By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC coach Neil Cooper was naturally ecstatic after the Colliers had marched into the fourth qualifying round of this season Emirates FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Northern Premier League East Division outfit Stocksbridge Park Steels on Tuesday night.

Two goals in the first eight minutes from Yannick Aziakonou and Paul Robinson gave the Wansbeck side – playing in front of a record attendance of 1424 at Woodhorn Lane – a great start with Ben Sampson adding a third ten minutes into the second half.

With manager Ian Skinner unavailable, Cooper, Lee Anderson and Robbie Dale were in charge of the side.

Cooper said afterwards: “We thoroughly deserved it and I’m thrilled to bits. All of the players including those lads on the bench were a credit to the club – they were absolutely class. To be 2-0 up after ten minutes was unbelievable. I thought for the first 20-25 minutes that we were the better team but we sat back a bit too much and allowed them (Stocksbridge) to get into the game. Since our shock exit against Billingham Town in the Isuzu FA Vase, we have only shipped a few goals and tonight, the lads got in the way of shots and blocked crosses as we had asked them to do before the start. We knew we conceded from crosses in the first game at Stocksbridge so we had to get out to them – and we did that.”

He continued: “At half time, we asked the players to get back to controlling the game but for some reason at the start of the second half we came out slowly. My first thought is to play forward but we were going sideways too much which allowed them (Stocksbridge) to come onto us. To be fair, our ‘keeper Karl Dryden has made a couple of brilliant saves at 2-0 then Ben Sampson’s goal came at the right time for us.”

Cooper could hardly conceal his overall emotions: “I’m not wanting to appear to be greedy but we could have scored a fourth or fifth goal especially through Dean Briggs who near the end, made a brilliant run and his shot was just off target. However, we’re through and that’s all that matters. Would we have even thought about being in the fourth qualifying round let alone be planning to go down and face Kings’s Lynn – no! It’ll be a very hard and tough game but we’ll look forward to it and why not! From a different angle, we are one game away from reaching the first round proper and that’s an unbelievable thought for this club. Everyone starting from the chairman has played their part and are pulling in the right direction. That’s brilliant – but tonight was class.”

Cooper added: “Lee Anderson and Robbie Dale (who was ruled out through injury but who stepped up into a coaching role) were spot on too with Robbie saying things on the touchline at the right times and I can’t praise him enough.”

Meanwhile fellow coach Lee Anderson said: “I’d just like to thank all the fans for coming out and backing the team. Also thanks to Neil Cooper and Robbie Dale and all the players for their efforts. Their attitudes were absolutely first class and it was a great night for everybody involved with the club following what was a good and well deserved win.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton spoke about being overawed and quite emotional after the Colliers had progressed to the fourth qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-0 win in their replay against Stocksbridge Park Steels on Tuesday evening.

Mr Shotton said afterwards: “I’m actually quite speechless about the whole night to be honest. I’m also a bit overawed by it and emotional because after being on such a long journey, it feels like the club are well and truly on the right road now. To see 1,424 people from Ashington at a game at Woodhorn Lane and then to progress after a blood and thunder FA Cup tie, I’m more than touched by it all. Yes I’m delighted but really I’m a bit of a softie so I’ll probably have a few tears later on tonight. As people know, I absolutely love this football club and I can’t say anything more positive about the team; the lads that are in that team; the people who help and the people who come along and watch us. We are a special club and one who are really on the up.”

Mr Shotton – who started supporting the club as a 12 year old on the terraces at the former Portland Park ground – continued: “When I took over as chairman four years ago, I said I didn’t want the club to stand still. We did have a period of regression but you have to have the hard days to have the good days and these are certainly good days at the moment. We’ve still got our league games to play – we are back on duty on Saturday (at home to Tow Law) – and I’d like to think that a percentage of the crowd will come back and watch us because what is happening here is special. It’s unbelievable to see the town of Ashington get behind the club; we deserve it; the players deserve it and the people who work hard here deserve it too.”

Mr Shotton, 38, gave a special mention to manager Ian Skinner: “I’m delighted for Ian Skinner who wasn’t able to be here tonight and I’d like to pay tribute to him because he’s done a really unbelievable job at this football club. Again along with myself and others, Ian faced a lot of tough moments and he deserves to enjoy the good times as well.”

