By Brian Bennett
Ashington FC joint head coach Andy Coyles spoke enthusiastically about the whole playing unit pulling in the same direction after his squad had comprehensively defeated Spennymoor Town 4-0 at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.
The Colliers led 1-0 at the break through Andrew Cartwright then Cyril Giraud, Eddie Thomas – from the penalty spot – and Jay Errington added second half goals.
“It was a really nice way to finish our pre season programme,” said Coyles afterwards, “All four goals tonight were fantastic and well taken. Two things we ask of the players are to keep a clean sheet and to put the ball into the back of the net – and they’ve achieved both tonight. However, I think that pre season has gone according to plan – albeit we have had two games cancelled due to the weather – and we’ve made use of the time with matches being called off by training instead.”
He continued: “I just think that where we are now physically, mentally, technically and tactically we are in a good place. Inside the changing room, everybody is tight-knit, everybody is together and they are all pulling in the same direction because they all want to achieve the same thing.”
He went on: “It does go to show that from Saturday when we had three or four lads missing against Workington, what a big difference it was tonight when they all returned and the team was a lot stronger and healthier. We said we wanted the players to cause us headaches for when the team selection comes around – but I’ll be open and honest and say they have caused us monster headaches because we have some really tough decisions to make for Saturday!”
He added: “We have got a squad of roughly around 22 players and you can only play 16 in a league game so that means that not everybody is going to get in. So what we have said in the changing room is if they really want to do well this year and they really want to achieve something special, again what that special is will only come in time, then they’ve got to stick together as a group – and I think they will do that.”
Ashington now turn their attentions to Saturday’s away clash against Shildon in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup (August 3) and Coyles said: “Everyone is looking forward to it – particularly myself because I only live 15 minutes away from the ground so it’ll be like a home game! However, any match that is competitive and means something is far better than a pre season game. Tonight against Spennymoor Town, there was a little bit of an edge from the lads because obviously they had to up their game against National League North opposition but again when it actually means something on Saturday, I think we will pose another threat as well.”