By Brian Bennett

Picture the scene! Ashington are desperately trying to avoid relegation from the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League. In their penultimate home clash of the season against Heaton Stannington on Bank Holiday Monday, they miss an early penalty; go a goal behind, then after equalising, conjure up a winner scored by Wilson Kneeshaw – who is an artist!

Not only that. The 31 year old, who returned to the club recently, revealed afterwards that he has made his Ashington comeback – after defying the advice of a doctor.

The Darlington-born forward – wearing a broad smile – said: “I’m happy to be back. I don’t know if anyone knows but I was told by the doctor at the start of the season that I shouldn’t play again after experiencing reoccurring problems with my achilles. I took some time off and cleared my head and pretty much decided not to play as the doctor told me if I was to keep playing, I would be walking with a cane in five years – so I thought okay. However, after Marc Ellison and Karl Ross took over at Ashington, they both got onto me and I also know a lot of the lads at the club who are great. They kept messaging me asking if I wanted to help out. I think there were eight games left when I re-joined the club and I’m unbeaten since I’ve played with two draws, two wins and two goals!”

Kneeshaw – who was brought down in the area in the second minute from which Josh Gilchrist had a penalty saved by Heaton Stannington ‘keeper Lewis Brass – elaborated on how his winning goal in the 77^th minute came about: “The game plan was for us to get down the sides and obviously with the bit of pace which I’ve got, we tried to exploit them (Heaton Stannington) down the wings. On this occasion, we got in (down the side) and Louis Burns has played the ball to me. As everyone has come across, I’ve chopped onto my left foot and stuck it away in the bottom corner with quite a good finish.”

He added: “It’s nice to help the team – I hadn’t played football for ten months before I came back – and it took me a while to get my legs going a little bit. Obviously I’m trying to contribute and that’s two goals in the last two games I’ve played so I can’t complain.”

Kneeshaw – who has had no adverse reaction to his injury – went on: “We’ve got three games left and I’m enjoying it. The good thing from my point of view is that I know I can help the lads out and I’ve not have any pain from my achilles. I’m not saying the doctor was wrong – but obviously I’ve got to try and manage my body a little bit better now. Things are going well – I haven’t had any problems so far – and I’d like that to continue.”

By Brian Bennett

Marc Ellison thought his side were outstanding in the second half as they churned out a 2-1 win over Heaton Stannington on Bank Holiday Monday.

However Ashington’s interim boss could not heap enough praise onto the supporters of the Woodhorn Lane club describing them as being ‘absolutely tremendous’ as they drove their team on.

The win was just what the Wansbeck side wanted – but the Colliers are not out of the relegation woods yet.

Ellison said: “Unfortunately certain results didn’t help us, but we’ve done what we can to look after ourselves. Other than that there were no complaints from me today. We’ve asked the lads to go unbeaten at home for the rest of the season, and they keep delivering. If we can start matching that level away from home, then I think we’ll be in a really good place.”

Ellison – left frustrated by events in the opening quarter of an hour –  praised the players: “First half, we miss a penalty and then have another big chance straight after. Then they (Heaton Stannington) go up the other end and score, and you start thinking it might be one of those days. But credit to the players – we regrouped, got in at half-time and tweaked the shape a little bit. I thought we were outstanding in the second half and on the balance of play, we probably deserved the result.”

Ellison then spoke about the Ashington fans in a crowd of 731: “I’ve got to mention the supporters again,” he said, “They were absolutely tremendous today and really drove us on when we needed it. It’s in our hands now. We’ve got three big games left, and we need to carry this momentum forward and make sure we finish where we want to be.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington interim boss Marc Ellison was naturally disappointed after his side went down to a single goal defeat against Hallam at Sandygate on Saturday.

Blustery conditions spoilt the clash which was settled in the fourth minute when Leon Salmon-Howarth netted with a header at the near post.