Ashington now have a trip to face King’s Lynn in the next round of the competition on Saturday week (October 15) and Mr Shotton added: “It is obviously going to be really tough. The lads have come through adversity against higher level opposition in the last three rounds but it’s a cup game and anything can happen on the day.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner admitted that there were some ‘fine margins’ in Saturday’s 2-2 draw in their Emirates FA Cup clash against Stocksbridge Park Steels at Bracken Moor: “I’m not sure how I feel because it was a bit of a strange performance and if I’m honest, I thought it was a bit of a ‘nothing game’ for 70 minutes and then it burst into life,” he said afterwards, “It was like a home game to be fair with the travelling contingent as they were vocal – as we knew they would be – and were first class. Obviously we went behind from a set play and we knew that they (Stocksbridge) were strong in that department. It was a header at the back post back across goal into the top corner for their goal but we showed real good character to come back – and it galvanised us into playing some of the football we know we can and what we showed earlier in the season. For the equaliser, we worked a good move and found Lee Mason free at the back post and he’s smashed the ball into the top corner for what was a great finish. Then from a set play ourselves, it was a great ball in from Dean Briggs and Ben Harmison’s extra long leg seemed to come out and get on the end of it and we found ourselves 2-1 up.”

He continued: “Obviously Stocksbridge had a spell because they have got to come at us and set plays were always going to be their biggest danger. I thought we defended really well all day and then there’s a one late on in the game whereby the ball has bobbled and bounced about in our box and unfortunately for us it’s dropped to their player (Mitch Langton) about three yards out with the goal at his mercy and he’s tapped it in and it becomes 2-2.”

He went on: “However there were some fine margins in the game. At 2-1, Dan Maguire flicks Lee Mason clean through who lifts the ball over the goalkeeper and you’re just praying for it to drop quick enough – but it doesn’t quite do that but comes back off the bar straight into the keepers hands. However, they (Stocksbridge) will mention a shot which they had from the edge of the box which rattled the post.”

He added: “A draw’s a draw and we are in the hat and we’ll have the incentive of when we go into Tuesday’s replay knowing who we could potentially face only we can’t – and won’t – look at that situation. First of all we’ll have to focus on how we can overcome Stocksbridge but then if you look at when we got through the last round, I said that I would be happy with a home tie against ‘anybody at home’ – and we are now at ‘home’ (in the replay). We’ll certainly attack the game and see if we can take it to them (Stocksbridge) and also see if we can get a positive result.”

Skinner will check on the fitness of his players – including Adam Johnson who missed out on Saturday through injury – ahead of Tuesday’s 7.45pm kick-off and added that Andrew Cartwright should be available to return to the squad.

Meanwhile the boss is hoping for ‘more of the same’ from the Ashington supporters: “I’m sure the fans will come out in their numbers again and generate another great atmosphere – and hopefully we can give them something else to shout about,” he added.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC striker Lee Mason was delighted to fire home his sides first goal against Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday in their third qualifying round clash in the Emirates FA Cup – and admitted that had he scored with another opportunity later on, the Colliers would ‘probably not have been facing a replay’ which takes place at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday (October 4).

The Wansbeck side – enjoying a glorious run the competition – were trailing to a header by home skipper Ross Goodwin when Mason lashed home two minutes later to restore parity.

The forward said: “The ball came to me and I just instinctively first timed it so that the ‘keeper couldn’t get set – and it was good to see it hit the back of the net.”

Ashington skipper Ben Harmison then put his side 2-1 ahead following a free-kick – before both sides hit the woodwork.

Alex O’Connor struck the post for the hosts then Mason hit the bar with ten minutes of normal time remaining which had he netted would have made it 3-1: “The ‘‘keeper was miles out,” he added, “I probably had a bit more time to take a touch but I’ve got the ball over him which was a bit wind assisted and unfortunately it’s landed on the bar and hasn’t gone in. Chances change games and it was a massive opportunity and if we score, then I probably wouldn’t be standing here saying the game has finished 2-2 and we’re going to a replay. It was disappointing that it didn’t drop in but it’s one of those things.”

