By Brian Bennett

Ashington have been handed home ties in both the Emirates FA Cup and Isuzu FA Vase after the draw was conducted on Friday.

Manager Ian Skinner’s reaction was to say that the two fixtures ‘couldn’t have been tougher’ – but reckons his counterparts will have said exactly the same!

In the Emirates FA Cup, the Colliers will take on Newton Aycliffe in the extra preliminary round on Saturday August 6 with the winners away to either Tadcaster Albion or Tow Law Town.

The Isuzu FA Vase first qualifying round has pitched the Wansbeck side against Billingham Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday August 27 with the winners at home to Sunderland West End.

Manager Skinner said: “There are two things to take from the cup draws. The first is that it is a real positive that they are both at home – but the second is that I don’t think we could have got two tougher draws if I’m honest.”

He continued: “Billingham Town have signed a lot of players from Sunderland Ryhope CW who resigned from the league and looking at last season’s table, Newton Aycliffe and Ryhope CW finished fourth and fifth respectively – so we will be playing two teams potentially that finished above us in the league. Therefore they will both be really; really tough games but hopefully home advantage will stand us in good stead.” He went on: “However, I’m convinced that both Newton Aycliffe and Billingham Town will be saying exactly the same as what I am – in that the draws couldn’t have been tougher.”

By Brian Bennett

Blyth Town manager Michael Connor has tipped neighbours Ashington for promotion – ahead of the new Ebac Northern League season which is rapidly approaching!

Connor looked on as his side went down 1-0 on Friday night after a goal by Paul Robinson early in the game against the Colliers – but although disappointed with the final score, he was nevertheless generally pleased with the way the game went.

Connor said afterwards: “It was a very good work out for us. What we didn’t want was to get a good hiding. We knew manager Ian Skinner has gone out and brought a lot of quality into what was already a good squad so our idea was to be more disciplined. Last week we beat Seaton Delaval and played more of a fast flowing game but we knew against Ashington that we needed to sit a little bit deeper, be disciplined and try and hit them on the counter attack. There were a lot of plusses for us. We have got a lot of new players and we are trying to do things the right way.” He continued: “Obviously you never want to lose but you would take a 1-0 defeat against Ashington. And when you see them bring on there substitutes – including one of my old players Adam Johnson – you just think, wow! Fair play to Ian Skinner and Ashington to put that kind of squad together – and they are a very good team. They hold the ball and Ian (Skinner) always gets them to play good football. Tonight everything was to the inch and precise about them and there were no misplaced passes at all. It was good for us because last season we played North Shields and lost 7-3 and went down 6-3 against Consett – so it was a case of what could we do against a team who in my eyes are probably the favourites for the ENL first division title.”

By Brian Bennett

A sensational fifth minute strike by Paul Robinson proved decisive as Ashington ran out 1-0 winners over Blyth Town at Gateway Park on Friday night.

And Colliers manager Ian Skinner was delighted after the final whistle when he said: “It was a brilliant game for us. Credit to Blyth Town who were full of energy and full of running which we knew they would be because they are putting together quite a youthful side. So leading on from the Alnwick game in midweek, we got what we wanted. We followed a similar format in terms of pretty much two teams – one which played for 55 minutes and then the other team came on and played the remainder of the contest. I thought in possession we managed the tempo quite well, we knew when to keep it and we starved them (Blyth Town) of the ball a little bit but although we played a little bit safe at times, it was fine – it’s pre season and it’s all about fitness.”

He continued: “In terms of the match itself, I don’t think we ever really looked in much trouble. The physical output was very good and it was comfortable. At Alnwick, probably everything went in for us – whilst tonight little things didn’t quite drop for us – and that happens in football. The lads who started did really well and again the side that came on I thought the energy and application which they showed was positive and that’s what it’s all about. Two pre season games in, it’s about getting minutes into people’s legs. We keep a record of how many minutes everyone has played so we’ll make sure that things balance themselves out.”

