- Both teams to score is 61/100 here, which looks big enough to take.
- Lancaster City finished 6th and missing the play-offs by a point, while Ashton were a solid top half team.
- This is a rivalry game with goals in recent seasons.
Ashton can squeeze past Lancaster in NPL opener
Northern Premier League sides Ashton United and Lancaster City will both start on 0 points for the new season when they face off at Hurst Cross in the first competitive game of the 2026/2027 campaign. The early momentum and bragging rights are up for grabs as these two sides take to the field this Saturday and both are in good shape to make a strong start.
Lancaster finished strong last season with a 2-0 victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels and a 1-1 draw with Stockton Town, but their pre-season games in July were chaotic, entertaining affairs. Jimmy Marshall's men hammered Storeys of Lancaster 8-0 and were beaten by Longridge Town, Garstang and Charnock Richard in a series of up-and-down games.
Ashton had a similar summer with a 3-3 draw at Hednesford, 1-1 draw at home to Guiseley and 2-1 wins over Workington and Rushall Olympic in their last five competitive games.
Contrast in style should make for an end-to-end game
Lancaster will bring more pace and verticality to the game than Ashton, who look a more pragmatic side with a solid shape, strong on set pieces and direct balls into their centre-forward. Jason Gilchrist is Ashton's primary finisher, but Darius Osei adds physicality and Kurt Willoughby and Alex Byrne are capable of adding width and creativity.
Lancaster will send more runners through and look to hurt teams on the counter attack and in transition, with Nico Evangelinos their main man, but Dom Lawson and the Bailey brothers can also provide goals, creativity and a bite in the last third.
The contrast in styles should make for an intriguing chess match between Ashton's first-phase dominance and Lancaster's counter-punching, so it is hard to call which way this one will go. Both teams to score is priced at 61/100 here, which is too big to ignore and there is enough evidence of goals in the recent head-to-head record for us to think this one will be another lively affair.
Ashton have a slight edge because Steve Cunningham has got them looking well organised and his direct, high-tempo approach suits Hurst Cross. Ashton can edge out Lancaster for the win in what should be a high-energy opener, but a deadlock or one goal either way would not be a surprise in this sort of game. Ashton are 21/20 with a couple of other sites, while Lancaster are 199/100 with the same and the draw is 129/50, which leans slightly toward Ashton United.