Meanwhile Mason is looking forward to Tuesday night’s second instalment against the Pitching in Northern Premier League East outfit who are based in Sheffield: “At 2-1 up I thought we were very unlucky to concede the equaliser in the matter we did,” he said, “But having been 1-0 down, if someone had said they would give us a draw and a replay on Tuesday, we would have snapped their hands off. Overall it was a good performance from the lads but I’m a bit disappointed that we didn’t win.”

By Brian Bennett

Ben Harmison admitted that adrenalin played a massive part in helping him to get through Ashington’s prestigious Emirates FA Cup third qualifying round tie against Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday which ended in a 2-2 draw.

The Colliers were spurred on by a terrific following from their supporters – three coach loads left the Woodhorn Lane ground at 10am – but fans were unaware that skipper Harmison had just finished a shift at work and had only managed to catch a couple of hours sleep before boarding the team bus bound for Sheffield.

Harmison and Darren Lough both turned in excellent performances at the heart of the defence and it was the former who put his side 2-1 ahead with a little over quarter of an hour of the cup tie remaining.

However a late equaliser for the home side by Mitch Langton put a spoke in what would have been a dream day for Harmison: “I finished work at 6am in the morning,” he said, “I did get my head down for a while before we set off but in big games, the adrenalin gets you through it. After I scored, I thought they (Stocksbridge) would push on and we would get a chance on the break – which we did – only Lee Mason has been unlucky in hitting the bar.”

He continued: “If anyone had asked us before the game, we probably would have taken a draw or a win to still be in the hat on Monday. But after the game, we were all disappointed and a bit deflated in the changing rooms after being 2-1 up with 15 minutes to go and conceding two goals to crosses that we should be defending better. The second one is a bit of a ricochet and has just fallen for the lad (Mitch Langton) but deep down, we probably didn’t play as well as we could.”

He added: “Nevertheless it was still a great achievement because they (Stocksbridge) are a side who are another level higher up the pyramid. We also went into the game with a few players who were coming back from injury as well as being without another couple of lads players who have been playing well who were unavailable so although we didn’t win, to take them (Stocksbridge) back to Woodhorn Lane was good.”

Harmison has now scored in consecutive rounds in the FA Cup after heading home the second in Ashington’s 2-1 win over Bradford Park Avenue: “I’m just popping up and getting into the right areas but to score goals you need service,” he said, “Today, it was a great ball in by Dean (Briggs), I just stuck a leg out and it’s gone in.”

He continued: “After that we knew they (Stocksbridge) were going to come at us and we were getting tired which was understandable after being on a coach for two to three hours. However we go again on Tuesday night and a big crowd behind us could help to push us through.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton has his eyes on a bumper attendance at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night when the Colliers meet Stocksbridge Park Steels in the replay of their Emirates FA Cup third qualifying round tie which finished 2-2 at the Eco power Stadium on Saturday.

With home attendances of 671 against Ashton United in their first qualifying round replay followed by 711 in the next tie against Bradford Park Avenue, FA Cup fever has certainly gripped the people of Wansbeck.

Now Mr Shotton is optimistic of attracting a crowd of over 1,000 for Tuesday’s 7.45pm kick-off against their opponents from the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division side.

“Obviously we would have preferred to have won the game on the day but the replay gives us another opportunity to showcase the club in front of plenty of home supporters,” he said, “I’d like to think – and I might be a bit ambitious – that we may break the four figure mark on Tuesday. I believe there’s a bit of momentum building off the field which was proved today by the fantastic support of 150 plus fans who travelled down to Sheffield.”

He continued: “I thought we should have won on Saturday but when they got the equaliser with five minutes of normal time left, you then take the replay. It’s a hard place to go and conditions were a bit iffy with a swirling wind but hopefully we can get through on Tuesday.”

Kick off is 7.45pm.

Who are FA Cup opponents Stocksbridge Park Steels?

By Luke Duden (Twitter: @LukeDudenUoS)

Ashington face a trip to South Yorkshire for the third qualifying round of the FA Cup, but what do we actually know about Stocksbridge Park Steels?

Our opponents currently compete one step above us, alongside North Shields, in the Northern Premier League East division, after being promoted in 2020/21. They currently find themselves 15th with five points from five games.

