By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Paul Robinson expressed his disappointment after Ashington – who were leading 2-0 – conceded two goals in the closing stages against Grimsby Borough with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.

Robinson – who along with Gary Ormston and Andrew Cartwright are forming the interim management team until the appointment of new boss – said afterwards: “It was a disappointment with the way it happened. I didn’t think we threatened the goal massively either but we managed to score two really well worked goals. I thought we were quite comfortable as we limited them to corners and they’ve scored two goals at the end which was really disappointing. However, I can’t fault the lads for their efforts throughout and I give credit to Grimsby for finding a way back.”

Reflecting on the first period, Robinson said: “I thought we could have played better. It was a bit scrappy but the goal we scored was excellent. I said to the lads in the dressing room that we needed to get Wilson (Kneeshaw), Cyril (Giraud) and Andrew Johnson on the ball as often as we could. The goal was so well worked with a little ball into Wilson (Kneeshaw) who has turned and slipped Jay (Errington) in and it was another brilliant finish by him and probably the only bit of quality in the first half.

He continued: “I was relatively happy at half time and we knew that they (Grimsby Borough) would come out and have a go. I thought we controlled it really well – certainly for the first half an hour and we managed to get a second goal and were looking relatively comfortable. The lads were excellent and probably deserved a little bit more but it wasn’t to be – but credit to them (Grimsby Borough) for coming back as they showed a bit of spirit.”

For the goal by Andrew Johnson who was making his first full start after signing last week, Robinson said: “Wilson (Kneeshaw) has gone past two players as if they weren’t there and AJ did what AJ does at the back post and got himself on the score sheet which was brilliant to see.”

After Wednesday night’s trip to face North Shields in the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup (September 18), Ashington’s next league fixture is on September 28 at home against newcomers Sherwood Colliery and Robinson said: “With our injury list, the ten day break will be beneficial to us. Ideally today I would have liked to have brought a midfield player on but we only had strikers and myself on the bench. If we had been able to bring a midfielder on for one of the attackers it probably would have helped us to shore things up a little bit more but we didn’t have that option available to us.”