By Brian Bennett
Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner said he was disappointed following his sides 3-3 draw against Pontefract Collieries on Tuesday night.
Trailing to a controversial penalty which was converted by Adam Haw, Ashington went into the interval 2-1 up after quick fire strikes from Wilson Kneeshaw and Paul Van-Zandvliet.
Kneeshaw added his second of the night to make it 3-1 but the hosts rallied to force a share of the spoils with Haw again on target before Louie Chorlton struck in the 85th minute.
“It was probably a great game for the neutral – but I’m not a neutral,” said Skinner afterwards, “When we are 3-1 up just after the hour mark, I’m disappointed that we haven’t taken all three points. I thought it was a game which was littered full of chances for both sides. Certainly they (Pontefract) looked a threat from long throw ins and we looked a constant threat when we played down the sides and in behind them for the pace of Connor (Thomson) and Wilson (Kneeshaw).”
Shortly before the half hour mark, Pontefract were awarded a spot kick and Skinner said: “I thought it was a very, very soft penalty which saw us go 1-0 down but I thought our reaction to that was very good in terms of scoring two quick goals at good times just before half time. We went in 2-1 up and we knew what to expect after the break from Pontefract as they are the home team and they are going to throw everything at us.”
He continued: “We came out and hit the bar then we managed to score a third goal similar to the other ones with a ball in behind and Wilson Kneeshaw using his pace. For me, the key was that we conceded within about four or five minutes which got them back into the game at 3-2 but I thought the lad was offside. I also thought Wilson (Kneeshaw) is possibly offside for our third – and tonight the officials had below par performances in general.”
He went on: “Obviously Pontefract are going the throw the kitchen sink, just wanting one more and I was disappointed that the equaliser came from our poor clearance and a little bit of panic. People just need a bit of composure. We’ve cleared the ball off the back of one of our own players and it’s bounced to their forward who has poked it home from close range. Then the game could have gone either way really. In the end we’ve come away from home on a Tuesday night and a point is not the worst result but when you’re winning 3-1, I would have preferred all three. However, the point stops the little run of successive defeats which we were on and puts us in good stead to train and prepare to play Consett away on Saturday.”