Report: Warrington Town 3-0 Ashton United

Warrington Town all but secured their place in the Northern Premier League play-offs with a commanding 3-0 win over Ashton United.

Skipper Josh Amis scored a first half brace to take his tally to 10 for the season, but he was denied a hat-trick with the last kick of the game when Tom Scott saved his penalty.

Substitute Luke Duffy had won the penalty, dragged down by former Yellows full-back James Baillie, having scored a beauty of his own minutes after coming off the bench late on.

The Yellows went in to the game knowing a win would all but secure a play-off spot following Hyde’s loss on Good Friday, which means a nine point cushion with three games left to play.

AWAY TRAVEL: South Shields

There hadn’t really been any clear cut chances before Amis opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Connor Woods won the ball back high up the pitch and passed the ball across the box for Amis at the second attempt for the striker to scramble home.

Ashton’s only real sighting of goal came when Nathan Lowe’s mishit cross came back off the face of the crossbar, before a Woods run through the middle and shot from range drew a smart save from Scott in the Ashton goal.

The Yellows kept pressing until the half time whistle, and scored with virtually the last action of the half. Dec Walker’s corner was flicked on by Evan Gumbs and Amis nodded in at the back post for his sixth goal in five games.

It was just a case of managing the game in the second half, and at times it had a real end of season feel as Warrington comfortably went about their business.

A flurry of shots midway through the half threatened the scoreboard, as Bohan Dixon’s superb curling shot was equally well saved by Scott, who also denied Sean Williams.

Amis had a chance for a hat-trick when Dixon slid him through, his well-struck left foot shot from a narrow angle going wide of the far post.

A third goal did come, three minutes from time, thanks to a wonderful bit of skill by Duffy, who rolled the ball across two defenders before firing a left-foot shot in to the top corner.

Duffy looked to have created the opportunity for Amis to claim the match ball in injury time, but Amis’ low penalty was well saved by Scott to his left and Stefan Mols blazed over from the rebound.

BUY TICKETS: Marine (A)

But it couldn’t deny the Yellows a 21st match unbeaten ahead of the Easter Monday trip to Marine.

Warrington Town: Thompson, Walker, White, Hannigan, Gumbs, Harris, Woods (Mols), McDonald (Williams), Amis, Dixon, Buckley-Ricketts (Duffy). Unused subs: Buckley, Warren.

Ashton United: Scott, Milner (Baillie), Regan, Lonsdale, Baird, Porter, McKay, Whitham, Gilchrist (Hobson), Lowe, Thompson (Adams). Unused subs: Jenkins, Bunn.