He went on: “We move onto next week and we step up again – so we go from two games in a week to three. Again we’ll manage those minutes, push people and possibly leave them on the pitch a little bit longer. So rather than a two team model we’ll probably go down to a squad game a little bit. Most likely some players will play two but not three games and we’ll sit down and work that out from a per iodisation model and we’ll look at that in terms of where we are physically. But I was really, really pleased with the game. It was played at a good pace and there was tenacity in it which was good.” Midfield maestro Robinson scored with a left footer from 20 yards and Skinner chuckled when he said: “Robbo did what Robbo does! He scored a good goal – and he’s playing really well.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner says the main aspect of warm up games is fitness.

The boss took virtually a full squad up to Alnwick on Tuesday night and he commented afterwards: “It was a great work out and we say thank you very much to Alnwick for hosting us. They have got fantastic facilities and the pitch was great which is why we try to come up here annually. The players enjoyed it because it was different surroundings and a change of scenery – it wasn’t purely a training session as such for them.”

He continued: “We approached the match in a split way. We had half the group who warmed up and played the first hour whilst the second group did a little bit more of an intensive pre game routine before they came on for the last half hour. Don’t get me wrong it’s a little bit more difficult for the ones who come on to get into the game especially bearing in mind I put them through an hour’s worth of work beforehand. So they’ve done an hour then sat and watched for an hour then had to come on and play for half an hour. That’s always difficult – so credit to them.”

He went on: “I thought from the first whistle the lads looked to get as much physical return out of the game as they possibly could in terms of their endeavour and enthusiasm and their willingness to run both in and out of possession. They applied themselves correctly and got the maximum out of the game that they could – and they played some good football. However it was all about fitness and getting back on a pitch and taking the players back out of their comfort zone because you can play as many 11 v 11’s in training as you want but they (the players) know each other’s game inside out.”

Ashington now move onto Friday night’s away clash against Blyth Town: “It will be another good test for us,” added Skinner, “Again it is a good set up and the pitch is usually good there as well – we try to arrange out friendlies whereby we play on decent surfaces because of the way we want to play the game. We’ll mix things up again and be looking for a similar outcome to get lots of minutes into people’s legs to start and putt some of the movement patterns which we have been working on into practice and we’ll keep looking towards July 30 when the Ebac Northern League starts.” He concluded: “I was really, really pleased and we’ll look forward to Friday night for what will be another good game as well as being a tough test.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s Adam McHugh admitted that he has left Woodhorn Lane with a heavy heart.

The ‘keeper said that working shifts coupled with the amount of travel involved from his Spennymoor base, meant he couldn’t fully commit to attending training sessions on a regular basis.

The 30 year old said: “With where the club are looking to go in terms of advancement, they are wanting two ‘keepers at training – and because of my circumstances where I work shifts as a fireman at Darlington Fire Station, as well as taking over an hour to commute from Spennymoor to Wansbeck, I couldn’t commit to making those sessions. However, I have loved my time at Ashington and consequently I leave with a heavy heart. When I first signed, the club were going through big changes with a lot of personnel alterations on the pitch and results weren’t ideal – but it was a rebuild. Over three years they have improved all the way and when you look at last term, they won the Ebac Northern League Division One Cup and could have finished higher up the table if results hadn’t tapered off. Now in the close season, some of the signings they have made shows the direction the way the club wants to go.”

McHugh who was born in Bishop Auckland, paid tribute to the club and its supporters: “Being at Woodhorn Lane is one of my most enjoyable experiences playing in non league football,” he added, “I have played at quite a few clubs but Ashington is the most friendly and welcoming and in my early days with them, when results were up and down, the fans stuck by the players the whole of the time. The club are in a better position now and the foundations are there for them to kick on further. It’s just a shame I won’t be there as it would have been nice to be part of a side who potentially go on to win the league or promotion. However, I leave with good memories and wish everybody – including the players and the management team – all the best. I’d like to see them do well – and I’ll be following their results.”

