By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner – having seen his side end a run of three consecutive defeats with a 3-3 draw against Brighouse on Saturday – is eyeing up a potential Christmas cracker when his side host Hebburn Town this afternoon.

The Hornets are currently second top of the Pitching In Northern Premier League’s East Division with Ashington in mid table and Skinner said: “With our group of players, I always look forward to playing the teams who are in and around the promotion and play off spots because nine times out of ten, we play particularly well against them. A look at our results this season shows that we have had very positive results although people might look and say ‘you have let yourselves down by probably not having as many positive results against the teams around or below you’ – and stats don’t lie. However, I back this group of players and on our day they are equally as good as anything in this league.”

He continued: “I just think we need to find that little bit more level of consistency. We went on that great run recently and had some really positive results but then we just seemed to slip into a little bit of a lull whereby we couldn’t buy a win. We’ve stopped it with a draw today but we need to pick up three points as soon as possible.”