Ellison said: “It was a tough game, but fair play to Hallam — they got their noses in front early and did what they needed to do to see it out. In the first half especially, I thought they handled the conditions better than we did and just showed that bit more desire to win the game.”

He continued: “We’ve had a potential penalty turned down and hit the post twice, so on another day we might’ve had the rub of the green go our way. That said, I don’t think we quite reached the level we know we’re capable of. We huffed and puffed, but the off-the-ball work that allows us to play the kind of football we want just wasn’t where it needed to be.”

He added: “We know we’ve got four massive games left starting against Heaton Stannington at home on Monday. Hopefully we can get a good crowd behind us and put in a positive performance to get us where we need to be. Since we’ve come in, I feel like we’ve made a lot of positive strides, but it’s about consistency now. We know it’s in there, and I’ll take it on myself to make sure we get it out of the group over these next four games, whatever it takes.”

The boss gave a special mention to the travelling fans: “Once again, the support today was outstanding and massively appreciated by everyone,” he said, “We’ll be doing everything we can to give them something to shout about in the weeks ahead.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington interim manager Marc Ellison was pleased that his side extended their unbeaten run to four matches but disappointed that they conceded a late equaliser in the local derby encounter against Blyth Town which finished all square at 2-2 on Tuesday night.

Ellison’s side twice went in front in the contest through Wilson Kneeshaw and Liam Henderson but Blyth hit back to level through Cyril Giraud and Lucas Lowery-Matondo.

Ellison said afterwards: “To be honest, the less said the better. It’s something we’ve spoken about before, but we just don’t know what version of ourselves is going to turn up on a match day. That inconsistency is what is hurting us. It’s important not to get too carried away with the highs or too down with the lows, but tonight was a tough watch especially coming off what I thought was out best performance of the season in the 1-0 home win over Dunston on Friday. The gap between those two displays is baffling, and if we’re being honest, it’s a big reason why we find ourselves in the position we’re in.”

He continued: “We had a great opportunity tonight to give ourselves some breathing space going into a busy bank holiday period. We’ve gone in front twice – probably undeservedly – and still managed to concede two really poor goals. That’s disappointing. At the same time, if I’m in the opposition dressing room, I’m probably frustrated not to come away with all three points, because if it wasn’t for our goalkeeper Matty Alexander, they could’ve been out of sight. I said last week he (Matty) probably won us six points – well, you can make that seven now after tonight. His performance kept us in the game.”

He added: “We were forced into a couple of changes from Friday – Ryan Wombwell was suspended and Rory Powell was unable to make it due to work – but I won’t accept that as an excuse. At this level, we need more. In truth, we’ve maybe had two players perform to the standard we expect – Matty (Alexander) and Liam Henderson. I’m really pleased for Hendo, he’s earned that goal and he’s been excellent in recent weeks. But you can’t go into games relying on two players to carry the rest. That said, it’s another point away from home, and at this stage of the season we’ll take what we can get. It’s four games unbeaten, but we’re under no illusions – tonight’s performance was nowhere near good enough but unfortunately we are what we are, and we are where we are. It’s as simple as that.”

Ellison went on: “We’ve got five games left, and some really tough ones ahead. It’s my responsibility now to raise the maturity levels in what is a young squad and make sure we produce better performances more consistently. If we can do that, we’ll be okay. But focusing on tonight – yes, we’re a point better off, which is positive – but we need to be a lot better going into this final month of the season.”

By Brian Bennett

Ben Williams stressed the importance of Ashington’s 1-0 win over Dunston at Woodhorn Lane on Friday night.

The 21 year old defender who is on loan until the end of the season from Gateshead, found the back of the net for the first time in Ashington colours this term ten minutes into the second half and he said afterwards: “Yes, it was an important goal. It was a game which we knew was going to be tough because they (Dunston) are a good side but I thought it was probably one where we deserved to win because we played well. Credit to all the lads who played tonight because I thought everybody had a really good game but I’m buzzing to be the one to seal the victory for us and I think it’s massive if you look at the league table. I think it was a crucial win for us.”

