By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was ecstatic on Saturday after his side had secured a 1-1 draw against Bishop Auckland.

The result saw the Colliers march into a one-off play off place this Saturday – and what’s more they thoroughly deserved it.

Skinner said afterwards: “I’m delighted because we achieved our objective. That was to make sure we had another game left this season (play off) in a match which could potentially see us promoted and move out of the Northern League. However I’m disappointed that we haven’t won today’s match to be honest when you look at the chances we had. Their goalkeeper (Ryan Catterick) has made three brilliant saves and on top of that we have missed three gilt edged chances.”

The boss was aggrieved after a penalty was given against his outfit on the half hour: “I didn’t we started particularly well,” he said, “We played a little bit too direct in the first 10-15 minutes but when you come away from home, you just want to play your way into the game. It was a bit of a nothing clash although I thought Paul Robinson had a great little chance where they (Bishop Auckland) got a block on. Then we went a goal down to a penalty and I thought it was a poor decision but it’s a one of them which you see in the modern game. Robbie Dale has stood with his hands above his head as if to say I’m not touching him (the player) and not going anywhere and I’ll be honest, when the referee blew his whistle, the first thought in my head was that the player – who had already been booked – could be sent off. When the referee gave a penalty I couldn’t quite believe it to be fair and then when Andrew Cartwright was sin binned for remonstrating about the decision, I just thought ‘here we go again.”

Skinner was happy with how his side played during Cartwright’s absence: “For that ten minutes period when we were down to ten men, we actually played our best football in the first half because we knew we had to be patient in the build up and had to play and move the ball,” he said, “The first half petered out although they (Bishop Auckland) had a spell at the end where they looked threatening.”

The boss thought his side were the better outfit after the break: “We didn’t say an awful lot at half time other than that we had 45 minutes to right the wrongs,” he said, “We wanted our build up to be more patient and actually to get back to doing what we’ve done all season – which is to get the ball down; move it and pass it and maybes not fall into the trap of going too long too early. I thought second half we were the better team. We controlled possession better than they (Bishop Auckland) did; we created numerous chances and on another day they couldn’t have argued if we had ran out three, four or 5-1 winners.”

He added: “Obviously for the last five minutes of normal time – plus the five which the referee said were going to be added on – things are going to become a little bit hairy and scary because they (Bishop Auckland) knew any goal would have seen them go into the play off whilst we knew that as long as we didn’t concede then we were through. It was hands to the pump really in terms of making sure we defended because they were always going to throw the ball forward in the hope that something would drop and they had a half chance which flashed just wide. We got Dan Maguire ‘in’ and the ‘keeper has made a great save again but we were just hoping to hold out – and we have done that.”

Meanwhile defensive lynchpin Darren Lough was forced to leave the field in stoppage time with a facial injury and Skinner said: “I’ll need to check on him for next Saturday and we wish him all the best in his recovery.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ben Harmison scored a ‘complete’ hat trick – his second treble of the season – for Ashington in the 6-0 rout over Tow Law on Tuesday night then said that the win was the key feature.

The skipper – who netted with a header followed by one with either foot – took his tally of goals in all competitions for the season to 22 and commented afterwards: “I like scoring and it was nice to get a hat-trick but the win was the key thing. Tow Law is a hard place to come to but I thought the lads were brilliant and it was probably one of our best performances of the season. We didn’t give them (Tow Law) time to get set with our energy in the final third as we pressed everything and won the ball back. We were trying to be a bit more direct so it was a case of hitting the two big lads up front early – Scott Heslop and myself – and to try to get balls into the box. We did that all night and we were quite happy that if we got chances we would put them away.”

He continued: “Our link up play was better but it’s easy to do that when you have got willing runners which we had throughout. They gave us energy as they ran past the forwards from midfield – players like Jordan Summerly, Craig Spooner, Ben Sampson and Dean Briggs. From my point of view, it’s nice when I can sometimes ‘drop in’ and flick the ball on or hold it up and play it them through for them. The lads showed hunger and desire to get forward and people got their rewards – like Karl Ross near the end. He popped up and scored and you’re not going to do that unless you get into the box.” He concluded: “To score six up here at Tow Law is a great effort from the lads – and hopefully it’ll be a massive confidence booster for us ahead of Saturday’s game at Bishop Auckland.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner emerged from the dressing rooms on Tuesday night wearing a broad smile on his face – and described his sides performance in the 6-0 win over Tow Law as being ‘one of the best’ of the season.

