Stand Athletic 4 AshtonTown 1

LATICS overcame a spirited Ashton side to consolidate their position at the top of the table and create an eight-point cushion with two games in hand.

Ashton, who always seem to be battling in the lower half of the division, have been rejuvenated over the last month since the arrival of managers Brian Richardson and Brian Smith and were a completely different side to the one beaten 4-0 by Latics back in September.

They gave the home side a hard fight in the first 45 minutes, but it was the first ten minutes that exploded into life. After just three minutes Ashton's Paul Prescott broke clear to force goalkeeper Tommy Allen into a marvellous stop in a one-on-one situation.

A minute later Mark Denham's low shot was palmed onto the post by Ashton keeper Dave Brown. The resulting corner saw a Neil Dawes cross headed on at the near post by Lee Wilkinson for Steve Davis to head comfortably into the bottom corner.

Wilkinson nearly doubled the score when he struck a post after good work by Chris Denham, but on ten minutes Simon Hannon's long, looping shot was pushed onto the bar by Brown only for Wilkinson to smash home the ball from close range. The Wigan side must have been fearing the worst as an onslaught was now looking to be on the cards as Stand laid siege to the vistors' goal.

Ashton keeper Brown began to look as edgy as his back four and no-one would have betted against a big score, but as Stand broke down the right the move was broken up by the lightning Lee Jennings.

His pace took him past several Stand players before he slipped the ball to Dominic Shinks who gave Allen no chance.

So game on and Allen had to produce several outstanding saves to keep his side in front.

A series of corners was putting pressure on the Latics defence and if Ashton had used the pace of wide man Jennings a bit more often, Stand could have been in serious trouble.

A flurry of chances fell to either side, but the break came with Stand still holding on to their slender advantage.

they took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half however and in the 51st minute superb approach work by Daws found Mark Denham with time and space inside the Ashton box. He swivelled and scored in style.

Stand now looked to kill the game off and Brown fought a lone battle against the Stand forwards until, on the hour, Shinks broke again and forced Allen into another fine save.

In the 72nd minute Stand finally wrapped the points up when Lee Anderson's right wing cross was thumped home by substitute Jordan Ashton from inside the six-yard box.

STAND ATHLETIC: Allen 8, Anderson 6, Gallagher 7, Davis 7, McCartney 7, Telfer 6, Hannan 6, C Denham 6, Wilkinson 6, M Denham 6, Dawes 7. Substitutes: Stott (for Telfer) 6, Ashton (for Wilkinson) 7. Referee: Mr M Astley (Denton). Stand make the long trip to Stone Dominoes on Saturday. Steve Carroll could still be struggling with an ankle injury sustained in training last week which forced him out of last Saturday's squad.

Full back Alan Dixon is still on the injured list, but Stuart Telfer (ankle) and Lee Wilkinson (dead leg) should be fit to face Stone.

Latics are back at Ewood Bridge on Boxing Day when they face Padiham (kick-off 3pm).

Stand are on the look-out for a physionor first-aider who could help out on match days. Anyone interested should contact Nick Woods on 0795 0102307.