By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner admitted that Luke Salmon’s late red card in the excellent 3-1 victory over Guisborough Town on Tuesday night took the gloss off what was a ‘good night.’

The midfielder had been shown a yellow card in the first period of the Division One Cup quarter final tie for a challenge but with only two minutes of the 90 remaining, he was shown a straight red by referee Kirk Freeth after a needless lunge on the half way line.

Skinner said afterwards: “We are 3-1 up in the game and Luke has made what looked from where I standing, a reckless challenge and he will have to pay the ultimate price. It looked at least a yellow to me – and of course he was already on a yellow – but I was too busy plotting what we were going to do to actually see the card.”

Skinner added: “The sending off apart, Luke did well tonight. He works hard in that higher role on the left hand side which isn’t his natural position but he offers us that willing runner and he’s got some pace. Luke has made a daft decision with time running out and I was disappointed with him because it has taken the gloss off what was a good night.”