By Brian Benentt

Ashington manager Marc Ellison said he was left frustrated and disappointed after watching his outfit bow tamely out of the Emirates FA Cup following a 3-2 defeat against Thornaby on Saturday.

The Colliers led on two occasions in the preliminary round clash through Jamie Holmes and Craig Spooner but the Teessiders replied with a goal from the penalty spot by Spencer Walker and a bullet-header by Jacob Thompson before Walker scored what proved to be the winner.

Ellison said afterwards: “I’m frustrated and disappointed – that’s probably the best way to describe how I feel after this afternoon. I thought in the first half we looked really comfortable again. Then we get another horrendous refereeing decision to award them a penalty. I don’t even think anyone claimed for it – and he (the referee) must’ve been the only person in the ground who thought it was one. I said last week that we can’t control decisions like that, but that said, it’s not the reason we lost the game as we went back ahead, so it’s no excuse.”

He continued: “At half-time, the message was pretty much more of the same; relax in the final third, up the tempo a little bit, and I was confident we’d have a good second half. But the goals we gave away are so poor. A free header from a corner inside the first 30 seconds, and then, if I’m being brutally honest, we just went through the motions. Things didn’t go our way as we’d hoped, but we didn’t roll our sleeves up and put it right. I think it took us until the last five minutes of the game to actually look like we wanted to go and score a goal, get something from the game and play with any real urgency.”

He added: “I can’t quite put my finger on what it is at the moment, as the game has only just finished. Maybe it’s a lack of leaders, maybe it’s confidence, maybe it’s concentration -I’m not sure. But the difference between the first half and the second half is worlds apart.

And, to be fair, we weren’t exactly at our free-flowing best in the first half either. But we looked comfortable, we looked a threat going forward and we looked like we could cause them problems. Second half, I don’t really know what to say about it – probably the less said, the better.”

He went on: “Listen, we’re four games in, two of them being in the FA Cup, and there’s a long, long, long season ahead of us. We haven’t been at the races this past week, but there’s a really good group of lads in that dressing room who want to do well for this football club. They wouldn’t be here otherwise. So yes, we’re all very disappointed with the result today, but our main focus always has been, and always will be, our league position. We know we need to be much, much better if we’re going to be anywhere near where we want to be come the end of the season. There’s no hiding from that, but like I said we’re four games in – there’s no time for crisis. We’re up against Dunston – one of the league favourites – on Tuesday night, so there’s absolutely no pressure on us, we’ll have already been written off for that one as well so that’s something we need to use to our advantage.”

By Brian Bennett

Benji Shodeinde scored his first league goal for Ashington in the 2-2 draw against Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday – and modestly described the wonder strike afterwards as being ‘one of my better ones!’

The 22 year-old broke the deadlock on the half hour mark with a right foot curler into the top corner and said: “I think I’m settling in quite well at the club – it’s a good group (of players) to come into and they have made me feel welcome. I can play anywhere across the front three but at the minute I’m on the left and you want to cut in and get your shot off.  Thankfully today it went in and was one of those which I knew was going in as soon as it left my foot – it was one of my better ones!”

Shodeinde and his team-mates go to Teesside on Wednesday (August 19) to face Guisborough Town and the Nigeria-born striker said they will travel in high spirits: “After being 2-0 up today then to draw 2-2 is quite disappointing,” he added, “At the time (2-0 up), I I thought we were cruising. We were under the cosh a bit in the opening half and the first goal did help us but the second period was better for us as we enjoyed more possession and put a good few passes together. However it’s a point away from home so you can’t be too down – and we’ll go to Guisborough on Wednesday in high spirits.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Marc Ellison admitted that he was massively disappointed with his sides’ 2-2 draw against Stocksbridge Park Steels at Bracken Moor on Saturday.

Benji Shodeinde fired the Colliers ahead in the first period and Josh Gilchrist added a second after the break. However Steels’ substitute Josiah Dyer came off the bench to score twice in the final ten minutes with the equaliser coming from the penalty spot in time added on.

