Premier Division play-off semi-finals review

Ashton sneaked into the runners-up spot with a last-day win at Workington AFC last weekend, so welcomed Farsley Celtic, who finished a point clear of Shaw Lane AFC in fifth, to Hurst Cross and a crowd of 604.

It was goalless at the break, with neither side yet to seriously test the goalkeepers. However, Ashton got stronger as the half wore on and they continued that forward momentum in the second half, the home side breaking the deadlock 12 minutes in when Liam Tomsett swept home John Pritchard’s pull-back from six yards.

And then on 68 minutes, Ashton were awarded a penalty after Tomsett was brought down in the box and Aarom Chalmers kept his cool to make it 2-0. But just 3 minutes later, Farsley were back in the tie when Nathan Turner smashed the ball home from the edge of the box.

Grantham Town took their place in the final with a comprehensive second half demolition of Warrington Town on their own Cantilever Park patch. The Wire had taken four points off the Gingerbreads in the regular season but, after a tight first 45 minutes, Warrington had no answer to Grantham’s pressure.

It took Grantham 17 minutes of the second half to break down the home side. Andy Wright’s shot took a deflection and sat up in the air for skipper Stefan Galinski to beat Warrington keeper Luke Pilling to the ball and head the visitors in front. The Gingerbreads stretched their lead on 71 minutes when a free-kick was delivered into the box and Danny Meadows looped an effort over Pilling and into the back of the net.

Warrington poured forward in an effort to get back into the tie but left themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack. And they were caught out five minutes from time when Olly Luto’s cross was headed home by Jordan Hempenstall to make it game over.

Images courtesy of Jeremy Sayle/@AshtonUnitedFC & John Hopkins/Warrington Town/Twitter

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