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Saturday 16th February - Frickley Athletic 4-2 Ashton United

Frickley registered their fifth consecutive victory and, with this success over Ashton, got out of the bottom three of the UniBond Premier Division.

It didn't look as though the Blues were inspired by the playing of 'The Great Escape' prior to kick-off as they were on the back foot with Iain Howard having a shot blocked in the second minute and Dean Canning putting the rebound inches wide, while Ian Fitzpatrick skimmed a post with a header two minutes later.

Scott Turner overlapped on the right in the ninth minute and provided an accurate cross for Neil Towler to head goalwards but the ball was cleared and it was not until midway through the half that the home side began to buzz.

Taking a ball on the left in the 24th minute, Chris White cut inside his marker and struck an angled 20 yard shot with Zak Jones did well to parry, and a corner kick from White three minutes later dropped to an unmarked Phil Lindley at the far post but he missed the target from five yards.

Reward came in the 34th minute when White whipped in a low cross which was deflected and Scott Turner drilled in the rebound from ten yards.

Two minutes later, White produced another curling corner kick and Dean Jones darted in at the far post to power in a header which Lee Morris headed in from almost on the line to increase the advantage.

White and Lee Morris combined in the 41st minute to produce a low cross for Turner to sidefoot into the net, while Chris Hilton provided a cross two minutes later and White beat Zak Jones, only for Rudi Coleano to clear off the line.

The second half was a repeat of the first with United huffing and puffing but never putting the home cover under real pressure.

On the hour, Chris Hilton took a pass on the right and pulled the ball back perfectly for Neil Towler to slot into the net for Frickley's fourth goal.

Ashton made three substitutes immediately, although it took another brave save from Zak Jones to prevent Towler striking again three minutes later.

Jon Hood made a point blank save to foil Ryan Moore in the 64th minute and, at the other end, Jonathan Groome was foiled when Zak Jones smothered his 20 yard drive.

Frickley's cover lost its composure a little and Ben Deegan turned in a cross from Canning to reduce the arrears in the 76th minute.

A mistake by Dean Jones four minutes later allowed Deegan to get clear and round Jon Hood to guide in his second goal, but the home side got back in the groove, Towler chasing a ball in the 83rd minute and getting in an angled shot which Zak Jones just managed to grasp.