By Brian Bennett

Robbie Dale described Ashington’s 2-0 victory over Thornaby at Teesdale Park on Saturday as ‘job done.’

Ryan McKinnon notched his first goal for the club midway through the first half before a thunderbolt strike from Lee Mason 13 minutes from full time sealed the result.

Newcastle-born Dale – currently sidelined with an injury – was giving his postmatch verdict in his new role as being a member of Ian Skinner’s management team.

He said: “Squad wise we were short handed today so the result was very much a case of job done. We also needed to bounce back because last week wasn’t good enough and we owed ourselves a performance to prove a point. We knew we had to come here and be strong. We also got a clean sheet and it’s been a while in the league since we had one of them – so all in all, it was the perfect away performance really.”

Dale continued: “We asked the lads to put a shift in and I think everybody’s done what was asked of them today. Liam Smith has come in for his first game in a while. We asked him to do a deep role and I thought he played really well whilst Karl Ross was outstanding in midfield and the two centre halves (Ryan McKinnon and Darren Lough) were class. They marshalled everything – nothing got past them – and they had everybody organised. ‘Keeper Karl Dryden hasn’t had a save to make and that’s how good the defence has been today. I thought they (the defence) were screened really well because the midfield four in front of them ran themselves into the ground. But we asked the two centre halves plus Jordan Summerly and Andrew Cartwright to do a little bit more defensively to help out and they did that.”

Dale heaped praise onto the two goal scorers Ryan McKinnon and Lee Mason: “Ryan is a very good player who attacks the ball well at both ends,” he said, “He nearly scored from the previous corner and as soon as he got his head on the next one, I knew it was going in. For the second goal from Lee Mason – that’s who you want the ball to fall too. Ben Sampson drove the ball and committed the man which we had asked him to do and as soon as it goes onto Mason’s right foot, he lashes it and it’s a perfect strike – although I didn’t expect him to put it into the top corner!”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner pulled no punches when he gave his postmatch verdict following his sides 1-0 defeat against Heaton Stannington at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

“It was a tough watch at times today,” he said, “Firstly, I don’t think we (Ashington) played anywhere near the levels which we are capable of whilst for the second, we looked like a team who have had a tough week, with a long trip in the FA Cup followed by two home games in quick succession. I thought one of the positives was a good 15-minute spell in the first half where we moved the ball quick and caused them some problems. It was during this spell that we created our best chances including the penalty. Obviously we missed the penalty which was a big turning point in the game and Dean Briggs has hit the post from the rebound when really he should score. They’ve then broke and scored and for a team that had to this point sat deep, to give them a 1-0 lead, we knew it would be difficult afternoon and so it proved.”

He continued: “They’ve put 11 men in their half, and they’ve said ‘come and break us down’ – and today we couldn’t because we haven’t moved the ball quick enough; we haven’t passed it well enough, and we’ve turned the ball over too cheaply. So fair play to Heaton Stannington – they go away with three points in what was not a game for the purists. But how many times have we seen that this season? I keep saying to our lads that teams are going to come here and put a large number of players behind the ball, because if teams come here and open up and play football against us, we know we’ve got the quality to cause them lots and lots of problems. However today it just didn’t happen and it probably started to become ‘one of those games’ where you just think ‘it’s not going to be your day’ and ‘it’s not going to go in’ – whether the ball has dropped to the wrong person or it’s took a bobble or we’ve been leaning back or they’ve had 11 men in the box from corners and when it’s bounced, they’ve thrown their bodies on the line.”

He went on: “You could see what it meant to them today to hold onto their 1-0 lead, and we have to accept that today we haven’t quite done enough to break them down”. It will be nice to have a week off in terms of fixtures and for us to rest both mentally and physically following a tough week. We will however be back out on the training pitch twice this week to prepare for next Saturdays trip to Thornaby, where we will look to get back to winning ways in what will be another difficult game.

Skinner thanked the supporters: “We appreciate the fans,” he added, “They have again turned out in their numbers – and long may that continue.”

Meanwhile the boss will await fitness reports from several of his players ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Thornaby (October 29).

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Luke Salmon felt it was two points lost rather than a point gained following Ashington’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle Benfield at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

The defender who netted the Colliers third goal – and equaliser – ten minutes from time said: “Football wise it wasn’t a great game to play in. Second half we got a bit of confidence back playing a bit more but it got scrappy at the end.”

Salmon said he was in the ‘right place at the right time’ for his goal: “I saw Dan Maguire and thought he’s going to turn the defender and the ball is going to come back,” he added, “I guessed correctly and it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.”

