By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC midfield general Ben Sampson has insisted that the Colliers will travel down to Norfolk with a positive mindset when they tackle Kings Lynn in their fourth qualifying round clash of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.

Sampson, who was on the score sheet when the Wansbeck outfit won 3-0 in their replay in the previous round against Stocksbridge Park Steels last week, said: “All respect to Kings Lynn because they are flying in their league (National League North) which is three divisions above us. We know it’s going to be a difficult game against them but we’ll be going down there with a positive mindset and I think we can get a result.”

Ashington-born Sampson, who is based in Morpeth, continued: “We’ve got a good side; we can defend well; we’ve beaten three higher level teams in the competition so far and we’ve got to believe that we can go down there and get a result against them – or bring them back up to Ashington for a replay on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile the 23 year old said Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Tow Law in their Ebac Northern League first division match was deserved: “It was hard graft,” he added, “Tow Law were promoted at the end of last season and are a good side. They have got good players who have been around at this level and higher but despite difficult windy conditions, we dominated the ball. I think it was a case for us of ‘job done’ and although it finished 2-1, we could have had a couple more – but it’s another three points on the board.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC central defender Darren Lough acknowledged that the Woodhorn Lane club face their biggest challenge for over a decade on Saturday when they go to Kings Lynn in the Emirates FA Cup – but believes the Colliers can return back home to Wansbeck with a result.

Lough added that his team mates will be buzzing when they make the journey to Norfolk to face a side who are top of the National League North table: “It’s a massive week for the club and the biggest game they’ve had in the FA Cup for a long time since they played Grimsby in the 2011/12 season,” he said, “Some people will say we are the underdogs but with the players and the squad we had got, I quite fancy our chances against them. Why not? In our last three games in the competition, we have played teams who are in higher leagues, have put on a performance and beat them so why shouldn’t we go down there (Kings Lynn) and get something? I wouldn’t say it’s a free shot but it’s a game where the winners will go into the first round proper of the FA Cup when the big gunscome in and if you’re in the hat you never know what might happen. Ashington is the place to be and the lads are buzzing and looking forward to it.”

The 33 year old – a drainage engineer – continued: “It was disappointing that we didn’t land a home draw because after getting a bumper crowd on Tuesday night for the replay against Stocksbridge, if we had got a tie at Woodhorn Lane on a Saturday it probably would have been a sell out and brought good revenue into the club. We are more of an underdog going down to Kings Lynn but we can upset anybody – and I’ve got confidence in the lads that we can do that.”

Ashington-born Lough who is based in Morpeth, also touched on the ‘great atmosphere’ which the players experienced in their replay win over Stocksbridge when an attendance of 1,424 set a new record at Woodhorn Lane: “It was a huge game last Tuesday,” he added, “It was lashing down with rain but people still came out in their hundreds to support us and they generated a great atmosphere. The lads would love a turn out like that for every week because they enjoy playing in front of big crowds – so the more the merrier.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC’s Luke Salmon has now scored in consecutive league matches – and the left sided defender or wing back is naturally delighted.

After being on target in the away match at Penrith, Salmon once again showed whole hearted commitment as he met a pinpoint cross from the right by Yannick Aziakonou to bullet home a header in Saturday’s Ebac Northern League first division encounter against Tow Law at Woodhorn Lane which the Wansbeck outfit won 2-1.

Salmon’s goal came five minutes before half time and was the equaliser after Andrei-Vasile Ardelean had given the Lawyers a shock lead on the half hour. An 82^nd minute penalty converted by home skipper Ben Harmison wrapped up the points for Ian Skinner’s side.

The 31 year old said later: “The goal which brought us level made us feel more comfortable and Yannick (Aziakonou) has put a superb ball in. To be honest, it (the ball) came from nowhere and I wasn’t expecting it. Yannick ended up upside down whilst I was at the back post and the ball was just right for me to dive and head it in.”

North Shields-based Salmon continued: “Unfortunately for Jordan Summerly, he took ill during the week and I’ve stepped in but the same thing happened to me at the beginning of the season because I was on holiday and missed the first three games. We have a big squad here so when you come into the side you want to try and keep hold of the shirt. I’m happy to be in the team – and I’m happy with my form.”

Casting an eye towards Saturday’s fourth qualifying round tie in the Emirates FA Cup away to Kings Lynn, Salmon – a teacher – said: “We’ll go into the clash with confidence. We’ve been underdogs three times (against Ashton United, Bradford Park Avenue and Stocksbridge Park Steels) but we’ve gone into each game thinking – and believing – that we could win. I know they (Kings Lynn) are top of their league but we are also flying and we’ve got a class team so anything can happen.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner spoke at the weekend of his to Ebac Northern League outfit Heaton Stannington – and the ENL – after the Colliers clash at Grounsell Park scheduled for Wednesday (October 12) was postponed by mutual consent.

The reason behind the move was to give the Wansbeck side a free week to prepare for their massive fourth qualifying round tie in the Emirates FA Cup against Kings Lynn on Saturday in Norfolk.

