Ashton Prime 0-3 Dowgate

After 3 successive wins, Prime faced what they knew would be easily their toughest challenge yet at home to Dowgate.

Crucially, Prime were missing the centre-back pairing of Gilbert and Mazurkiewicz, and Lower and Flamank were also missing from last week's starting XI.

Goldsmith, Kneebone and Leaver returned with Sander back on the bench with Postlethwaite.

Prime kicked uphill and into the wind in the first half - and they were really struggling to get the ball out of their half as Dowgate's pacey strikers and combative midfielders were first to everything.

The visitors took the lead within 5 minutes as a loose ball was lashed home from 10 yards, giving Kerton no chance.

The makeshift backline was creaking and Dowgate hit the bar after more confusion between Garside and the skipper Goldsmith.

Abu and Walker were battling hard to try and get Prime into the game, but the midfield was being overrun and soon it was 2-0 after Goldsmith stepped up for offside, but Davis had played the striker onside and despite Kerton getting a good hand onto the shot, the ball trickled into the corner despite Davis' attempts to hook clear.

The rest of the first half was a dis-jointed affair, with the referree making some mystifying decisions that beggared belief at times, and Goldsmith nearly went into the book for pointing this out!

Leaver was getting some more of the ball down the right wing, but Walters was being largely frustrated down the left - although he did curl in a dangerous corner just before the break.

Prime were glad to get in only 2 down and they were hopeful that they could turn the tables in the second half. Leaver was pulled infield and Kneebone switched to right-wing, leaving the hard-working Excell on his own up front.

But the half started poorly for Prime as they went backwards from the kick off and Kerton's attempted clearance was charged down by the pacey Dowgate frontman and luckily it went out for a goal-kick.

It was a much more even contest, but Dowgate were still the slicker in possession and looked dangerous coming forward. Prime's effort could not be faulted, but too many long hopeful balls were being played and Excell cut a frustrated figure as he was forced to chase lost causes.

Prime's best chance of the half came when Walker for once found some space on the edge of the box and curled a 25 yarder narrowly over the bar.

Shortly afterwards, Walters showed the quality he has in his left-foot as his deep cross picked out Excell who will admit he should have hit the target with his free header from close-range.

Sander and Postlethwaite came on in the closing stages, but Prime were running out of time and ideas, and with 10 minutes left, a long angled ball was played up to their striker who out-paced Goldsmith and finished well past Kerton.

All in all, a bad day at the office for The Numbers and Goldsmith will doubtlessly make changes for the game against league-favourites Capel next week.

Man of the Match: Abu - Not at his best, but worked tirelessly