A 90th minute winner by Mitchell Langton in the second round saw Steels come out as 2-1 victors against the surprise package of the 2020/21 FA Cup, Marine, who played Spurs in the third round that season.

Stocksbridge will be looking to reach the fourth qualifying round for the second time in their 36-year history, after previously reaching this stage in the 2003/04 campaign – but they were beat 6-0 by Shildon.

Their average home attendance last season was 199, with their biggest crowd being 551 in a local derby against Sheffield. Although their maximum capacity is 3500, in their second qualifying round victory they pulled in an attendance of 254.

The club was founded in 1986 following the merger of Stocksbridge Works FC and Oxley Park Sports FC, and entered at level ten of the football pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Division Two, they were then promoted twice in three seasons to the Northern Premier League Division One.

The Hallamshire based side reached as high as the Northern Premier League Premier Division (level 7) in 2008-09, but is best known in recent years for being the first club of Jamie Vardy.

SKINNER: “THE BACKING FROM OUR FANS DOESN’T SURPRISE ME”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner has applauded supporters of the Woodhorn Lane outfit ahead of Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup third qualifying round tie against Stocksbridge Park Steels in Sheffield.

The Wansbeck based club announced details on Tuesday of a third coach for fans to make the trip to Yorkshire with chairman Brian Shotton saying: “I’m absolutely amazed but unsurprised we now need a third coach. The supporters at this club are top class and we need as many of them there on Saturday roaring us on in what is the clubs biggest game in over a decade. We may not fill this one but we want to accommodate everyone who wishes to travel.”

Skinner gave his reaction when he said: “It’ll be fantastic to be back in FA Cup action and it’ll be brilliant to be backed by three coach loads of supporters who are going to make the trip down. It’s phenomenal really – but it doesn’t surprise me because you only need to look over the last couple of seasons in terms of when we (the team) gave them something to shout about, that they came out in their numbers with around 1200 against Newcastle United under 23’s in the Northumberland Senior Cup; 600 when we played Consett in a league game and then this year when we have had crowds of 600’s and 700’s in the FA Cup. To go to Sheffield on a Saturday and be taking three bus loads is credit to the fans and the town and we just hope we can put on a show.”

SKINNER: “ALL I ASK IS TO MAKE SURE WE SEIZE THE MOMENT”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner says his outfit will be properly prepared ahead of Saturday’s third qualifying round clash in the Emirates FA Cup against Stocksbridge Park Steels at the Bracken Moor Stadium.

On Tuesday night, both clubs had contrasting fortunes. The Colliers won their Northumberland Senior Cup game against West Allotment Celtic 3-1 whilst at the same time, Stocksbridge were going down to a single goal defeat in their Pitching In Northern Premier East Division tussle at Ossett United.

All eyes now turn to Saturday’s contest and Skinner said: “We are all looking forward to it – but it’s just another game. It’s a one where we are going there with a positive mindset and will be looking to try and win the game. We’ve got a way in which we think we can play which will give us a good chance but will it be easy? No. Will we give it our best shot? Yes. Will it be fantastic to be roared on by 150 plus supporters? Most definitely.”

The boss has once again does his homework: “I’ve spoken to a couple of people who have played Stocksbridge this season and I’ve also managed to get some footage of them,” he said, “We think we have identified some of their strengths and we think we have identified some of our strengths which can maybes cause them one or two problems – but again it’s cup football and about the occasion and it will come down to on the day really.”

On the team news front, Dean Biggs and Robbie Dale are doubtful whilst Skinner rates Dan Maguire and Lee Mason’s chances at 50-50: “All I will be asking of the players is to make sure they seize the moment and make sure they give a good account of ourselves,” he added, “If we play to the levels we are capable of then we’ll see where that takes us.”

If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the replay will take place at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday (October 4) with a 7.45pm kick-off.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner said the result was all that mattered after watching side advance into the second round of the Northumberland Senior Cup following a 3-1 win over West Allotment Celtic on Tuesday night.

The boss commented: “It was cup football – and all that matters is the result. Were we at our fluent best? No. We made more changes from Saturday and obviously we shouldn’t have been looking beyond this game but we had one eye on our FA Cup game against Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday – hence why we chose not to involve a number of players this evening.”

