By Brian Bennett

Ben Williams stressed the importance of Ashington’s 1-0 win over Dunston at Woodhorn Lane on Friday night.

The 21 year old defender who is on loan until the end of the season from Gateshead, found the back of the net for the first time in Ashington colours this term ten minutes into the second half and he said afterwards: “Yes, it was an important goal. It was a game which we knew was going to be tough because they (Dunston) are a good side but I thought it was probably one where we deserved to win because we played well. Credit to all the lads who played tonight because I thought everybody had a really good game but I’m buzzing to be the one to seal the victory for us and I think it’s massive if you look at the league table. I think it was a crucial win for us.”

Of the goal, Newcastle-born Williams added: “Early on in the first half I had a couple of opportunities around the back and one early on which was cleared off the line. I just stuck to the back post area and I thought I’d try to exploit it. Luckily it was a great ball in from Gilly (Josh Gilchrist) which I got on the end of. I think that was the best we’ve played in a while – the workrate and everything else was there but ultimately it means nothing if we don’t back it up against Blyth Town on Tuesday. The game on Tuesday is just as important as tonight was.”

Williams, who is based at Bedlington, is enjoying his spell back at Woodhorn Lane and said it was a ‘no brainer’ to return on loan: “It’s always a place I’ll come back to if I get the opportunity because I know all of the lads and I love playing here so it was a no brainer. There were a couple of teams in and around this league interested but I thought if there was one team I was going to go back to, it was Ashington. My loan was then extended and it was a key thing for me because ultimately, I want to help Ashington to stay in this league as much as I can – I would hate to see them go down.”