Of the goal, Newcastle-born Williams added: “Early on in the first half I had a couple of opportunities around the back and one early on which was cleared off the line. I just stuck to the back post area and I thought I’d try to exploit it. Luckily it was a great ball in from Gilly (Josh Gilchrist) which I got on the end of. I think that was the best we’ve played in a while – the workrate and everything else was there but ultimately it means nothing if we don’t back it up against Blyth Town on Tuesday. The game on Tuesday is just as important as tonight was.”

Williams, who is based at Bedlington, is enjoying his spell back at Woodhorn Lane and said it was a ‘no brainer’ to return on loan: “It’s always a place I’ll come back to if I get the opportunity because I know all of the lads and I love playing here so it was a no brainer. There were a couple of teams in and around this league interested but I thought if there was one team I was going to go back to, it was Ashington. My loan was then extended and it was a key thing for me because ultimately, I want to help Ashington to stay in this league as much as I can – I would hate to see them go down.”

By Brian Bennett

Ben Metcalf’s call up to the Northern Ireland squad opened the door for a recall to Ashington’s starting line up for Matty Alexander – and the ‘keeper played an integral part in the Colliers 1-0 victory over high flying Dunston at Woodhorn Lane on Friday night.

Six minutes into the second half when the visitors were awarded a penalty, Josh Donaldson stepped forward – but the striker saw his effort superbly saved by Alexander who dived to his left and palmed the ball away one handed. Five minutes later Ben Williams netted the all important goal of the contest.

The 23 year old said of the crucial save: “Dunston have had a few penalties recently so I had a quick look – but to fair the penalties had gone all over – to the left, to the right and down the middle and there have been a couple of different players who have taken them. I think the last one went to the goalkeeper’s left so I thought I’ll go the same way and hope for the best – and thankfully it paid off. As a goalkeeper, it’s always nice to save a penalty because it makes you think that you are contributing and helping the team so it was a good feeling.”

Metcalf’s call up prompted an earlier return to action for Newcastle-born Alexander as he explained: “I was ruled out at the start of the season with a hand injury then I injured my ankle in the first half against Emley,” he said, “Obviously Ben (Metcalf) is away at the moment so I’ve come back a bit sooner than I thought – but our physio Kev Chapman has done a good job in strapping my ankle up tonight and it has paid off.”

Reflecting on the game, Alexander added: “I thought we created more chances and I didn’t feel as if I had an awful lot to do. We hit the post and had one cleared off the line and in the end with the effort we put in, I thought we deserved the win because we worked for it. Now we’ve got to get a positive result against Blyth Town on Tuesday. The games are coming thick and fast and with the Easter weekend, we’ve got to make the most of it and keep going.”

Interim boss Marc Ellison said: “If Ben Metcalf hadn’t been called up to International duty with Northern Ireland, he would played for us tonight. We got the rub of the green which you’ve got to take and fair play to Matty Alexander. We’ll have to assess how he is because he was limping at half time with his foot. He’s got through it and he’s a good lad so we’ll see before Tuesday and go from there. But he has now saved two penalties and we have won both games 1-0 and those six points could potentially keep us in the league. We can’t knock his attitude and commitment when he hasn’t been in the team. He’s here every week for training; he travels with us even if he’s not in the squad and he’s brilliant.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington interim manager Marc Ellison hailed the performance of his team – as well as the result – following their 1-0 success over promotion chasing Dunston at Woodhorn Lane on Friday night.

An understandably buoyant Ellison said afterwards: “It was a brilliant win and I’m absolutely over the moon. We were disappointed that Tuesday night’s game at Blyth Town was called off because we thought it was going to be a bit of a mini cup final six pointer but then as I was driving to the ground today, I realised that we are nearly into April and there’s not many games left – so every game is technically a cup final!”

