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Ashton signed from league leaders Mickleover Sports and boosts Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill's squad ahead of what will be a busy run-in.

Striker Luke Edwards is a major doubt for the trip due to a hamstring injury as is defender Jake Carlisle.

Edwards has been plagued with hamstring problems all season and needed to be helped off the pitch as he succumbed to the problem again against Market Drayton last Saturday.

Carlisle has been in impressive form since signing from Ilkeston. However, the young defender has recently struggled with a knee injury which he aggravated just before halftime against Leek Town. The problem now needs surgery to sort which will probably now take place next month.

The centre-half has torn cartilage in his right knee and the 18-year-old is scheduled for an operation on April 14, which would then keep him out for three weeks of action, effectively ending his season.

Any involvement between now and the operation would depend on how Carlisle's knee is feeling, and Thornhill says the youngster is still in quite a bit of pain.

"Jake's spoken to the surgeon and he'll be able to play if it's not sore, but it is particularly sore at the moment," said Thornhill. "So I'm having to plan without Jake.I don't think his season is definitely over but I'm not entirely sure.I injured my cartilage and carried on playing but it does become very sore and painful."

Mitch Hanson was on the bench against Market Drayton and is pushing for a start. "It was really good to have Mitch back around the changing room, says Thornhill."Stocksbridge were difficult to break down when they came to our place a few weeks ago. Hopefully at home they'll want to come at us a bit more and that will open things up."