Skinner was quick to praise both parties: “It’s nice that a fellow member club of the Northern League has been kind enough to reschedule their fixture list in order to help us out and it’s also nice that the ENL have agreed to it – given that we are the last representatives of the league in the FA Cup competition. It’s a great gesture and one which we welcome and we thank them for because there would have been nothing worse than having to play that game on Wednesday. Heaton Stannington could rightly have said that they wanted the clash to go ahead knowing that we wouldn’t really want to try and risk too many players or pick up any injuries.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

There was double delight for Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner on Saturday. The boss saw his side follow up their cup upset win over Stocksbridge Park Steels in midweek with a hard fought 2-1 victory in their Ebac Northern League encounter against Tow Law.

Skinner then announced after the final whistle that the legendary Robbie Dale – who was his first signing of the summer – had also agreed to join the management team at Woodhorn Lane.

A beaming Skinner said: “Obviously I missed the cup replay win against Stocksbridge through some coaching commitments in Portugal and I asked Robbie (Dale) if he would support the management team following some conversations I had with him that’s been going on for a little while. I then asked Robbie if he’d like to officially step up and be part of the management team and he’s accepted it so as well as having a playing role, Robbie (Dale) will also be part of my team moving forward. We’ll finalise all the roles and responsibilities over the next few days now that I’m back but when you’ve got somebody of Robbie’s experience after what he has achieved in the game and where his understanding of the game is brilliant, it’s another pair of eyes and hands which can help me out. I’m delighted that he is going to be part of the set up and he can share some of his experience and some of his thoughts with the players and he’ll be another fantastic addition.”

Dale said: “Ian (Skinner) asked me before the replay against Stocksbridge on Tuesday if I would help out. He spoke to me a little bit about it in the summer but I didn’t really want to do it – but I agreed (to do it) for the replay and give the lads a hand. I enjoyed it; we got a good result and everything went well. On Friday night I got a phone call from Ian (Skinner). He wanted me back on the sidelines for the game on Saturday and that’s what I think he wants going forward as well so we’ll see how it goes.”

Newcastle-born Dale continued: “I’m happy to do it. I’m injured at the moment, so it keeps me occupied as well. I played in the game at Stocksbridge and its put me back a few weeks. Down at Stocksbridge we were short of a couple of players and I took the risk knowing that I would probably be out for a few more weeks.”

Reflecting on the 3-0 win over Stocksbridge, Dale said: “I know it was record attendance for the ground but to get over 1400 people through the doors on Tuesday evening was unbelievable. Any night you get that many fans behind you, you should beat the team you are playing and when we started like we did, the crowd are only going to get louder. We got those two early goals and I thought we had more than enough quality to beat them (Stocksbridge). It was a great result.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was clearly chuffed after his side returned to league duty against Tow Law at a windswept Woodhorn Lane on Saturday and ground out a 2-1 win.

The Colliers – a goal behind when Andrei-Vasile Ardelean stunned the home supporters as he put the Lawyers ahead – hit back to equalise through Luke Salmon before Ben Harmison clinched the points after scoring with a late penalty.

The fight back and consequent result was just the tonic for Skinner and the whole of the home contingent coming only four days after their pulsating and exhausting 3-0 win in their Emirates FA Cup replay against Stocksbridge Park Steels – and it meant the Colliers kept their unbeaten league record intact.

Skinner said afterwards: “You should always be pleased with a win. Conditions were difficult with a swirling strong wind and a pitch which was a little bit sticky and awkward at times. I thought we started the game quite brightly and moved the ball well but were a little bit passive especially coming down the bank with the wind on our backs. I just thought at times that we could have played forward a bit quicker instead of playing sideways and we fell into the trap where the player on the ball looks up and had lots of people running away from him with nobody really coming short. Midway through the first half, we changed our shape slightly to see if we could get a few more numbers forward and a couple of minutes after doing that we conceded – so I’ll take the blame for that. The messages may not have got on to the relevant people but we certainly got caught giving the ball away then were wide open and one pass has been played through to Ardelean who has finished it really well. Credit to us because we scored a great equaliser after what was a good move. Yannick (Aziakonou) has been really positive and stepped onto the ball before providing a great cross and Luke Salmon has made up a fantastic amount of ground to get to the back post and head it home so I was pleased with that.”

He continued: “Second half I thought we looked much better playing against the wind but sometimes the pleasing thing is that the wind forces you to have to play and takes away that little thought of ‘oh I can play a longer ball here’ and for long periods of the game I thought we dominated possession. Tow Law had one or two little counter attacks where they played direct in behind us and had one or two little moments where a chance could have developed. However, the only real opportunity they had was the one over the top and the centre forward has done well but our ‘keeper Karl Dryden has done well to force him really wide and from an acute angle, Ardelean has hit the outside of the post – other than that we limited them to very little.”

He went on: “We‘ve had a couple of good efforts where their ‘keeper (Thomas Orton) has made a brilliant save from Ben Sampson and a good save from Ben Harmison where he’s turned and hit it. We then got a penalty for handball and Ben (Harmison) has stepped up and scored and we’ve managed to see the game out. If someone had said to me beforehand that we would win 2-1, I would have taken it, so I’m delighted.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Keith Saint

Ashington FC skipper Ben Harmison said he was confident that the Colliers would win their Emirates FA Cup replay against Stocksbridge Park Steels – even before a ball was kicked on Tuesday night.

