A SOLITARY goal on 15 minutes was enough to secure victory for Bacup in this NWCL second division clash.

The young Bacup side battled hard against a bigger, more physical team and ground out a result thanks to a Shaun Cryer goal.

Ian McClelland played a ball down the left to Damon Gledhill who slotted a pass between the centre half and left back for Cryer to run on to.

The centre forward drew the keeper, went round him and coolly slotted home.

Cryer, an asthmatic, had to go off soon afterwards because he was having trouble breathing, and he was replaced by new signing from Salford City, Stuart Grimshaw, who played in the same Salford Boys side as Ryan Giggs.

The best chance of the second half fell to Grimshaw who was put through on goal only to see his hard low shot parried by the keeper and cleared by a defender before Martin Peters could pounce.

And keeper Tony Grainger, in goal for the unavailable Adam Potts, pulled off a fantastic save to keep his side in the lead.

Manager Brent Peters said he was pleased with the way his young side ground out a result.

"It was scrappy and our biggest problem was we were trying to play balls square across the front of their defence. We didn't play more balls in like the one for the goal.

"We didn't have anyone in midfield who could create something.

"They put us under pressure second half and even though we were outmuscled we dug in and the defence held firm."

BACUP...1 ASHTON...0