Ashington vs Nelson 1922-23
Saturday 7th October 1922
Wolstenholme
Ashington 3
Soulsby, Pigg, Robertson
Nelson welcomed Ashington to Seedhill, but had to take the the field without the injured Rigg, and their reorganised defence - Howson came in as centre-back with Lilley moved to left-back - conceded it's first goal at home within five minutes.
Aided by the slip of Broadhead, Foster tore down the wing and crossed infield. The ball was only partially cleared and ended up with Soulsby, who planted the ball firmly into the net despite Birds getting his fingertips to it.
The Blues poured forward in search of an equaliser, but found Shepherd an imposing figure in the visitors goal. He saved well from Wolstenholme, and blocked a shot from McCulloch which had 'goal' written all over it. Ashington were being restricted to the odd counter attack, though they almost increased their lead, with Birds forced to save from Foster and Taylor, who's cross-shot took him by surprise. Shepherds saved his team again at the other end to keep them ahead at the break.
Early in the second period Nelson restored parity. Soon after Eddleston had fired over the bar, the home side won a croner. Hutchinson delivered the dead ball into the box, and Wolstenholme claimed his first of the season as the ball entered the net off his chesr.
The game developed into gripping end-to-end action and Soulsby forced Birds into action in the Nelson goal, while Shepherd prevented the home side going in front from a Braidwood free kick. It was Ashington who regained the lead though. Birds pushed a Robertson shot round the post for a corner, from which the ball was delivered for Pigg to place wide of the despairing dive of the Nelson keeper.
A determined visiting defence, coupled with the Nelson forwards having a decidely off day, meant an end to the 100% home record. Their fate was sealed late on when Lilley pulled up claiming offside, only for Foster to continue on and cross for Robertson to seal a 3-1 away win. Grimsby's home win over Chesterfield also saw them deposed from top spot in the league.
Nelson: Joseph BIRDS, Charles HOWSON, Bob LILLEY, David WILSON, Ernie BRAIDWOOD, Jimmy BROADHEAD, John BLACK, Arthur WOLSTENHOLME, Joe EDDLESTON, Mike McCULLOCH, Bob HUTCHINSON
Ashington: J.W.V. Shepherd, P. Mahon, H.W. Featherstone, W. Pigg, R. Burton, J. Collier, J.T.F. Foster, J. Soulsby, T.H. Robertson, G. Taylor, T.E. McCloud
Attendance: 7,000
Saturday 14th October 1922
Ashington 0
Nelson 2
McCulloch, Eddleston
Rigg's return to Nelson's defence was welcome for the return match at Ashington's Portland Park, and he superbly nullified the wing threat of the dangerous Foster early on. In fact it was the Blues who forced the pace, with the home side lucky to survive two penalty appeals following fouls on Eddleston in the area. McCulloch and Hutchinson - against his old team - were having fine games on the Nelson wing, and Wolstenholme and Black were a constant thorn in Ashington's defence.
McCulloch gave the visitors a deserved lead in the 19th minute. After receiving a good ball from Hutchinson, he jinked his way past Mahon and struck home past Shepherd from 15 yards. Nelson continued to dominate right up to half-time, and only Mahon's goal line clearance from Eddleston's shot prevented the lead being doubled.
Three minutes into the second half though, it was two. Hutchinson was the provider once more, playing in Eddleston, who danced through a flimsy defence before driving the ball home. Following the goal, Nelson took their foot off the gas, but comfortably held an Ashington attack which created one or two openings without seriously threatening to claw one back. After the previous week's disappointment Nelson were back, and back on top of the table.
Ashington: J.W.V. Shepherd, P. Mahon, A. Bradford, W. Pigg, R. Burton, J. Collier, J.T.F. Foster, J. Soulsby, T.H. Robertson, T. Hall, T. Robson
Nelson: Joseph BIRDS, Bob LILLEY, Clement RIGG, Ernie BRAIDWOOD, Jimmy BROADHEAD, John BLACK, Arthur WOLSTENHOLME, Joe EDDLESTON, Mike McCULLOCH, Bob HUTCHINSON
Attendance: 8,000
Many Thanks to http://www.nelsonfc.co.uk for these reports