 In 1985 Ashton dropped into Division One of the Manchester League, and despite only finishing sixth in the 1985–86 season, they returned to Division Three of the North West Counties League the following season.After Division Three was merged into Division Two in 1987, the club have remained at the same level (with the division renamed Division One in 2008) until the end of the 2016–17, when they finished bottom of Division One and were relegated to the Premier Division of the Cheshire League.Despite only finishing sixth in the Premier Division of the Cheshire League in 2017–18, Ashton were promoted back to Division One North of the North West Counties League.