By Brian Bennett

Skipper Karl Ross will lead Ashington out against Morpeth Town in the semi final of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup on Tuesday night  – firmly believing that it will be ‘all cisterns go’ at Craik Park.

The 26 year old midfielder – Ashington’s longest serving player who is a plumber by trade – reckons the clash will produce a good game of football where anything can happen.

Cramlington-based Ross said: “We’ve done well to get to the semi final and all of the lads will be treating this game as if it were the final. It’s going to be a hard test for us because Morpeth are a great team but it’s also a challenge which we will relish. We beat them on their home patch in pre season and if we can perform like we have been over the past few weeks then who knows?”

He continued: “The 3G surface will help us as we try to play out rather than it being on a grass winter pitch which maybes wouldn’t be in pristine condition. Morpeth are a team who like to play football – and so are we – and because of that, I think it will be a good contest for the neutral spectator to watch. However, it’s one of those games where anything can happen. With us being in the NPL East Division – the league below Morpeth – we’ll be the underdogs, but we will have loads of confidence believing that we can win the game.”

Ross is hoping for a good turnout of supporters from the Woodhorn Lane-based club: “Ever since I joined Ashington, the fans have come out in their numbers – so we should have excellent backing on the night,” he added, “It’s a local game; it’s a relatively short distance to travel and I’m sure it’ll be a great match with two sets of great fans.”

The winners will book their place in the final at St James’ Park against Heaton Stannington or Newcastle United U21’s but Ross said cautiously: “It’s naturally a big plus knowing that the final will be at a brilliant venue – but our minds will be focussed purely on the game in front of us and no further.”