He went on: “After the first half, when we were 2-0 down before pulling one back, I think we would have taken a draw – but the way we were throwing things forward and switching it in the second half, it feels like two points lost.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner used the words ‘disappointing’ and ‘poor’ to describe several aspects of his sides performance in the 3-3 draw against Newcastle Benfield at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

“It was a disappointing performance,” he said afterwards, “There were lots of things to be disappointed with which isn’t something I’ve had to say too many times this season. I thought the goals we conceded were really, really poor from a defensive point of view – and when I say that, I mean the team collectively. The areas in which we lost the ball which led to the goals and then the desire and the want to get back and make it difficult was disappointing. I thought we didn’t pass the ball anywhere near as well as we can do and we found ourselves two goals down from two shots on target. For the second one, their ‘keeper (Andrew Grainger) has caught the ball from our corner and we were left short at the back. People will tell you every goal you concede you can dissect but ours were really poor this evening and if we defend like that as a team collectively on a consistent basis, we’ll give ourselves difficulties in games.”

He continued: “However, we have again showed good character to come back and get back into the game at 2-1 which was important before half time and then I thought we started the second half quite well. We moved the ball quite well and have fashioned a couple of chances – then scored from a penalty to equalise. The momentum was with us but we go and concede again – and it gives Benfield something to try and sit in and defend and the goal which we have conceded is very, very disappointing. After that I felt we became very disjointed and although Benfield didn’t offer too much going forward, when they did, they looked like they were going to break on us on multiple occasions.” He went on: “We got into a little bit of a ‘everybody wants to go forward and nobody wants to get back’ mentality which was part of the reason why we conceded the third goal. Whether it was the excitement of ‘we were back in it at 2-2 and we are going to go on and win this’ I don’t know – but what we needed to realise was that there were another 40 minutes to go in the game and we didn’t need to try and win it in the next two minutes.”

He added: “We huffed and puffed but we just weren’t at it tonight and the biggest positive I can take from the result is that we haven’t lost and have taken something from the game. Moving forward, if we want to achieve our ambitions this season, we have to be better than that – starting with Saturday’s home game against Heaton Stannington.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton said after the Colliers had gone out of the Emirates FA Cup against King’s Lynn following a 3-1 defeat on Saturday that they need to turn their attentions towards league points.

The Woodhorn Lane outfit went down at the fourth qualifying round stage in Norfolk in what has been a great run in the FA Cup but their success in the competition – including replays – has resulted in them playing only eight league matches whilst leaders Bishop Auckland have completed 15!

Mr Shotton said: “Our aim now switches to the league – the bread and butter – and we’ve got quite a bit of catching up to do. We have made no secret of the fact that we want to get promoted and want to be participating against different opposition and to be playing some of the teams we have done over the last few weeks on a regular basis. So our target now has got to be to turn the disappointment of not winning today (in the FA Cup at King’s Lynn) into league points.”

He continued: “I’d like to think that the supporters will stick with us – and I’m convinced they will – because we are growing all the time. We’ve got a special club here but have got to keep working hard and if we continue to do that, we’ll get our just desserts in the end.” Ashington return to league action this week with two home games in five days. On Tuesday (October 18), they take on Newcastle Benfield before Heaton Stannington make the short trip up to Wansbeck on Saturday (October 22).

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC skipper Ben Harmison remained upbeat on Saturday night – even after the Colliers had exited the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-1 defeat against King’s Lynn at The Walks.

Harmison said: “The result was disappointing but we definitely didn’t go out with a whimper. They (King’s Lynn) are flying at the top of the National League North and they pushed us hard – but we gave a good account of ourselves. In the second half, I thought we dominated but obviously when they scored their third goal, it deflated us – and then their fitness showed.”

He continued: “We were disappointed to concede the first goal and Karl (Dryden) will probably say himself that he should have saved the shot – but you can’t knock him (Dryden) because on the other side of the coin, he’s made some brilliant saves to keep us in the game and it’s just one of those things. I thought we thoroughly deserved to get back at 1-1; they (King’s Lynn) had lots of possession which you would expect being a team three leagues above us and I’d like to see the footage of their second goal as I thought it looked to be offside. I didn’t think we were under much threat and we wanted to stay in the game – and that’s what we did. We had the wind second half and I thought for the first 20 minutes, we dominated and probably should have scored but when they got the third, it was hard for us to come back.”

Harmison hopes the town will be proud of their run in the competition and once again expressed his thanks on behalf of the players and management team to the Ashington supporters who travelled down after leaving Woodhorn Lane at 7am: “They were absolutely brilliant and you cannot say enough about them,” he added, “They kept the lads going and I hope the whole town are proud of us – but its not just about the team. We went across to show our appreciation to the fans at the end and for around 160 people to travel five or six hours on a bus to King’s Lynn was absolutely phenomenal. We need the supporters – they have been behind us all season – and hopefully we can win something for them because they deserve it.”

