Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Ashington crashed to their heaviest home defeat of the season when promotion chasing Bradford Park Avenue won in a canter with a 4-0 result which left supporters of the Woodhorn Lane club shell-shocked on Saturday.

Without a fixture since Boxing Day due to the wintry weather, the Colliers were chomping at the bit – but they got knocked back by a block of gold bullion.

The West Yorkshire side, wearing gold shirts and socks, were on the front foot from the first whistle and banked the three points if not after quarter of an hour by which time they had sailed into a two goal lead then without a doubt when they increased their lead to three with just over half an hour gone on the clock.

It was a hard and miserable watch for the Ashington fans. In truth, their side failed to lay a glove on their opponents throughout whilst the Avenue supporters lapped up what was a totally convincing performance from their side.

That all began as early as the third minute when home ‘keeper Matty Alexander was forced to palm away a goal-bound shot from Connor Shanks.

However eight minutes later, Marcus Carver opened the scoring with a cross shot from the left which passed the diving hand of Alexander, struck one post then rolled across to clip the inside of the other before crossing the line.

Just shy of the quarter hour mark, the visitors doubled their lead. The skilful Kareem Hassan-Smith – who was a thorn in Ashington’s side in the corresponding game and consequent 2-1 defeat at the end of September – crossed from the right and when Shanks fired goalwards, Adam Haw diverted it past Alexander.
Ashington’s first effort came midway through the period following a corner when Craig Spooner clipped wide from the edge of the area.

However, the visitors came again and after Carver had headed narrowly over, they added to their tally in the 33rd minute.

Carver stabbed home at the far post with Prince Ekpolo claiming the assist and it could have got worse for the Colliers with Haw just off target following another cross by Hassan-Smith.

As it was, Bradford didn’t have to wait long to add a fourth. Only 38 seconds had been played in the second half when Ashington were cut open and Haw side footed into the far corner.

That was that with the rest of the game producing little in the way of goalmouth action.

Indeed, the only talking point came ten minutes from time when Ashington skipper Karl Ross was shown a straight red card by referee Elliot Cowens following a tackle ten yards inside his opponents half.

*Next up for the Colliers is a short away trip to face Heaton Stannington on Tuesday (January 20 – 7.45pm kick-off).