Skipper Ben Harmison scored a hat-trick with goals from substitute Lee Mason, Karl Ross and a Paul Robinson ‘special’ making up the tally in a totally dominant display.

“I think tonight will be up there as being one of the best displays of the season – and not just because we scored six goals,” said Skinner afterwards, “People will look at the result and think ‘you must have played well because you have scored six’ – but despite the scoreline we played very well indeed! I just thought from the first whistle the lads were ‘at it’ – both in and out of possession. We looked really bright on the ball; everybody wanted it (the ball); we had an enthusiasm about ourselves and on top of that we were creating chances. Obviously scoring within the first eight minutes made it an even better start but on the transition when we lost the ball, we must have won it back pretty much every time within a couple of passes. The lads moved the ball from side to side brilliantly; Paul Robinson and Jordan Summerly linked up well as did Scott Heslop and Ben Harmison whilst Andrew Cartwright was prominent and we just looked as if we were bang at it. So full credit to the players really because that first half is probably as good as we have played (all season) and it looked like we had our spark back from earlier in the campaign – and the pleasing thing for me was that we kept at it as well.”  

He continued: “At half time, we talked about being 3-0 up – which meant we didn’t have to go chasing for goals but if opportunities presented themselves to try and add to the tally and to be ruthless. We came out for the second half and were equally as hungry. Tonight we brought 18 players so obviously I had to leave two out of the squad altogether and four of the five substitutes got on. However for the 11 who started, I cannot speak highly enough of them because Tow Law isn’t an easy place to come to. On Saturday at Bishop Auckland, we are going to play on one of the best pitches in the league and if we move the ball like we did tonight then I’ll be delighted.” He concluded: “Before the game tonight, we tried to keep things low key. We talked about it just being another game and that nothing would be decided. We encouraged the lads to enjoy it and to play with a bit of freedom – and I think they did all of that.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Assistant manager Andy Coyles praised the Ashington players for a job ‘well done’ – following their comfortable 3-0 victory over Thornaby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

Ahead of kick-off, the result was crucial for both clubs. Woodhorn Lane boss Ian Skinner had described it as being a ‘must win’ game if his side wanted to push for a play off spot whilst the Teessiders needed maximum points from their final two games to have any chance of avoiding the relegation trap door.

The Wansbeck side got off to a great start with Craig Spooner giving them the lead after ten minutes then early in the second period, Spooner – with a beauty – and Paul Robinson added quickfire goals to cement the win.

Had it not been for an outstanding display between the posts by Thornaby’s experienced ‘keeper Robert Dean, Ashington would have scored a lot more, such was their dominance and craft at carving out opportunities.

A delighted Coyles said: “I thought there was a lot of pressure riding on the game because we knew what we needed to do in order for us to keep in contention for a play off final spot. We also realised how important the game was for Thornaby knowing that they needed to win their last two games to stand any chance of staying up – and sometimes that can be a dangerous animal to be up against. However, as far as I was concerned, I thought we dealt with the pressure really well and it was a job ‘well done’ by the lads. It was also our last home game of the season and we wanted to put on a performance for our supporters who have come out in their numbers again today and who have been absolutely superb all season.”

Coyles was equally pleased with Spooner’s early opener: “Taking the lead in the tenth minute calmed the nerves and settled us down,” he added, “It allowed us to play – and for the first 20 minutes we were excellent. We spoke to the lads at half time because after that opening 20 minutes, we dropped our standards. We allowed the pace of the game to drop and it took us a while to get back into it.”

He continued: “Second half the lads turned it on once again and for the first quarter of an hour were brilliant. It was nice to see a bit of fluidity to our passing and I also thought the energy levels from start to finish and the desire to win the ball back was exactly what we wanted.” He concluded: “I’d like to think that we put on a good show for the fans today. The scoreline could have been a lot more – but you can’t be greedy.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

After being handed a starting place in Ashington’s side to face Thornaby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday, Paul Robinson had an extra-special afternoon to remember.