Ellison said: “Obviously to be 0-2 up and only end up coming away with a point is massively disappointing. In the first half we were nowhere near our best again, but after a few discussions at half time I thought we were a lot better in the second half. I’m gutted for the lads because they’ve put a real shift in and, for large periods, looked comfortable. Yes, the first goal we conceded needs to be dealt with a lot better, but even then, for the next 10 minutes or so, I didn’t really feel troubled.”

The boss then touched on the penalty incident when ‘keeper Matty Alexander was penalised after he had collided with home sub Thomas Marshall: “I’ll need to watch the game back to see the penalty again, but how a player can have a shot, miss the target, and Matty’s momentum then takes him into the player and it’s given as a penalty is beyond me,” he said, “The referee didn’t have a great game, in my opinion, and there was definitely more than one other incident that could have changed the outlook of the game earlier. However, it’s not a blame game. We can only control the controllable situations we find ourselves in, and we didn’t do that for at least one of the goals conceded.”

He added: “So yes, we’re bitterly disappointed not to take away the three points because it would have been a brilliant win for us, but I’m proud of the lads, especially with quite a few key players missing. We’ll take the positives from a point on the road, which we would have taken before the game, but ultimately it’s a little bit bittersweet. It’s another point on the board and we’ll celebrate every one we pick up.”

New signing from Redcar Athletic, Bryan Taylor was forced off at half time with an injury and Ellison said: “We’ll have to assess Bryan in the week. It doesn’t look great and I think he may have pulled his hamstring, but we should have a few more bodies back for Wednesday at Guisborough, which is going to be another really tough game.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Marc Ellison thought Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw against local rivals Morpeth Town was ‘probably a fair result’ in the end.

The Colliers trailed to a goal just past the half hour mark from Morpeth skipper Jeff Henderson – who was sent off on the stroke of half time following an off-the-ball incident – but Ashington lynchpin Paddy Almond scored a fabulous equaliser in the 75^th minute.

Ellison said: “I think, in the end, a draw was probably a fair result. I was quite frustrated with the first half, if I’m being honest. I didn’t think we really got going at all. I thought Morpeth looked like they wanted to win the game a little bit more than we did, and that’s something we had to address at half-time. I didn’t see what happened with the sending-off, so I can’t really comment too much on that, but obviously it came right on the stroke of half-time and, when you’ve got that extra man for the second half, you’ve got to try and use it to your advantage.”

He continued: “The message at half-time was pretty simple really – we had to liven up, we had to show a bit more urgency, and we couldn’t come back in after 90 minutes without something to show for it. We knew we’d probably have the majority of the ball with the extra man, and that was the case. We kept knocking on the door and eventually got the equaliser. It was a great finish from Paddy (Almond), and then you think, with 15 minutes or so left, surely we can go again and maybe nick another one, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.”

He added: “So, yeah, I think a point is probably fair in the end. It’s a good point on the board in our first league game and we’ll celebrate every point we get this season. Every point is a point closer to where we want to be. It’s also another home game unbeaten, which I think takes us back to February when we lost to Emley, so that’s something we’re really pleased with. We’ve spoken about making this place a really difficult place for teams to come and pick points up, and that has to continue. We have to pick up as many points as we possibly can at home. And the supporters are a massive part of that. They were brilliant again tonight, and hopefully they’ll keep turning up, keep getting behind us and keep making plenty of noise.”

By Brian Bennett

The draw for the first round of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup has thrown up several fascinating ties – including a repeat clash between Newcastle University and Ashington.

Last season, the Colliers turned in a rock bottom performance against the Students who deservedly marched through after a 2-0 win at Essity Park in October.

Colliers boss Marc Ellison, speaking after his sides 2-0 win over Horden CW in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, said: “I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know the draw had been made! But it doesn’t really matter who we got drawn against. Obviously, last year wasn’t our greatest night when we went there, so we’ll be looking to make amends for that. It’s a competition I want us to do well in, so we’ll be really looking forward to it and hopefully we can put in a good performance and make sure we’re in the next round of that one as well.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s Tom McIntyre made a dream debut on Saturday when he scored the opening goal for the Colliers in their 2-0 victory over Horden Community Welfare at Woodhorn Lane in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The 22 year-old revealed he was buzzing after being named in the side – and the midfielder put the cherry on the cake of his first performance early in the contest when he played a swift one-two with Scott Fenwick before slotting the ball past Marras ‘keeper Robert Dean.