The Colliers pinned Dunston inside their own half for long periods during the first 45 minutes and Ellison added: “I just asked the lads to run their socks off. We did a little bit of homework on Dunston and exploited where we thought we could be dangerous and to be honest I don’t think they (Dunston) can have too many complaints really as I thought we probably deserved the win. The last two games I think we have been a little bit flat, especially at home with two draws. I just asked the lads to have a bit more belief and a bit more energy about themselves and to believe in what we want them to do and to get after them (Dunston) a little bit more. Every single one of them have ran themselves into the ground so there are absolutely no complaints from me.”

The game turned within a five minutes spell in the second half. Home ‘keeper Matty Alexander saved a penalty from Josh Donaldson – then five minutes later Ben Williams gave Ashington the lead and Ellison said: “I’ve got to be honest, it didn’t look like a penalty from where I was standing but fair play to Matty Alexander – he’s been out for a long time and I thought he was pretty solid all night. That’s probably six points he has won us really as he saved a penalty at Bishop Auckland and we won 1-0 there as well. So big, massive praise to Matty from me. He’s been a little bit unlucky with injuries – we’ve had goalkeepers come in on loan from Newcastle (Tyler Jones) and Sunderland (Ben Metcalf) – but to be fair to Matty, he’s stepped up to the mark.”

Ellison switched his attentions to the all important goal: “It was a great ball in from the free-kick by Josh Gilchrist – who was back to how we know he can be. He’s come out of the team and gone back in tonight and I thought he was brilliant. They’ll probably say (Dunston) can they defend the free-kick better – but its a brilliant ball played in and I think in the first half Gilly has put two or three others in from which we could have scored. It looked like we had actually scored in that first period but I couldn’t see from where I was – then Gilly has hit the post.”

He went on: “I think tonight takes us to three unbeaten at home. I said before the game that we had three left at Woodhorn Lane and I set a challenge asking the players ‘could we go unbeaten at home until the end of the season’ – and this is a start. However, tonight means nothing if we can’t get a result at Blyth Town on Tuesday night. It’s the old cliché of ‘it’s no good putting on a performance like that tonight against a team who are trying to win promotion (Dunston) then turning up against Blyth Town when that is a performance which really matters because they are in and around us.’ We’ve got to dust ourselves down and be ready for Tuesday.”

Meanwhile Ellison says he is enjoying managerial life: “There have been times when it’s not going so well that I’ve thought ‘what am I doing? You think to yourself ‘I could still be playing’ – but I’ve got something to look forward to and lots to learn and I’m enjoying it.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington interim boss Karl Ross said he was ‘happy enough’ to share the spoils after the Colliers had played out a 0-0 draw against Pontefract Collieries at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

Ross said afterwards: “I was happy enough with a point but the match certainly wasn’t a classic by any means. It was a clash which lacked real quality from both sides whilst Ben Metcalf has pulled of a few good saves to keep us in it. We’ve then had the best chance of the game with Louis (Burns) – although the ball did look as if it sat up – but in the second half neither side had a shot on target.”

He added: “At half time we asked the lads to be a bit braver and look to have a bit more quality on the ball. I thought Wilson Kneeshaw looked dangerous and we wanted to play down his side and let him try to get past his full-back which he had done on a few occasions whilst our other aim was to play through the lines a bit more. In the end though, it was a deserved point for both of us.”

Ryan Wombwell became the fourth Ashington player to see red from their last six games when he was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time and Ross said: “Our disciplinary record doesn’t look great on paper but I’ve never seen a player appear to be elbowed then be the one who is sent off. The discipline side of things is something which we have spoken about in-house and we are going to have to miss Ryan (Wombwell) for one game. It’s a bit of a blow because Ryan has been brilliant for us this year.”