The Colliers won the game 3-0 – with the Whitley Bay-born midfield maestro notching his side’s third just past the hour mark before he spotted his 12 year old son Charlie standing behind the goal and was able to give him a hi-five. However, unbeknown to Robinson senior, club photographer Ian Brodie captured the moment on camera to provide the family with a lovely keepsake memory.

Reflecting on the 62^nd minute, Robinson said: “First of all it was brilliant play on the right by Lee Mason, Andrew Cartwright and Dan Maguire. Maguire fired the ball across and the way it came to me, I knew I was going to touch it out of my feet and feign to shoot and drag it back onto my left foot. I didn’t connect that cleanly – but the shot was accurate, kissed the post and went in.”

He continued: “Charlie has come to loads of our games this season. He sometimes sits in the stand but for the start of the second half I picked him out behind the goal and when I scored it was a great feeling to be able to celebrate with him. Not many players get the opportunity to do that and the photograph taken by Ian Brodie is unbelievable. It was a lush little moment – and it’s a memory which our family will cherish forever.”

However Robinson – a football coach with Pro Direct Academy – had been the centre of attention early in the match when he came close to scoring – from the half way line!

The 38 year old recalls: “I knew the Thornaby ‘keeper (Robert Dean) plays quite high. When he slipped after kicking the ball out, it sat up for me and I didn’t really think about it – but I couldn’t have made a sweeter connection. I thought it had a massive chance (of going in) and it would have been nice if it had dropped in – but I was unlucky. On reflection maybe I should have hit the ball a little bit harder so it bounced into the goal instead of over it!”

Robinson had opportunities to add to his single strike later in the contest – but was denied by Dean’s brilliance: “We had loads of chances but Dean was unbelievable,” he said, “I could and should have had another two which the ‘keeper has tipped over and when I got to my car afterwards, even Charlie said ‘Dad, you could have scored a hat-trick!’”

Robinson – based at Seaton Delaval – added: “I’m always ready to play whenever the manager (Ian Skinner) needs me. Because of my age, sometimes I know there are games which won’t suit me and others which will but at Ashington, it’s a brilliant club with a brilliant squad.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner emerged from a gloomy dressing room after the 1-0 defeat against local rivals Whitley Bay on Good Friday – and whilst he shouldered some of the blame for the reverse, the boss reckons his players are suffering from ‘burn out’ at a crucial point in the campaign.

A header from Seahorses defender Elliott Day at the end of the first half proved to be decisive sending the Colliers to defeat and the result also means that the coast club will be the only side to complete the double over the Wansbeck side this term after their 2-1 win at Woodhorn Lane on Boxing Day.

Skinner said afterwards: “It was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance if I’m honest – and I’ll take the lion’s share of the blame for getting a few things wrong today in terms of potentially the starting eleven and potentially the way we wanted to play because it didn’t work. The players do have to take a little bit of responsibility because it’s them who go out onto the pitch and perform – but I just think we are coming to the end of a long tough season and I think our fantastic cup run is starting to take its toll in respect of tired legs. We’re almost crawling towards the finishing line which isn’t great because we are at the business end of the season and hence that’s why in the last couple of games, I’ve tried to make two or three changes just to freshen things up.”

He continued: “In terms of the game itself, I thought it was a pretty even, scrappy affair with not too many clear cut chances. We conceded a really poor goal at a really poor time in first half stoppage time which means they (Whitley Bay) can keep getting their full backs and their wide players to try and double up down the sides and they can play the ball forward knowing that we‘ve got to come out a little bit to chase the game. However the biggest disappointment for me was that we just didn’t threaten their goal anywhere near enough. We had a lot of possession but again we played too safe – we were happy to turn and go back or go inside. What we really need now is for players to stand up and look to make key contributions and drive forward with the ball and look to play key passes that create key chances.”

Skinner added: “Possibly a draw would have been a fair result although our ‘keeper Karl Dryden has made at least one fantastic save early in the second half. I was right behind it and he’s tipped the ball around the post.”

