By Brian Bennett
Robbie Dale’s late winner from the penalty spot on Saturday not only clinched Ashington a place in the next round of this season’s Emirates FA Cup – but also saved them from the possibility of a midweek replay against Tow Law.
Colliers manager Ian Skinner was delighted on both fronts: “We now haven’t got a midweek game and I’m pleased with that. Before today’s game (at Tow Law) we lost Dan Maguire who had a little niggle in training on Thursday and we didn’t want to take any risks with him. We then had to withdraw Lee Mason at half time with an injury. Football is funny for those sorts of things happening. On Tuesday night I had five strikers – and as I leave Tow Law, I think I’ve got one! Three are injured and are struggling; one has left the club and one was going to go out on loan and we’ve had to stop that.”
Jordan Lashley is the player who has departed Woodhorn Lane after being transferred to Heaton Stannington and Skinner said: “First of all, I only want players who are committed to Ashington Football Club and I was bitterly disappointed when I found out that Jordan instigated the move by contacting Heaton Stannington. That said since Jordan came to our club, he’s been brilliant. The reasons he gave (for wanting to leave), I couldn’t argue with as he wants to play regular football and at the moment we can’t give him that. Obviously the lads we have brought in have done really well and Jordan has been away on holiday for the last week or so and goes away again in a week’s time so that dictates that he’s down the pecking order. He needs to be playing regular so he goes with my best wishes and certainly no hard feelings at all and I hope he does really well – apart from when we play Heaton Stannington twice in the League! I’m sure he will do well because he was great in the time he was with us.”
Ashington now turn their attentions to the Isuzu FA Vase. On Saturday (August 27), they host Billingham Town with the winners at home to Sunderland West End in the next round.
Lewis Suddick, Lee Mason, Dan Maguire and Adam Johnson are all doubts for the Colliers whilst Thomas Kalthoeber could make a return to the squad.