“I’ve been in (at the club) since the start of pre season and I’ve enjoyed it – the training and the games,” said Newcastle-born McIntyre – a water operator for Northumbrian Water who is based in Prudhoe, “It was great to get off to a good start today both from a team point of view as well as from a personal angle.”

Of his goal, McIntyre said: “I’ve been playing a bit more attacking either in the ten role or out wide on the right so obviously with that you need to be scoring goals. The chance came quite quickly following a great ball through by Scott Fenwick and I saw the space to the ‘keeper’s right so I slotted it past him and thankfully it went it. I was delighted.”

McIntyre, who was previously with Blyth Town, added: “I had no idea that I was in the starting eleven until I saw my name on the team sheet but I was buzzing. The second goal helped us massively. I thought we were in control in the first period but that goal just on half time has proved to be crucial – especially the timing of it. It was a good press and obviously Gilly (Josh Gilchrist) has nicked it off the lad and put it past the ‘keeper. The second half was a bit more of a battle but getting through to the next round of the cup with the added bonus of a clean sheet is all that matters.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Marc Ellison wore a broad smile after the final whistle on Saturday after watching his side deliver a knockout blow against Horden Community Welfare in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The Colliers will now entertain Thornaby on Saturday week (August 22) as goals from Tom McIntyre and Josh Gilchrist wrapped up a 2-0 win over their visitors from the Ebac Northern League’s first division.

Ellison said: “It’s always nice to start the season with a win, of course it is. It gives everyone a lift after the grind of pre-season, so to get through the first game 2-0 and into the next round of the FA Cup, we’re delighted. I thought we took control of the game fairly early in the first half and looked quite comfortable without really causing them too many problems across the half. We got the early goal and then the second one right on half-time which I thought was probably a little unfortunate for them because I think their lad has just fallen over the ball on a sticky pitch, but Gilly (Josh Gilchrist) has still had a lot to do and it was a really good finish.”

He continued: “I’m over the moon for Josh because he’s played out of position today to accommodate some other players and has put a real shift in defensively as well. He probably should’ve had another one (goal) in the second half too but it looked like he got caught in two minds and the ‘keeper (Robert Dean) read him well. Going in 2-0 up at half-time was great obviously but I still felt we had another gear or two in us and had more to offer if I’m being honest. I wanted us to be a bit more aggressive with the press in the second half, try and get them under some early pressure and ideally get another goal so we could enjoy the rest of the afternoon.”

He added: “It didn’t quite work out like that though. Horden went from back to front a lot quicker in the second half, which took away a lot of the opportunities for us to get pressure high up the pitch, and our passing became a bit loose at times. But, to be fair to the lads, we defended really well and never looked like we were in too much trouble. Then as the game went on, you could tell Horden have had three or four more games than us and it did look like if there was going to be another goal, they probably had a bit more in the tank than we did. But listen, it’s a 2-0 win in our first game of the season, we’re through to the next round of the cup, so there’s absolutely no complaints from us.”

He went on: “The fact that we know we’ve got more to offer is probably a good sign as well. Rossy (skipper Karl Ross) and young Jack (Jack Gibson) were brilliant for us in midfield again but Karl has come off with a knock. Hopefully that’s nothing too serious and he’ll be alright for Tuesday night’s local derby against Morpeth Town.”

By Brian Bennett

Horden Community Welfare manager Jonny Payne is looking forward to his sides’ clash against Ashington in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday (August 8).

And the long serving boss of the Ebac Northern League first division side reckons his outfit have got a free hit and will have nothing to lose when they line up for the 3pm kick off against the Colliers who operate in the NPL East Division – one league above.

