By Brian Bennett
Ashington manager Marc Ellison said it was a kick in the teeth and his group of players as well as the management team were left bitterly disappointed after they conceded a late equaliser against Dunston on Tuesday night.
Second half substitute Liam Henderson poked the ball home to give the Colliers the lead just past the hour mark but Ben Ramsey struck in the last minute of time added on to secure a point for promotion chasing Dunston.
The boss said afterwards: “I’d have taken the draw at 5.30pm when I got to the ground, but when the equaliser comes that late, it’s a bit of a kick in the teeth, especially when the boys have worked so hard throughout the game. The main objective tonight was to show a reaction to Saturday’s second-half performance (against Thornaby), and we knew we’d have to suffer without the ball for spells. Dunston are a really, really good side with a brilliant management team. They’re going to be challenging for promotion again, if not even winning the league this year and I think they’ve improved all over the pitch in the summer.”
He continued: “For long periods tonight, yes, they had the ball, but I thought we defended really well and stood up to anything that came our way. My only gripe would be that, after we went in front, we started going long to Hendo (Liam Henderson) far too early. The gaps between the units ended up being too big, and the ball just kept coming back at us. The law of averages tells you that eventually one attack might sneak in, and unfortunately, that’s what’s happened (for their equaliser). Also as well as being a little bit braver in possession at times, just to relieve some pressure and impose our style is what we want to do with the football. But listen, we’re fighting different battles to Dunston this season. If we put a shift in like that, then we’ll earn the right to go and play our football against 90% of our opponents.”
He added: “Overall, of course, we’re bitterly disappointed that we couldn’t take all three points after conceding so late. But it’s a point at home against a top side, it’s another point closer to where we need to be, and it’s another league game unbeaten at home.”
Ashington now prepare for a double-header over the bank holiday weekend with a home game against West Auckland Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday followed by a local derby fixture in the league against Heaton Stannington on Monday and Ellison said: “We’ll have to assess a few of the players before the weekend, with a few niggles here and there. Saturday-Monday games are a big ask, so we’ll be looking to utilise the squad as much as we can.”