By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington striker Lee Mason said he was ‘massively delighted’ to score the only goal of the game after returning to the starting line up against Pickering Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

As the clock ticked down towards the end of the first half, the 32 year old lashed the ball into the back of the net and he said afterwards: “It wasn’t the best of games – it was a bit scrappy on a heavy pitch – but I was delighted to get back into the team and to score but the most important thing today was us winning the game and getting the three points.”

Newcastle-born Mason described his goal: “As soon as I turned the defender and got back onto my right foot, I was always going to put my laces through it (the ball),” he added, “It was mainly about getting power behind the shot and hitting the target. I was massively delighted to see it go in and the fact that it went in off the bar made it even better.”

The win lifted the Colliers up into second place and Mason said: “We’ve just got to concentrate on trying to win every game and hopefully end up by either winning the league or finishing runners up and going into the play off.”

Ashington manager Ian Skinner said: “I was delighted for Lee (Mason) because he hasn’t really played a lot of football in the last month and he is second top goal scorer at the club. I felt I needed to give him an opportunity and he’s repaid the faith I had in him with a great finish. He made the goal all himself with a run, turn, shot and finish. It proved to be the winner and its funny how little things like that happen in football.”