He continued: “I thought first half we were really passive. We played with eight and nine players in our own half; we gave away too many unforced errors and were sloppy in possession. It doesn’t happen very often but I got after the players a little bit at half time – and that’s not me because its something which I don’t particularly enjoy doing.”

Skinner’s team talk had an immediate effect: “There was a reaction second half and we scored really early with a great strike by Paul Robinson then the game petered out a little bit into a non event and we managed it relatively well. I was disappointed with the goal we conceded but then I’m disappointed with every goal we concede! However, the players showed character to come back and restore the lead relatively quickly and then we had a couple of gilt edged chances to really kill the game off but we didn’t manage to take those. With four minutes of added on time, you start thinking ‘we should see this out okay’ and to be fair we did that and the icing on the cake was our third goal which sealed the victory.”

He concluded: “All in all, we’ve won the game; we’re in the hat; we’ll see who we get in the next round and we’ll take anybody at home. However, our focus now turns towards Saturday – and our away trip to face Stocksbridge in the Emirates FA Cup.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s Luke Salmon scored his first goal of the season in his sides 2-0 victory over Penrith on Saturday – and the 31 year old was delighted to get off the mark: “We got the three points which we came for as well as a clean sheet and to score my first goal of the campaign was the icing on the cake,” he said afterwards.

North Shields-born Salmon who came back into the side added: “I was happy with my overall performance and defensively I thought I did okay. Things got a bit scrappy towards the end of the game and we weren’t playing with the amount of possession that we probably would have wanted but in the end we got the result.”

Salmon found the net shortly before half time: “I banked on Paul Robinson to get the flick on which he did and after going past a defender, I put my eyes across the box as if I was going to square the ball then slotted it in,” he added, “It’s always nice to get on the score sheet – but this was my first goal of the season and it came at a good time for us.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner admitted that his team did not fire on all cylinders in their 2-0 victory over Penrith in Cumbria on Saturday – but said afterwards that it was very much a case of ’job done.’

On their return to league action, goals from Luke Salmon and Adam Johnson put the Colliers back amongst the leading pack in the first division of the Ebac Northern League and Skinner was clearly delighted that although his team were not ‘as slick’ as he would have liked, they nevertheless came away with all three points from a ground which traditionally has always been a difficult place to get a result.

“We weren’t at our fluent best but you’ve got to remember that I made seven changes from last Saturday,” he said afterwards, “The thought process behind that was that a lot of the players I left out today have played in two big cup ties which took a lot out of them both physically and mentally. We also had a number of lads who needed to get out on the pitch and play some games and showcase what they can do and I thought today was a good opportunity for them to try and do that. So that’s probably played a part – not in what I would call a bit of a disjointed performance as that would be a little unjust but where we certainly weren’t as slick as we have been earlier in the season. That said I know anytime to score a goal is a good time but to get one 90 seconds before half time was perfect because had we gone in level, we probably would have been more frustrated than going in 1-0 ahead.”

He continued: “The second goal came through Adam Johnson’s persistence – and I was pleased for him to be on the score sheet again – but second half we never really got going. There was a period of about 15 minutes where Penrith knew they had to push forward a little bit and they’ve started to work the ball into our area but I thought we defended well. Then for the last ten minutes we got our foot on the ball and moved it around a bit and we saw the game out relatively comfortable. I also had the luxury of bringing on one or two players at the end who probably could have added to the scoreline but I’d have taken a 2-0 score line beforehand.”

He added: “I thought Ryan McKinnon came into the side today and looked very solid – but we knew before he even kicked a ball for us that we’d signed a proper player and he didn’t look out of place. All in all I’m delighted – maybes not so much in how we’ve played but delighted in the fact that we’ve won 2-0 and got three points; delighted we’ve kept a clean sheet; delighted that I’ve managed to get players game time and delighted because over the last four games, we’ve only conceded one goal so that’s another positive.”

He concluded: “In terms of the day itself, if you take the performance out of it – and that’s me being a person who demands high standards at all times – then you take into consideration the number of changes, it’s a case of job done. Now we’ll dust ourselves down and go again on Tuesday in the Northumberland Senior Cup at West Allotment.”