The defending champions controlled the game from the start, pushing for an early goal but without avail.
Ashour, who was Ahly’s most potent attacking threat throughout the evening, first tested the keeper with a long-range effort in the eighth minute that whistled wide of the post.
Five minutes later, the midfielder was denied again when he met Mohamed Hany's cross from the right, only to see his shot gathered by the goalkeeper.
Gouna were not without their chances, however, as Ahly skipper Mohamed El Shenawy was forced into a superb reflex save in the 22nd minute to keep out a goal-bound header from Reda Salah.
The deadlock was finally broken five minutes before the interval, after Ashour rose highest to meet a pinpoint delivery from winger Achraf Bencharki, directing a powerful header into the top left corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Following the restart, Ahly maintained their high press in search of a second goal to kill off the game.
Two minutes into the second half, Ashour nearly doubled his tally after latching onto a cross from defender Youcef Belammari, but his strike lacked accuracy.
The Red Devils continued to waste opportunities to extend their lead.
Second-half substitute Marwan Osman missed a golden chance from close range in the 64th minute, while Hussein El-Shahat saw his effort strike the post following a swift counter-attack late in the game.
Despite the narrow margin, the victory sees Ahly temporarily move into second spot in the table with 33 points, trailing leaders Ceramica Cleopatra, who played one more game, by just two points.
Gouna, meanwhile, drop to 13th place with 20 points.
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