Payne, who is in his tenth season as boss of ‘The Marras’ said: “We had a really good pre season winning all six friendlies including Stockton Town and we’ve secured a win and a draw from the two league games which we have played so far. We didn’t have a fixture at the weekend but face a hard match against Whitley Bay on Tuesday (August 4).” Payne will then focus on the Cup tie and added: “We’re looking forward to it. I played against Ashington at their former home of Portland Park and it was a lively place to go to – but I always enjoyed going up there. The set up at Woodhorn Lane looks tremendous and I’ve heard good things about the pitch. To be honest, it’s a free hit for us. It’s a stress-free situation and it’s an opportunity for my lads to play without much pressure on their shoulders. We are a close knit bunch and obviously want to progress and we’ll be giving it our best shot.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Marc Ellison says long standing friendships will be put on hold on Saturday (August 8) when the Colliers open their 2026-27 season with a home tie against Horden Community Welfare in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Not only is Ellison a former player with the County Durham side but he’s also good mates with Horden manager Jonny Payne as well as several of their players.

The Woodhorn Lane boss says he will be pleased to catch up with Payne before the 3pm kick-off – but reckons it will be after the final whistle when the pair meet up again: “I couldn’t believe it when the draw came out,” said Ellison, “On a personal level, the game has that little bit extra because earlier in my playing career, I had a really enjoyable spell with Horden. On top of that their manager Jonny Payne, is one of my best mates and I’m still good friends with a few of the players. It’ll be good to see plenty of familiar faces but once the match starts, Jonny and myself will be in our own bubbles and our friendship will temporarily go on hold. Jonny will be wanting to beat me just as much as I want to beat him so hopefully it’s got all the makings of being an enjoyable game. They (Horden) have made a good start to the season in the first division of the Ebac Northern League and if I know Jonny and Horden as well as I think I do, they’ll turn up full of energy, aggressive and on the front foot, so it’ll be a really tough test for us.”

Ellison is delighted that his side will begin the campaign on home soil: “I think we’ve had away draws for the last couple of seasons, so it’ll be great to start in front of our own supporters,” he said, “Everyone knows how important a good FA Cup run can be for clubs at our level. The prize money can make a real difference and it’s a clash which we are all looking forward to.”

The winners will be at home to either Guisborough Town or Thornaby.

By Brian Bennett

Striker Josh Gilchrist is hoping to take his goalscoring exploits from Ashington’s warm up matches into the season proper which starts on Saturday week (August 8).

The curtain goes up on the Colliers’ campaign when they take on Ebac Northern League first division side Horden Colliery Welfare in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup at Woodhorn Lane – followed by a hectic opening programme in the East Division of the NPL.

Although the Wansbeck outfit only won two out of six friendlies, Gilchrist bagged five goals and says he cannot wait for the competitive action to get underway.

“This has probably been my best haul in pre season,” he said, “However, I think it’s important to get out of it what you need to both individually and as a collective. Looking to reach match fitness is obviously an important aspect but so to is building confidence and scoring goals – which I believe is more of a confidence thing and more of an instinct. If you can get off the mark nice and early which I’ve always strived to do, it relieves a bit of pressure and gives you a better opportunity going into the first game of the season.  At the back of my mind, I’m thinking ‘I’ve already scored five – so let’s kick on and score the sixth, seventh and eighth and keep going.”

The 23 year-old – ready to embark on his third season with the club – continued: “I feel good, fresh and fit and I’m excited as we approach the start. We’ve got a young group and we’re learning different things. It’s a blend of older lads and younger lads coming together and looking to create something good – and I’m more than confident that we will be able to do that.”

Newcastle-born Gilchrist went on: “Pre season has gone really well – not just for myself – but for the team. Things are not going to click instantly which we’ve seen in snippets.

Some bits have been good – some not so good but we’re beavering away behind the scenes in training and in matches and the lads have got all the confidence in the world that it’s going to work. In my opinion with pre season games, you obviously want to win but if you get beat it doesn’t really mean anything as long as we are getting fitness plus working on things like in and out of possession – that’s the most important.”