Moving onto Tuesday night’s away clash against Blyth Town – which is a six pointer – Ross said: “I don’t think matches get much bigger than Tuesday and it’s certainly a must not lose game for us. They (Blyth Town) are flying and have won three in a row and look what a difference it has made because I think they were rock bottom of the table three games ago and now they are on our tails. We’ll be in for training on Monday working on a few things but it’s a massive game for the lads to get up for. A local derby like this is something which can pick everybody up and hopefully we can get the right result.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s joint interim manager Karl Ross spoke of his delight with the character which the players showed as they forced a 2-2 draw against Bridlington Town at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday evening.

The Colliers twice found themselves trailing in the contest to goals by Seasiders skipper Tom Allan with Louis Burns scoring the first equaliser then Ollie Thompson heading a stoppage time leveller.

Ross said afterwards: “I was happy with a point. Ultimately when you are 2-1 down and you score so late on it feels like a win and lifts the mood in the dressing room. The lads showed great character to come back twice to get a point and we’ll take that into Saturday’s home game against Pontefract Collieries.”

Ross added: “We changed the formation a few times but I still thought we were a difficult watch. We had five and six attackers on the field at one point in the second half as we went for the win and bagging that late equaliser could be a big point in the long run. We were disappointed at half time especially conceding from a set piece because we knew their strengths. They had big lads at the back and we gave them free headers with Tom Allan scoring twice which was very disappointing.”

He added: “I thought we started the second half off well and equalised with a good goal then after going 2-1 down it was tough but we pushed as much as we could. It was a risk when we put all the subs on but I thought the game was there to be won so we said to the subs – ‘get on the pitch and try to win us the game.’ With the strength of the squad we have now got, we had a very strong bench and it was a tough decision for the actual starting eleven.”

Ashington move onto Saturday’s home clash against Pontefract Collieries and Ross said “We played them earlier in the season and they are a strong side. It’ll be another tough game but another one we can get up for and hopefully take some points from it.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington interim manager Marc Ellison pulled no punches following his sides’ 5-2 defeat by Newton Aycliffe on Friday night.

Ellison described the reverse as being a ‘defensive horror show’ and said the players have not got to feel sorry for themselves whilst asking them for ‘better character and desire.’

“It was a bit of a Friday the 13th defensive horror show if I’m being honest,” he commented, “We take three massive steps forward then 50 even bigger steps backwards it seems. From our levels and performances against Emley, Garforth and Consett, we seem to have gone backwards a touch. Don’t get me wrong we’ve still played some half decent football in both games (Grimsby and Aycliffe) but the top and bottom of it is half decent football at times doesn’t win football games. Tonight we’ve conceded from restarts twice in a row, TWICE!!! One of them when we’ve just scored to get ourselves back in the game, then they kick off and go and score. Then from our restart we give them the ball straight back and let them come down and score again – it’s criminal.”

He continued: “Yes I recognise we weren’t playing with a natural number nine and that obviously helps putting the ball into the net but this past week in training we worked on different crossing zones and putting the ball into good areas. In fairness we’ve created a few opportunities from wide areas tonight but either the final ball wasn’t right or we haven’t wanted to go and break our necks to get on the end of something and score a goal. And that just comes down to desire really and wanting to go score a goal, and that comes with defending our goal. We need better character and desire in both boxes.”

Ahead of two home games this week, Ashington have dropped to fifth from bottom of the table and Ellison added: “We’ve had in my opinion a great opportunity to get ourselves away from a chasing pack over this last week and we’ve ended up giving ourselves another little mountain to climb. No disrespect to Aycliffe but I think they’d lost their last six games. We needed to be mature enough and have enough arrogance about us to be able to exploit that, however at times you’d of thought it was the home side who were on a four game unbeaten run.”

He went on: “So as you can probably tell, I’m really, really disappointed but the games are coming thick and fast and it’s not time for feeling sorry for ourselves or throwing toys out of prams. We’ve got some tough games coming up over the next few weeks and we need to start picking up points again. Hopefully the new additions will give us a little lift and we can put this past week behind us quickly.”