Skinner was furious that his side were not awarded a penalty ten minutes from time when Ben Sampson was bundled over inside the area and said: “It was a penalty for me. I’m not blaming the referee today and he didn’t contribute to the result – albeit his key decision potentially cost us what might have been a point – but the whole standard (of officiating) across the league now is really, really poor. Not only would I take great pleasure in getting Ashington out of this league, I’d take great pleasure in getting away from the standard of officiating (in this league) because it’s not up to what it should be and if we go up a league hopefully the standard will be a little bit better. People look at the Northern Premier League and there are lots of ex Northern League teams in there and it’s becoming a really strong league – and that’s why this club (Ashington) are trying to work hard to get there.” Ashington have three games remaining starting with their final home fixture of the season against Thornaby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday (April 15): “Three points is a must for us,” he said, “We’ll dust ourselves down; train twice this week and prepare for the game.”

By Brian Bennett

Supporters of Ashington FC will have an opportunity to put questions to manager Ian Skinner as the club will hold a ‘talk in’ following their final home match of the season against Thornaby on Saturday April 15.

The Woodhorn Lane boss said: “A couple of people approached me and asked if I would sit down and maybes have a chat with people – and it’s something which I have always been open to do previously so I’m hoping the fans will stay behind after the Thornaby game. In the past we have had a ‘talk in’ as a stand alone event and so not everybody could make it. I have no problem with it at all and it would be nice. I don’t get an opportunity to openly speak to people very often because it takes me a while to get in the clubhouse after games and when I do, lots of people have left.”

He continued: “I just thought that with it being our last home game, why not invite everybody to stay back for some refreshments regardless of where we are and what the situation is (in the league). If people want me to sit there and answer some questions, then I’d like to think I’m a pretty open and honest sort of person and I’ll be happy to answer them. Also it will be a good opportunity to say a ‘thank you’ to the fans who have been brilliant all season – they have come out in their numbers again today against Pickering – and their support was one again fantastic.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington striker Lee Mason said he was ‘massively delighted’ to score the only goal of the game after returning to the starting line up against Pickering Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

As the clock ticked down towards the end of the first half, the 32 year old lashed the ball into the back of the net and he said afterwards: “It wasn’t the best of games – it was a bit scrappy on a heavy pitch – but I was delighted to get back into the team and to score but the most important thing today was us winning the game and getting the three points.”

Newcastle-born Mason described his goal: “As soon as I turned the defender and got back onto my right foot, I was always going to put my laces through it (the ball),” he added, “It was mainly about getting power behind the shot and hitting the target. I was massively delighted to see it go in and the fact that it went in off the bar made it even better.”

The win lifted the Colliers up into second place and Mason said: “We’ve just got to concentrate on trying to win every game and hopefully end up by either winning the league or finishing runners up and going into the play off.”

Ashington manager Ian Skinner said: “I was delighted for Lee (Mason) because he hasn’t really played a lot of football in the last month and he is second top goal scorer at the club. I felt I needed to give him an opportunity and he’s repaid the faith I had in him with a great finish. He made the goal all himself with a run, turn, shot and finish. It proved to be the winner and its funny how little things like that happen in football.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner admitted that Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Pickering Town was by no means a classic – but it was nevertheless a case of job done.

Lee Mason – on his return to the starting line up – scored the goal shortly before the interval and Skinner said: “Obviously the place was a little bit flat after our defeat at Whickham on Tuesday night. We trained on Thursday and you could still see that there was a little bit of a hangover so all we tried to do was to take pressure off everybody and say ‘listen there’s a game of football on Saturday where we need to win. If we play to the levels which we are capable of, we can do that and we’ll worry about what happens after that.”

He continued: “I didn’t think it was a classic. Obviously Pickering are scrapping for their lives in the first division and I think they would have taken a 0-0 result from kick off! We expected that a little bit and we planned for them to sit in a little bit. We certainly dominated the ball and got into some good areas but didn’t really work the goalkeeper enough in the first half. And then to be fair from their corner, we broke really, really quickly and Lee Mason has put us in front with a tremendous goal.”

