Ashton Prime 0-4 Dowgate

After their third straight win, Prime went into their first ever midweek game confident of claiming the win that would finally haul them off the bottom of the table.

Goldsmith left himself out due to the severe bruising he suffered during Saturday's win at High Brooms. Flamank stepped in for him, with Goulding starting in the heart of midfield, as Walsh was rested.

From the first whistle, Prime did not seem to be at the races. Dowgate were first to every ball and The Numbers barely put a tackle in worthy of the name as the visitors cut through the defence like a knife through butter.

The first goal came after just 10 minutes, as a good through ball found the pacey Dowgate striker who finished with ease beyond the helpless Mellors.

The second goal was soon in coming, and Mellors had to make an excellent save to tip a curling shot onto the post, before Barker hooked clear.

Prime were offering very little in attack with Carl Barker clearly struggling with his foot injury and Flamank seeing very little of the ball.

At the break, Goldsmith threw on Walsh for the stricken striker in a reshuffle that resulted in Kneebone joining Flamank in a pacey front line.

The home side started to compete slightly better, with Ellis clattering into a few challenges and Goulding having more of a say.

But with Mellors forced off with a thigh strain, Sturmey took over in goal and he was soon picking the ball out of the net after a shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off fellow sub Barnham.

Prime started to cause one or two problems and forced a flurry of corners and free-kicks - Goulding firing over and Walsh clearing the angle of post and bar by a whisker.

Yet it was the visitors who continued to look the more dangerous and they rounded off the win with a 4th goal on the break.

Prime were denied a consolation when a flowing move involving Walsh, Mazurkiewicz and finally Flamank was ruled out after the speedy striker was adjudged offside by a fracion as he finished expertly.

The defeat leaves Prime still searching for the 3 points they need to climb off the bottom of the table. Changes are likely as The Numbers take on high-flying Hawkenbury III on Saturday.

Man of the Match: Ellis - Not at his best, but battled hard