Ashington boss Ian Skinner said: “It’s obviously disappointing to lose someone of the quality of Adam both as a footballer and a person. In his three years at the club, he has been nothing short of brilliant both on the pitch and in and around the dressing room. He came to the club when we were in a tough situation and it’s a little bit of shame than now we are in a better situation, he will not get to see the next stage of the journey. However we appreciate he travels from Spennymoor and is also in the Fire Service therefore committing to both training and games at times can be challenging due to the distance involved.”

By Brian Bennett

Kyle Hayes has put pen to paper at Ashington – with the ‘keeper making a return to the club he first signed for when he finished junior football.

For the past four and a half seasons, the 31 year old – a logistics and supply chain co ordinator – has been with Consett, who secured promotion at the end of the last campaign and who will now participate in the Northern Premier League Division One East.

Hayes said: “Due to the amount of travelling involved in the higher league plus family commitments, I couldn’t commit to playing at Consett. I spoke to manager Ian Skinner and things moved on from there but I was born in Ashington – who were my first club out of junior football under the management of Andy Gowens – so it’s good to be back.”

He continued: “The club have made a statement with the signings the manager has brought in and I’m looking forward to it. On top of that, I live at Blyth so it’s nice and close for me.”

Manager Ian Skinner said: “It all happened very quickly and was not something we had planned for because we were not looking to strengthen our goalkeeping department. However when Kyle became available and expressed an interest in joining Ashington the process speeded up somewhat. Kyle had a desire to play for us and lives down the road. He is another fantastic goalkeeper to add to our squad and adds competition for the ‘keeper’s jersey alongside Karl Dryden.”

Hayes is expected to make his second debut for Ashington at some stage tonight (Tuesday July 5), when the Colliers travel to face Alnwick Town in their first warm up match of the campaign. Kick-off is 7.30pm.

By Brian Bennett

The Ebac Northern League’s Cleator Cup final clash between North Shields and Ashington will now be staged at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday July 23.

The decision was made last week for what is the curtain raiser to the start of the new season after North Shields – the first division champions last term – announced that due to maintenance work, their pitch at the Daren Persson Stadium would not be ready in time.

The ENL instantly made contact with Ashington – winners of the Division One Cup – to see if the game could be switched and the Woodhorn Lane outfit gave the thumbs up.

Colliers manager Ian Skinner said: “My reactions were twofold. First of all it was nice to play at home which means the fans of our club can come out in their numbers as opposed to travelling to North Shields but then I had a bit of trepidation as we will now play three games on our pitch in a week followed by a multitude of home matches with five of our opening six league fixtures at Woodhorn Lane.”

He continued: “Albeit it may be pre season but the Cleator Cup is an opportunity for us to win silverware so we’ll be taking the game seriously. In addition, it is being held seven days before our league season starts and will give us a clear indication of how well prepared we are.”

Kick-off is 3pm.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC begin a series of warm up games on Tuesday (July 5) when they make the short trip up the Northumberland coast to play Alnwick Town at St James’ Park (7.30pm kick-off).

And manager Ian Skinner is looking forward to seeing his revamped squad in competitive action after revealing that pre season at Woodhorn Lane is going ‘really well.’

Skinner said: “We’ve had four really good sessions – and as you would expect, a lot of the players have reported back in very good shape which is the modern way. It is a delight because it is their job to be fit whilst it is my job to mould them together and get them to interact with each other and to make a squad out of them. Fitness levels have been good and we’ve started to drop in some tactical practices around how we want to play for next season.”

He continued: “Things are going along really well and we are very much looking forward to the warm up games – and so are the players – because they will openly tell you that they would much prefer to play rather than to train. The players will be in twice again this week leading into the first friendly at Alnwick – then the games come thick and fast after that. However, I’m pleased with how things are shaping up and as the captain (Ben Harmison) has already said, the talking stops and the business starts!”

Ashington’s second friendly – which also has a 7.30pm start – is away to Blyth Town on Friday July 8.