The Lions ended the 2025/26 campaign with a 1-1 draw at Hurst Cross in a close affair, writes Adam Bridson.
Kyle White scored his first goal for the club midway through the first half to give his side the lead at the break before Jason Gilchrist levelled an hour in.
Lions Boss Ian Richards made one change from the home defeat to FC United of Manchester last weekend bringing in the goalscorer White in place of John Lufudu who missed the final fixture.
It was the hosts who threatened in the early stages, Jake Lawlor had to be alert to clear a cross over his own goal, the resulting corner was then pulled back for a foul committed by Sean Newton.
James Hardy had the first chance of note just nine minutes in, the number 11 cut in and curled a shot well over Joe Cracknell’s bar.
Three minutes later Jordan Thewlis reacted quickly to intercept a short backpass to Ashton shot stopper Jordan Eastham, the number nine then teed up White but his shot was cleared off the line by Newton.
White was at the centre of the Lions’ attacking play and had another chance 22 minutes in to break the deadlock. The Lions won a free kick on the right hand side of the pitch which he curled goalwards but Eastham parried the ball away from danger.
Two minutes later and White struck, Ollie Brown’s cross found his defensive partner and the former Fleetwood Town man swept home the delivery with Eastham well beaten.
After a frantic spell it took another 14 minutes for the next opportunity and it went to the hosts, Darius Osei broke down the left wing and picked out Al Byrne but the winger couldn’t keep his header down and Cracknell remained untroubled.
Richards shuffled his pack at the break with right back Lucas Odunston introduced for central midfielder Jack Emmett, the substitution saw Brown move into middle of the park.
Like the first half the Lions started brightly and could have doubled their lead seven minutes in, a cross was half cleared to Harrison Hopper on the edge of the box but the midfielder’s shot drifted just wide.
A minute later and Joao Silva had his first opportunity of the afternoon, Brown swivelled in midfield before picking out the number 10 with a perfect pass but he shot over from a narrow angle.
Hopper had another chance in the 57th minute, the number seven managed to get his effort through a myriad of red shirts but Robins ‘keeper Eastham was equal to it and gathered the ball at the second attempt.
It proved a crucial save as three minutes later the hosts levelled. Byrne broke down the right wing and forced Cracknell into an excellent save but the ball sat up nicely for Gilchrist to stab into the gaping goal at the back post.
Two minutes later Hardy drove at the Lions defence and shot from 25 yards out, Cracknell had to be alert to parry the swerving ball over. The Lions keeper had been untested before making two stops in two minutes.
From the resulting corner Newton flipped the game on its head, the defender was found in space at the back post but his shot from a narrow angle flashed wide.
The Lions reacted well to this and had a chance of their own 66 minutes in, Thewlis got in behind the home defence but couldn’t find a way past Eastham who had closed down the angle at his near post.
Substitute Mo Fadera made an immediate impact on the game 70 minutes in, a long ball forward was brought down by the winger before he cut in from the right and spotted Eastham off his line. The York City loanee curled the ball over and past the Ashton goalkeeper but his effort cannoned off the post.
For the second away fixture on the spin Lawlor ended the game as captain following Lebrun Mbeka’s substitution.
A raft of substitutions from both sides haulted any momentum in the game, Thewlis’ free kick in stoppage time which scraped the roof of the net on its way over proved to be the last chance of the afternoon.
Former Lions striker Tom Denton was introduced 10 minutes from time, just before the final whistle the experienced forward was withdrawn to a guard of honour from both sides. The striker’s 20-year playing career is coming to an end on the final day next week in Ashton’s trip to Hednesford Town.
The Lions will watch Saturday’s fixtures with interest to see their final league placing, the draw at Ashton pushed them up to 13th above Warrington Town.
Ashton United 1-1 Guiseley | Saturday 18th April 2026 | Hurst Cross
Attendance: 302
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Ollie Brown, 3. Kyle White, 4. Lebrun Mbeka (C) (79′ Goodman), 5. Elliot Owen, 6. Jake Lawlor, 7. Harrison Hopper, 8. Jack Emmett (46′ Odunston), 9. Jordan Thewlis, 10. Joao Silva (61′ Fadera) and 11. Amir Berchil.
Subs: 12. George Goodman, 14. Calum Hudson, 15. Lucas Odunston, 16. Mo Fadera and 17. Derren Boyle.
