Big brother lends a hand

Danny Johnson’s free-scoring Ashton United have been working on stiffening their defence thanks to a family link to the MK Dons, writes Jez Sayle.

The Robins are the leading scorers in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League with 44 goals from 20 Premier Division games but Johnson isn’t resting on his laurels when it comes to defending with the second half of the season getting underway over Christmas.

While the Robins manager added the attacking talents of the experienced Chris Denham to his squad as a replacement for the departed Astley Mulholland this week, he's revealed how he accepted an offer to work with his squad from MK Dons manager Karl Robinson, the brother of Ashton United assistant manager and centre-half Craig.

The League One boss put on a training session targeted specifically at defensive play to help reduce the number of entries in their ‘Goals Against’ column and Johnson said he was delighted to turn Thursday night's training into a family affair.

Johnson said: “Karl came down and did a fantastic session with the lads on so many levels. Firstly because he is recognised as one of the leading young coaches in the Football League, secondly because my coaching team and I can’t help but learn from coaches working in the professional game and, thirdly, because it gives the lads a new voice to listen to and plenty to think about, so it helps freshen things up for them too.”

Full-back Alex Frost is targeting a return to action in Ashton’s next game – a Boxing Day clash with Nantwich Town - having not played since limping out of the game at Whitby Town back in mid-November. Vice-captain Warren Beattie, who was excused from the trip to Worksop last Saturday due to a family illness, is also expected to be in contention for a squad place for the trip to the Weaver Stadium.

The Robins, who weren't due to play on Saturday, haven't lost ground in the league after all of the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division fixtures were called off due to waterlogged pitches.