1874 NORTHWICH appeared on a course to avenge a defeat against opponents that had beaten them the previous week before they conceded twice late on.

Substitute George Hassall earned for his side a share of the spoils after scoring with five minutes left.

Josh Nicholson, on target in a first meeting between the teams that Ashton won 3-0, had initiated a comeback only moments earlier.

The visitors had reached the interval with a two-goal lead thanks to Scott McGowan’s brace.

He had swept in a loose ball to put 1874 in front after Taylor Kennerley, attempting to convert Joe Woolley’s cutback, had been tackled.

And the front man almost doubled his personal tally shortly after the restart when he prompted goalkeeper Martin Pearson to save.

Ashton’s number one also denied Kyle Riley when the duo came face-to-face before McGowan made it 2-0 when he met Joe Woolley’s from the right cross with an emphatic header.

Ashton started the second-half on the front foot, but Northwich went closest to scoring when riley was denied from close-range.

Kennerley’s effort skimmed an upright after he cut inside before management duo Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison sent on new recruit James Ormrod for his first appearance since completing a transfer from North West Counties League rivals Barnoldswick.

However Ashton’s fight-back started when Nicholson netted for a fourth successive game before Hassall hauled them level.

Ashton | Pearson (GK), Guffogg, Gallagher, Cringle, Holden, Wilson (Defreitas-Hansen 67), Nicholson, Munro, McLoughlin (Hassall 57), Reid (Smith 57), Cusani Subs not used Webster, Foulds Goals Nicholson 83, Hassall 85 Booked Guffogg

1874 | Coates (GK), Connor, Russell, Pritchard, Jones, Irlam (Thomas 44), Joe Woolley, Matthew Woolley, Riley (Ormrod 82), McGowan, Kennerley Subs not used Gardner, Waite-Jackson, Stevenson (GK) Goals McGowan 17, 37

Referee Kieran Johnson

Attendance 127