Ashton Town 0 Haslingden 0

WITH five first team members unavailable, including the strike force of Jimmy Clarke, Steve Parry and Rory McDowell, Haslingden looked physically lightweight for the game from which they would have expected to take maximum points.

Ashton Town's Edge Green Street ground has been a graveyard for many a title chasing side and had it not been for the lack of firepower from the home side, Haslingden could have been one of those buried there.

It was a scrappy affair throughout with Haslingden failing to get anywhere near their potential.

Paul Stanley worked well on the right hand side, but Andy Clarke, Andy Cowking and Carl Greenwood were all wide of the target in the first half. Peter McLoughlin went closest with a header before half time, but was just wide.

But for once Haslingden lacked ideas in front of goal even though in the second half they pushed Ashton back into their own territory. Peter McLoughlin again forced an easy save from the keeper as did a shot from Andy Cowking.

John Wylie, brought out of retirement for this game, had the ball in the net after 71 minutes, but that was ruled out because of the use of the hand. Haslingden saved their best chances until the dying minutes.

Ian Pilkington's cross was allowed through the six yard box without anyone there to pick up the loose ball.

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