By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton said after the Colliers had gone out of the Emirates FA Cup against King’s Lynn following a 3-1 defeat on Saturday that they need to turn their attentions towards league points.

The Woodhorn Lane outfit went down at the fourth qualifying round stage in Norfolk in what has been a great run in the FA Cup but their success in the competition – including replays – has resulted in them playing only eight league matches whilst leaders Bishop Auckland have completed 15!

Mr Shotton said: “Our aim now switches to the league – the bread and butter – and we’ve got quite a bit of catching up to do. We have made no secret of the fact that we want to get promoted and want to be participating against different opposition and to be playing some of the teams we have done over the last few weeks on a regular basis. So our target now has got to be to turn the disappointment of not winning today (in the FA Cup at King’s Lynn) into league points.”

He continued: “I’d like to think that the supporters will stick with us – and I’m convinced they will – because we are growing all the time. We’ve got a special club here but have got to keep working hard and if we continue to do that, we’ll get our just desserts in the end.” Ashington return to league action this week with two home games in five days. On Tuesday (October 18), they take on Newcastle Benfield before Heaton Stannington make the short trip up to Wansbeck on Saturday (October 22).