He went on: “Second half I thought we did everything right apart from adding to the score sheet and it’s a situation where you look at it and you think that although you are dominating the ball and getting into some key areas, whilst it’s only 1-0 there’s always a risk. I had a really attacking bench and you think ‘do I start and put two or three of those players on and see if we can get another goal when really 1-0 wins the game?’ so you are stuck in little bit of a catch 22 situation to be honest. With the pitch being difficult and having played on Tuesday, one or two of the players tired a little bit so I just got some fresh legs on to give us a bit impetus. It would have been nice to have got a second goal but ‘job done’ probably sums it up. We said before the game we needed to win against a team who were content to concede ground and sit in behind the ball and let us have it and even as the game drew on, they didn’t throw too many numbers forward. But what I liked about today is that we’ve bounced back – so credit to the players for that.”

Ashington now go to Whitley Bay on Good Friday and Skinner said: “It’s still about taking one game at a time. I know it’s a cliché but it’s all about on the day in the Northern League – anybody can beat anybody and this league is so unpredictable. We have got four games left and our aim is to take 12 points. Whitley Bay will be a tough game – it’s a tough place to go – and their manager Nicky Gray will have his side fired up. We’ll train on Tuesday and prepare for the clash but we’ll certainly not be looking beyond that.”

Defender Darren Lough has served his suspension and will be available for the encounter at Hillheads which has a 12 noon kick off.

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manage Ian Skinner – bitterly disappointed after his side 3-2 defeat at the hands of Whickham on Tuesday night – admitted that ‘it’s advantage Newton Aycliffe’ for promotion come the end of the season.

After leading at the interval through Karl Ross, the Colliers went 2-1 behind at Whickham to goals from Tom Romano and Scott Robson. Scott Heslop levelled but Romano got his second in stoppage time which sent the Wansbeck outfit to their seventh league defeat of the campaign.

“Tonight was a big game,” he said, “It was a game in hand – a game which had we won would have seen us go level with Newton Aycliffe at the top of the league. We are now three points behind them having played the same number of games so it’s advantage Newton Aycliffe. All we can do now is to look towards Saturday’s home match against Pickering Town, hopefully pick up three points and try to win every game between now and the end of the season. Wherever it puts us, we’ll have to accept because I’m a little bit old fashioned and over a 38 game season, the table generally isn’t wrong.”

As he looked back at the first half at the First Mortgage Glebe Stadium, Skinner commented: “I thought we started the game really, really well. We were bright and played with tempo; created a number of opportunities and probably scored the scrappiest of goals. A couple of chances fell to various people then the ball came out to Karl Ross and it wasn’t the cleanest of strikes but it’s gone in the bottom corner. They all count and to be honest I thought we deserved to be at least 1-0 up at half time.”

Whickham drew level within two minutes of the resumption with a controversial goal with Ashington claiming the ball had gone out of play for a goal kick. Skinner said: “We talked in the dressing room about doing the right things in the second half – but the start was disastrous. Obviously from where I was I couldn’t see if the ball is out (for a goal kick) but there’s a thing in football whereby if you are unsure you can usually tell by player’s reactions. Darren Lough left the ball and ran away from it – if the ball is still on the pitch why would he (Lough) leave it (the ball) and move away from it for there centre forward who started dribbling with it before putting it into the net? Everybody was looking as if to say ‘what’s gone on’ – but the goal was given.”

He added: “I’m proud of our defensive record this season in terms of before tonight’s game we had only conceded 30 goals in 32 league games – less than a goal a game – but anybody who saw our defending for all three goals tonight would be flabbergasted because they are very, very poor goals. There were individual errors within those goals but as a team second half defensively, we were all over the shop. We allowed Whickham to play more direct; we allowed them to play forward and run forward which they do well especially with the slope and we turned the game into a bit of a battle and a scrap and the squad I have assembled, without being disrespectful, aren’t battlers and scrappers – they’re footballers. Consequently it frustrates me when they decide to get into scraps and battles because that doesn’t suit us and that’s probably the reason why we found ourselves 2-1 down. We managed to equalise and when we did that we were the brighter team because we started to pass the ball again and I don’t know how many times in the second half I must have shouted to the players ‘keep passing it’. Then to concede another really poor goal and lose the game is very disappointing.”

For Saturday’s clash against Pickering Town at Woodhorn Lane (3pm), Skinner is hoping Dan Maguire and Andrew Cartwright – who both missed the Whickham game through injury – will be available but defender Darren Lough is ruled out through suspension.