Tomorrow - Ashton United vs Buxton

So Mossley have been playing in a tinpot cup tonight "The Doodson Sport Cup" vs Curzon Ashton and for what it's worth they've won 2-0, a small consolation having lost 4-0 at home to Curzon in the league last month. I decided I value £8 too much to blow it on that, so I looked for a proper league game in the nearby area. With all but one of the other Tameside and very nearby clubs either not playing midweek or also playing pointless cup games, the one normal league match happening nearby that I'll be at tomorrow will be at Hurst Cross: Ashton United vs Buxton.

Ashton United have been fairly consistent in being around mid table in the Evo Stik League Premier in recent seasons (those unfamiliar with this league or non league in general - the Evo Stik Prem is the one above Mossley and the one below the Conference North. The likes of FC United and Chester are also the Evo Stik Prem.) and so far it's going the same way this season as they find themselves 12th out of 22 before tomorrow's games.

Buxton are currently two places below in 14th, but it is expected they will climb as the season progresses - last season they finished just below the play offs in 6th place.

League form has been contrasting for the two in the months of August and September:
August - Ashton: W D L W W L = 10 points
August - Buxton: L L L L L W = 3 points
September - Ashton: W L L D L = 4 points
September - Buxton: W L W L W = 9 points

Summary of that is that Buxton had an unexpected DREADFUL start of losing their opening 5 games, and although in September they've been inconsistent, they've somewhat recovered with 4 wins in the last 6 league games. Meanwhile Ashton United got a decent 13 points in the first 7 games followed by just 1 point in the last 4 games. So although Buxton are 2 points below Ashton United, then with Buxton improving and Ashton dropping downwards in recent games, Buxton are likely to be hoping to get a good result at Hurst Cross.

Last season Ashton United beat Buxton 2-1 at home in February, and a month later they drew 1-1 at Buxton. The season before, Buxton won both games. The season before that, Ashton won both games. In other words recent history tells us nothing of what to expect! This is a tough game to predict, and surely that alone sets this up to be an interesting game for the neutral.