Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Ashington stay firmly entrenched in a relegation battle after they tumbled to a 4-1 defeat against Garforth Town on Saturday who produced a late show to leave Wansbeck with all three points.

It was all going so well for the struggling Colliers – who are third from bottom of the East Division and who were without a win in seven league games – when Liam Henderson nudged them ahead ten minutes into the second half but nemesis Luke Aldrich who invariably scores every time he plays against Ashington, netted a quick fire equaliser.

Could the home side respond or hold onto a precious point? Well they were edging towards taking something from the game when Garforth hit them with a triple blow in the final quarter hour as Jordan Emery, Dan Coupland and substitute Mutty Al-Jahadhmy all got onto the score sheet.

It took a while for the game to get going until the 11th minute when Aldrich was through but was thwarted by ‘keeper Matty Alexander, making his return to league action after injury.

Midway through the half, ‘keeper Harry Flatters slipped just inside the area and in the tussle which ensued, Henderson went to ground but the referee ignored Ashington’s claims for a penalty.

Garforth full-back Rinor Ejupi had the next chance when he latched onto a cross from the left but his shot lacked power and was easily taken by Alexander.

In the 34th minute, Coupland put the ball into the middle but Aldrich fluffed his lines in front of goal and Matt Savage fired wide.

Ashington retaliated on the break with Craig Spooner finding Gilchrist but when it looked like he had laid the ball on a plate for Jake Orrell, defender Joe Allerton appeared from nowhere to make a dramatic clearance.

Gilchrist was denied then shortly before the half time whistle, Liam Noble delivered a free kick to the far post but Henderson – on the stretch – put the ball wide of the
post.

Charlie Marshall had a great chance for the visitors but clipped his effort wide before the Colliers went ahead in the 54th minute.

Gilchrist did well to cross from the left and after Garforth had initially blocked the ball, Liam Henderson pounced to fire inside the upright.

However, three minutes later, Ashington were caught on the counter and when a long clearance by Flatters found Aldrich, the forward gave Alexander no chance with a sweetly struck shot from 18 yards.

Ball and Aldrich missed out as the number of chances in the game began to mount up then
midway through, Gilchrist slipped the ball through for Henderson but his low effort from 25 yards hit the base of the post and rebounded to safety.

The contest then entered a period where tempers became frayed but when things settled down a Marc Ellison-Gilchrist combination unlocked the door for Jake Orrell who was denied by Flatters.

Mutty Al-Jahadhmy had caused all sorts of problems for the Colliers when the two sides met earlier in the season in the Isuzu FA Trophy and after being introduced as a substitute, Al-Jahadhmy saw his shot take a deflection and spin up into the air with Alexander producing an astonishing save to thwart Aldrich from the rebound.

However in the 79th minute and from the resultant corner, the visitors went 2-1 ahead. The ball was glanced on for Emery who headed in from close range.

Aldrich had a good chance before Alexander made another excellent save, pushing a shot by substitute Robbie Wilson onto the bar. From the rebound, the ‘keeper went to punch the ball clear but made contact with the Garforth player.

Referee Harvey Websdale awarded a penalty and skipper Coupland nonchalantly tucked home the spot kick.

Then in the third minute of time added as Ashington pushed forward, they were caught on the break and Al-Jahadhmy added a fourth.