By Brian Bennett

Rory Powell netted his first goal in Ashington colours as well as claiming an assist in the Colliers 6-3 win over Lincoln United on Saturday and afterwards, the defender said that he had saved the best until last!

“We went out on a high -100 per cent,” he commented, “We started positively with a bit of momentum and carried it on and last week (the 2-0 win at Brighouse) was probably the stepping stone for today.”

Goals from Liam Henderson, Josh Gilchrist and Louis Burns put the Wansbeck outfit into a commanding 3-0 lead by the quarter hour mark and Powell added: “Once the first one (goal) went in, I think we had that freedom to go and get some more but as a group of good players, it was a case of going out onto the pitch, playing our football, knowing what we were doing and seeing what we could do.”

The 20 year old was happy after setting up the third goal scored by Louis Burns: “I thought the assist was one in the moment,” he said, “It was a bit of skill with a bit of dribbling and a good little ball and I was just pleased that someone (Burns) found the back of the net.”

As for opening his account in the last game of the season, Newcastle-born Powell said: “Yes, I saved the best until last with a good finish. I made a good little run and Chris Reid has chipped the ball over. It came off my hip then bounced up and I smashed it in on the half volley. I surprised myself to be fair but I was delighted it because it gave the team a bit of a push after a good first half. Unfortunately we conceded straight afterwards but I thought we bounced back really well and kept the momentum that we had started with throughout the game. I would have been happy with the assist but the goal was definitely a good one to go out on.”

Powell, who is based in Ponteland, added: “Coming from professional football (with Newcastle United) into men’s football even when I wasn’t playing as much as probably I would have wanted, there is a massive difference but I think the whole experience has been a positive one.”