Warrington Town 0 Ashton United 1

YELLOWS slipped to their first defeat of the Evo-Stik Premier Division season in a disappointing game against Ashton United on Tuesday night.

John Pritchard’s stunning long-range effort lit up a poor contest as he crashed a 30-yard effort into the top corner.

For all their possession in the second half, Warrington struggled to create clear-cut openings to break down a stubborn Ashton outfit.

Paul Carden was without first-choice midfield pairing Sean Williams and Liam Hynes through injury but defender Phil Baker was brought in for his first start for the club.

In a low-key opening to the game, the visitors seemed content to soak up the long balls Yellows rained down on their defence, with strikers Ruben Jerome and Tony Gray struggling to win headers.

Josh Hine blazed over from inside the area in their clearest opportunity before Ashton opened the scoring in stunning fashion.

After winning back possession in the Town half, Ashton worked the ball to Pritchard who unleashed a stunning effort into the top corner, leaving Yellows stopper Tony McMillan helpless.

Paul Carden’s side had been anonymous in attack, but they came to life as half-time approached to force United keeper David Carnell into a couple of sharp stops.

Jerome’s powerful effort was beaten away at the near post before Joe Mwasile cut inside from the left to force the keeper into a smart stop.

Carden replaced Mwasile with Dylan Vassallo at half-time and Yellows started to establish more possession.

However, despite forcing a number of set-pieces, they struggled to create any chances of note as Ashton remained compact.

Substitute Abou Sanogo flicked a Vassallo corner just wide, but it was the closest Town came to an equaliser.

Town left skipper Jay McCarten up front for the final few minutes, but Ashton held on to inflict a first defeat of the new campaign on Carden’s men.

Warrington: McMillan, Richards, McKeown, Goulding (Hughes), McCarten, Baker, Hine, Barnes, Jerome (Sanogo), Gray, Mwasile (Vassallo). Subs not used: Adam Carden, Kinsella.