By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie
Ashington FC skipper – delighted after seeing the Colliers clinch promotion to the Northern Premier League’s East Division after a 3-0 victory over Glossop North End on Saturday, said afterwards that the players at the club had successfully delivered what they set out to do.
Harmison – who took his tally of goals for the season to 24 with a brace in the showdown – commented: “We said at the start of the season promotion was our aim – and we’ve done that – and with the team and the talent we have got at the club, we had to get over the line. Personally, I’m over the moon but I’m pleased for everyone else and it’s a brilliant achievement. I have just seen our chairman Brian Shotton and manager Ian Skinner who put a good team together – and the players have delivered but I’ve watched the supporter’s coaches leaving the ground and the fans are absolutely ecstatic. In big games the lads have been brilliant and we have given the fans something to cheer about all season and they have been right behind us. It’s more for them to be fair and it’s quite emotional.”
Harmison scored the opener – and said: “It had been coming for about 20 minutes. On numerous occasions we got down that left hand side and Paul Robinson and Jordan Summerly love playing together. Their passing and movement is excellent and they just know everything about each other’s games. One good ball by Jordan beat the defender and the ‘keeper and I just got on the end of it. The goal settled us down a little bit and we needed a second – but we didn’t hide the fact or sit back. We knew we were going to try and kill the game off. We did by scoring twice in the space of a few minutes and to be honest we could have added more.”
It was midway through the second half when Harmison notched his second which was quickly followed by one from Craig Spooner and the skipper added: “I think the rain helped a little bit because the ball sort of skidded through. They (Glossop) stepped up and I was hanging around for anything which came back in and when Ben Sampson slotted the ball through, I put it in the bottom corner. For the third goal, it was a great free kick from Andrew Cartwright because he struck the ball so hard and I’m pleased for Craig Spooner because he has been brilliant all year.”
Harmison also praised ‘keeper Karl Dryden: “It’s gone under the radar how good Karl is,” he said, “He came for everything and caught it and that save he made ten minutes from time was breathtaking and took the pressure off us. Glossop were quite good from set pieces but Karl (Dryden) was brilliant and we defended well. I thought we showed again that we can play against opposition in the Northern Premier League quite comfortably and they (Glossop) couldn’t handle us at all.”