Early goals from Yannick Azikonou and Paul Robinson put the home side in command before Ben Sampson added a third in the second period: “I knew if we turned up in the right frame of mind and with the right attitude that there would only be one winner – and we did just that,” he said, “It was a brilliant result. We were absolutely fantastic in the first 20 minutes especially with the conditions because we knew we could pass the ball better than we had done on Saturday. Stocksbridge couldn’t live with us – and the start we made where we scored twice in the opening eight minutes was exactly what we wanted.”

He continued: “We knew there was going to be a big crowd and the lads were pumped up for it from when they got to the ground. The messages on our group chat were flying around during the afternoon with excitement and when we saw the crowd, we knew we wanted to give them something to shout about and I thought we did that. The team spirit is absolutely brilliant and win, lose or draw, there is good banter amongst us. We wanted to be the ones to play King’s Lynn in the next round – and we knew we could do it. After the first 20 minutes they (Stocksbridge) changed their shape then for the 25 minutes leading into half time, we got sloppy and were giving the ball away in stupid areas instead of just realising we were 2-0 up and just spinning and turning them.”

He went on: “We spoke about that at half time and we knew they (Stocksbridge) were going to come out hard – a bit like the last 20 minutes at their place. They had to go for it and the substitute they introduced on the left hand side (Lewis Macaskill) is a good player but we never thought we were going to concede no matter how many players they put up top because we were solid at the back. Then to score a third definitely helps because if the game goes to 2-1 you start thinking you are tired and start doubting yourself – but Ben Sampson’s goal came at the right time.”

Harmison was delighted for the whole club: “I’m over the moon for manager Ian Skinner who couldn’t be here tonight and for the whole club in general,” he said, “The fans were absolutely fantastic and to get 1,424 on a Tuesday night applauding every tackle and every throw in we made was quite special.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Keith Saint

Ashington FC’s Ben Sampson notched his first goal of the season in the Colliers 3-0 win over Stocksbridge Park Steels in their Emirates FA Cup replay – and the midfielder could not have opened his account at a better time!

After a sensational start when Yannick Aziakonou and Paul Robinson both scored inside the opening eight minutes, the Sheffield based visitors – who play in the Northern Premier League East Division, one above the Colliers – had made a positive start to the second half.

However in the 55^th minute, their hopes received a severe setback when Sampson seized on a rebound to blast home after Steels ‘keeper Harrison Davison-Hale had spilled a free kick by Dean Briggs: “I don’t score many,” said Sampson, “It was my first goal of the campaign and it was a bit of a blur really. I just drove the ball into the back of the net then celebrated.”

The attendance at Woodhorn Lane – a record breaking 1,424 – was probably the biggest crowd Sampson had played in front of: “The game was tough,” he said, “but the pitch and the conditions were good. It was hard work but apart from when they (Stocksbridge) had a spell in the first half, I thought we controlled the game.  I think it was the biggest crowd I have played in front of and the encouragement from the fans does make a massive difference. They never stopped chanting and encouraging us down at Stocksbridge to get us into this replay and it’s brilliant playing in front of them. The support has gone to another level because when I first started coming here the crowd was never like this but its built up. The people behind the scenes have done loads of work to get the club up to this point and they deserve a lot of credit as do the lads on the pitch who are entertaining the fans who in turn want to come back.”

He added: “We are a good team and the defeat against Billingham Town in the Isuzu FA Vase was a huge disappointment because with the team the manager has put together, I’m sure we could have gone far in the competition. However, I think this run in the FA Cup is sort of making up for it. The crowds are massive and the occasions are huge.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC midfielder Paul Robinson revealed after the Colliers had advanced into the fourth qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup with victory in their replay against Stocksbridge Park Steels that the players had gone into the rematch in buoyant mood.

Robinson, scorer of the second goal in a 3-0 win, said afterwards: “First of all, it was a brilliant result for the club but to be honest, we went into the clash fancying our chances. Obviously I didn’t play on Saturday but I thought we should have won down in Sheffield because we were by far the better team. Consequently you could tell by the way we started really well, that we really thought we could finish the job off.”

Newcastle-born Robinson – a football coach for Pro:Direct academy – continued: “After we got off to a great start with two goals inside the first ten minutes, it got a bit scrappy after that but I thought the third goal after 55 minutes came at the right time because it killed the game and it was then a case of us trying to see it through. We could have got a couple of goals near the end from breaks when the fresh legs from substitutions, made a difference for us but all in all it was a fantastic night with a brilliant crowd and was tremendous for the club.”

The midfield maestro was on the mark – with a header: “All I thought about when the ball came to me was to get a half decent connection and keep it (the ball) high – and it looped into the roof of the net. It was a nice feeling. I’m 38 now and these moments might not come around much longer so it was a case of enjoying the moment.”