, none more so than defender Joe White, who produced a towering display at the heart of the backline. His commanding presence and last-ditch interventions repeatedly frustrated Daisy Hill’s advances, while goalkeeper Joe Beswick, though not called upon as often as expected, provided a safe and steady pair of hands when required.

The home side did rattle the crossbar twice, but Ashton’s shape, discipline, and refusal to buckle under pressure kept the hosts at bay. As the first half ended goalless, the question was whether The Yellows could sustain such intensity for another 45 minutes.

Just three minutes into the second half, that question was emphatically answered. Manny Ujahchukwu, outstanding all afternoon, seized a moment of quality to break the deadlock, firing Ashton into a 48th-minute lead and sending the away supporters into raptures.

Daisy Hill pushed hard for an equaliser, but they simply couldn’t match the sheer work rate and organisation of Ashton, who looked every bit a side determined to start the season with a statement.

While every player deserved credit in this gutsy win, four individuals stood out: goalscorer Manny Ujahchukwu, the immense Joe White, energetic midfielder Josh Nicholson, and the tireless Alek Calaku. Manny was named Player of the Match by the opposition for his match-winning impact, while Joe White took the fans’ vote on Twitter/X after a heroic defensive display.

A massive three points, a clean sheet, and a performance full of character—it’s exactly the start the management team would have dreamed of.

Final Score: Daisy Hill 0–1 Ashton Athletic
Scorer: Ujahchukwu (48’)
Player of the Match (Opposition): Manny Ujahchukwu
Player of the Match (Fan Vote): Joe White

Starting XI
1 Joe Beswick
2 Jake Greene
3 Aleksander Calaku
4 Joe White
5 Calum Wilson
6 Samuel Oko
7 William Adams
8 Niall Partridge
9 Cole Exley
10 Joshua Nicholson
11 Emmanuel Ujahchuku

Substitutes: Ethan Pearce, Joseph Barlow, Dylan Yates, Alex Priestley.
Attendance 190

All Photographs and Media by Nic Cain

In other news, our Ashton Athletic XI also won 2-1 in their home fixture at Brocstedes Park against Rochdale St Clements.

Goals - Leon Hurst, Lewis Irme - Well Done Boys!!

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Match Preview: Daisy Hill vs Ashton Athletic

North West Counties Division One North
New Sirs, Westhoughton, Bolton
Saturday, Saturday 26th of July
Kick-off: 3:00 PM

The wait is finally over – Ashton Athletic are back in action as they kick off the 2025/26 season with a short but significant away trip to Daisy Hill in the North West Counties Division One North.

After a summer of preparation and transition, The Yellows are eager to begin the new campaign with a strong performance and three points on the road. This fixture is no stranger to excitement. Last season’s meeting at Daisy Hill ended in a closely fought 2-2 draw, while the reverse fixture at Brocstedes Park saw Ashton record their biggest home win of the season, dismantling Daisy Hill 5-1 in a dominant display. A repeat of that result would be the perfect way to set the tone for the season ahead.

Pre-Season Momentum

The squad heads into the opener full of confidence following a superb 5-0 win over FC United in midweek, where they lifted the Sam Harding Trophy in style. A hat-trick from Manny, alongside goals from Niall and Cole, capped off a sharp and confident team performance – the ideal preparation ahead of competitive action.

A New Era Begins

This season also marks the beginning of a new chapter for Ashton Athletic, both on and off the pitch. With fresh leadership and new energy behind the scenes, there’s a sense of optimism building at the club. The players have gelled well in pre-season and are eager to translate that unity and momentum into league form.

Get Behind the Yellows!

It’s only a short journey to Westhoughton, and we’d love to see as many Ashton Athletic supporters as possible making the trip to bolster what promises to be a lively crowd at Daisy Hill. Your support on the road makes a huge difference, and there’s no better time to get behind the lads than opening day.

Bring your voices, bring the energy – let’s start this season the right way.

COME ON YOU YELLOWS!
#AAFC #UpTheYellows #NonLeagueFootball

Kick Off is 3 pm.
£6 Adults, £3 Concessions
Ground: The Ginge Power Stadium
Address: New Sirs, St James Street, Westhoughton, Bolton, Lancashire
Postcode: BL5 2EB
Telephone: 01942 818544