By Brian Bennett
Ashington manager Nick Gray – whilst pleased with the way his side recovered from a 2-0 deficit to force a 2-2 away draw against Pontefract Collieries on Saturday – could not conceal his overall disappointment that the Colliers left West Yorkshire without a win.
Following an uneventful first period, a quick-fire double from Mikey Dunn put the home side in command before the visitors hit back. Home skipper Jack Greenhough put through his own goal then Harrison Clark netted the equaliser.
“On reflection I thought a draw was a fair result,” said Gray afterwards, “I thought the first goal was going to be crucial and I was disappointed that they scored it from a set piece. For the second (goal), they have reacted quicker than us and that’s what you’ve got to do to score goals whilst we are not doing it at the other end. We credit ourselves though because we came back into the game – got a goal – and once we did that I thought there was only one team who really looked like they were going to get another (goal). That was us and we got an equaliser.”
He continued: “If I’m being brutally honest, I’m disappointed that we didn’t get all three points because we had an unbelievable chance at the end where we should have scored when it was basically five against two. Their ‘keeper has spilled the ball and we haven’t reacted. It was bodies on the line from them (Pontefract Collieries) and that’s why we have struggled to score goals”
He went on: “Nevertheless, it was a positive point on the road against a team who are around us in the table which is really tight. Would I have taken a point beforehand? Possibly. In games you have to take your opportunities. I think we’ve had some opportunities in the last couple of games and haven’t taken them. Today it showed good character from the boys to come back from 2-0 down to take a point. They could have thrown the towel in but they didn’t – they kept on going and I cannot fault them for effort, attitude and character today because they gave everything. I’m probably being a little bit greedy but we could have taken all three points in the end.”
He went on: “All of the lads put a shift in today. The subs came on and made a difference which is what you want them to do after the lads who started the game had given their all and there are some tired legs in the dressing room. We were down in numbers but they (the players) never felt sorry for themselves. I never speak about the players who aren’t here because they can’t affect the game but the ones who were here today were a credit to the club.”