EASTWOOD performed their second comeback in three days as they disposed of high-flying Ashton at Coronation Park on Tuesday night.
Having bounced back from a half-time deficit against Nantwich on Saturday (see page 30) they did the same again in m
idweek to make it two league wins on the trot.
Eastwood's only change to the side that faced Nantwich was the injury-enforced resting of Simon Sturdy, who was replaced by Mark Hume.
The visitors started impressively and, with Gareth Richards sparking most moves, the Eastwood defence came under severe pressure.
Stephen Rose ran strongly down the right and, from his low hard-driven cross, Ryan Moore forced Shane Redmond into a somewhat clumsy tumbling stop.
As the home side eventually settled, Ian Holmes slipped between two defenders, laid back to Ross Gardner and was just fractionally off connecting with the return pass.
Keeping up the pressure, Lindon Meikle sped on to Alistair Asher's perceptive long pass but pulled his attempted cross behind two on-rushing colleagues.
In 26 minutes, Ashton took an unexpected lead when Rose crossed and Iain Howard took full advantage of defensive hesitancy by tucking the ball past Redmond who looked to be 'nut-megged' at very short range.
Despite constant and sometimes well-constructed attacks spearheaded by the strong running of Andy Todd, obviously smarting from missing an earlier clear opening, the well-marshalled visiting defence held out.
Holmes, Gardner and Meikle all had clear sights of goal but, apart from one full-length save from the first-named, Terry Smith was not too discomfited.
Playing in their favoured up-slope direction, Eastwood started the second-half positively and when Anton Foster dispossessed Ben Deegan, his transfer to Richard Dunning led to a flowing move ended when Cooke's attempt to put Holmes clear was cleverly anticipated and cleared by Ian Kearney.
Consistent home pressure finally paid off in 62 minutes when, from a set-piece, Hume's vigorous challenge upset the United defence and Paul Robinson, looking better with each outing, came in behind his mate and headed powerfully past Smith.
The determined visitors almost went ahead again within minutes but Redmond, at first surprised by Ian Bennett's snap-shot, juggled with and finally held on to a ball swirling madly in a strong wind.
Marc Smith came on for Meikle and his glancing header from Dunning's punt was rolled into the path of Holmes by Gardner. The first-time shot by Eastwood's leading scorer was blocked by a solid phalanx of defenders.
As play swung rapidly from one goal to the other, Cooke sensibly turned Moore's low cross behind and Redmond confidently 'swallowed' the consequent in-swinging corner.
Two more corners to Ashton, both from the left-flank, were cleared before Eastwood made the vital breakthrough in 78 minutes.
Almost inevitably it was Holmes who capitalised as a visibly tiring Ashton defence struggled to contain Eastwood's lively attack.
The striker increased his goal count to nine from 11 league outings with a typically confident, assured finish.
Despite all their busy endeavours to get back on terms, Ashton rarely troubled an Eastwood defence in which Robinson and Hume reigned with nonchalant aplomb.
Once, in the dying moments, late substitute Ben Smith forced Redmond into a good-looking reflex save but, against that both Peter Knox and Todd had chances to embellish Eastwood's lead.
When assessing the Badgers' latest win, it is well to remember that Ashton arrived four points and five places ahead of their hosts.
In these circumstances, a win to keep promotion hopes simmering was needed - and achieved.
In a workmanlike and hard-working team effort, Paul Robinson was an unusually disputed man-of-the-match choice.
Eastwood Town
1 - Shane Redmond
2 - Alistair Asher
3 - Russell Cooke
4 - Paul Robinson
5 - Mark Hume
6 - Richard Dunning
7 - Anton Foster
8 - Andy Todd
9 - Ian Holmes (Peter Knox 84)
10 - Lindon Meikle (Marc Smith 65)
11 - Ross Gardner (Wayne Diuk 85)
Subs not used: Chris Shaw, Craig Swinscoe
Attendance: 314
Referee: G Mellor (Derby)
Best Badger - Paul Robinson
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