By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s Tom McIntyre made a dream debut on Saturday when he scored the opening goal for the Colliers in their 2-0 victory over Horden Community Welfare at Woodhorn Lane in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The 22 year-old revealed he was buzzing after being named in the side – and the midfielder put the cherry on the cake of his first performance early in the contest when he played a swift one-two with Scott Fenwick before slotting the ball past Marras ‘keeper Robert Dean.

“I’ve been in (at the club) since the start of pre season and I’ve enjoyed it – the training and the games,” said Newcastle-born McIntyre – a water operator for Northumbrian Water who is based in Prudhoe, “It was great to get off to a good start today both from a team point of view as well as from a personal angle.”

Of his goal, McIntyre said: “I’ve been playing a bit more attacking either in the ten role or out wide on the right so obviously with that you need to be scoring goals. The chance came quite quickly following a great ball through by Scott Fenwick and I saw the space to the ‘keeper’s right so I slotted it past him and thankfully it went it. I was delighted.”

McIntyre, who was previously with Blyth Town, added: “I had no idea that I was in the starting eleven until I saw my name on the team sheet but I was buzzing. The second goal helped us massively. I thought we were in control in the first period but that goal just on half time has proved to be crucial – especially the timing of it. It was a good press and obviously Gilly (Josh Gilchrist) has nicked it off the lad and put it past the ‘keeper. The second half was a bit more of a battle but getting through to the next round of the cup with the added bonus of a clean sheet is all that matters.”