There was just one change to the starting line-up from the previous outing against Lancaster City, with Adam Gell coming in to replace Aaron Haswell. However, any plans of settling into the game were quickly disrupted by an enforced early change. After just five minutes, Jarrett Rivers was forced off through injury, with James Harrison introduced in his place.

Despite the early setback, Whitby responded positively and began to carve out openings, albeit spontaneously. Their major chance of the first half arrived in the 14th minute when Matthew Tymon found himself unmarked at the back post, only to skew his effort wide when it seemed easier to hit the target. It was a miss that would set the tone for much of the evening once again.

Ashton United threatened sporadically in the first half too, and on 38 minutes Shane Bland was called into action, producing a smart save to deny Manasse Mampala’s low effort, tipping it away from danger before Connor Smith completed the clearance.

It appeared Whitby would reach the interval on level terms, but a costly lapse right on the stroke of half-time proved decisive. A needless challenge out wide from Gell gifted Ashton a free-kick in a dangerous area, and poor defensive organisation allowed Mampala to drift in unmarked and head home, handing the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break.

Whitby emerged for the second half with renewed intent and began to apply more sustained pressure. Jake Charles was at the heart of much of their attacking play, first testing Jordan Eastham with a driven effort from the edge of the area on 52 minutes, before being denied again from close range seven minutes later.

The chances continued to come more frequently. Harley Dawson fired high and wide from inside the box on 60 minutes, while Harrison went close twice in quick succession, the latter effort taking a deflection behind for a corner. Whitby were knocking on the door, but the finishing touch remained elusive.

Charles came within inches of equalising on 76 minutes, flashing a powerful effort across the face of goal that drifted agonisingly wide.

It proved to be a pivotal moment, as Ashton United doubled their lead just a minute later. In a frustrating passage of play, Scott Holding had been booked for taking too long over a throw-in, but Whitby were still subsequently caught out defensively. Michael O’Neill capitalised, finding space and finish from a tight angle and squeezing his effort past Bland to make it 2-0.

To their credit, Whitby continued to push forward. Bland made amends for an error by saving from Darius Osei on 83 minutes, keeping his side in contention.

Their persistence was finally rewarded three minutes from time when Charles was brought down in the area following a tangle of legs. The striker dusted himself down and confidently converted from the spot.

However, it proved to be too little, too late. Despite a strong second-half spell with several chances, Whitby were left frustrated, undone by moments of poor defending and a lack of clinical finishing at key times.