Harmison says it is time to ‘park’ the achievements made in the cup run and concentrate on catching up with their programme in the first division of the Ebac Northern League: “We have a big week ahead with back to back home games against Newcastle Benfield on Tuesday (October 18) and Heaton Stannington on Saturday (October 22),” he added, “We’ve enjoyed the cup run but our attentions turn towards the league which is our bread and butter. We’ve got good attitudes and team spirit in our camp and after going out of both FA competitions, we’ll be up for Tuesday’s clash.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton paid manager Ian Skinner and his players the ultimate compliment within minutes of the Colliers bowing out of this season’s Emirates FA Cup competition as they went down 3-1 against National League North table toppers Kings’s Lynn at The Walks on Saturday.

Mr Shotton spoke about the club’s exciting run which came to an end at the fourth qualifying round stage in Norfolk: “Ian Skinner, his management team and the players can hold their heads up high as we as a club, equipped ourselves really well today. On another day we maybes could have forced a replay but to be honest, King’s Lynn deserved their victory and I’m sure they’ll go on to give whoever they draw in the first round proper, a good game. We can’t complain too much about the way we played or the way we approached the game – it was just not to be. The lads gave everything on the field and after the journey we have been on, we cannot be anything other than proud of them.”

The Woodhorn Lane chairman also complimented Boston United after the club had hosted Ashington’s players and staff for a pre match lunch: “Boston United Football Club were fantastic,” he said, “The lads had some food and refreshment and we did everything we could to prepare in the right way for the game. I spent the match with the fans and I know how good they are. They never stopped chanting and singing and if anything they got louder as the game got more difficult for us – which is exactly what you want.”

He continued: “After the final whistle, to see the players, supporters and volunteers all coming together was special and if we can keep that togetherness then there will be nothing which will stop us in what we want to achieve at the club. Obviously Saturday’s result was disappointing – but overall, I’m delighted with how the club has moved on.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC’s versatile left sided player Luke Salmon was adamant that the Colliers could have forced a draw or a win against King’s Lynn in their Emirates FA Cup tie at The Walks on Saturday.

The Woodhorn Lane outfit – who have performed heroics throughout an exciting and fantastic run where they beat sides higher up the footballing pyramid – eventually went out at the fourth qualifying round hurdle after losing 3-1 against the Linnets in Norfolk.

Salmon, who brought the Colliers level in the contest on Saturday, said afterwards: “Obviously it’s a bit of a sad story as we have lost the game but to be honest we went into the clash with high hopes believing we could do something. Even reflecting after the match, if we had taken one or two chances we still could have got a draw or a win out of it – but we were playing against a team who are top of their league three divisions above so it was always going to be difficult.”

After Ben Stephens had opened the scoring, it was Salmon who fired in Ashington’s equaliser: “It was a perfect through ball from Dean Briggs,” he said, “I just had to hold my run a little bit then I took a touch and hit the ball through the ‘keeper’s legs. We were back to square one and I still believed we could get a result.”

Salmon thought the Colliers ‘took the game’ to their opponents from the first whistle of the second period: “For the first 15-20 minutes (of the second half) we got at them a lot. Chances have gone wide and over but it showed that we were battering them a little bit to try and get a goal. I thought the third (goal) they got was crucial but when I looked at the clock and there were still 10-15 minutes left, I still thought we had a chance as we just had to finish two chances. Then when stoppage time goes up you know time is against you. The last five minutes were really lively and the lads didn’t give up but the cup run has been brilliant and all of the lads have loved every minute of it.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage after a 3-1 defeat against King’s Lynn on Saturday.

However, manager Ian Skinner praised his players to the hilt, describing them as having been ‘immense.’

Luke Salmon scored for the Colliers as his side footed finish cancelled out Ben Stephens’s opener for the home side. Jordan Ponticelli restored the lead for the Linnets before Adam Crowther’s close range effort sealed the win.

Skinner said afterwards: “Full credit to the players because they have been immense throughout the whole competition which is a bit ruthless. We’ve enjoyed the spotlight being on us a little bit but the minute you’re out, it dusts you off and throws you away. We were certainly not disgraced and gave a good account of ourselves – and what we have got to do now is take the pats on the back and the plaudits for the cup run we’ve had.”

He continued: “I thought in the first half we struggled to get to grips a little bit with the movement of King’s Lynn’s front four which was very, very good. Because I wanted us to play on the front foot a little bit, we didn’t change how we play so I might have to take a little bit of responsibility for us being a bit too open in the early exchanges. Obviously it was an individual error for their first goal but our ‘keeper Karl Dryden has been brilliant for us and had made two good saves beforehand – and he made another couple in the second half so it’s not something which we will dwell on too much. We’ve then scored a good goal to draw level and it was the first time we sort of put one or two passes together which was pleasing. Their second goal looked offside from my position if I’m honest and a lot of people said the same thing – but the goal stood and we had to get on with it. Then we’ve made a little tactical change just before half time, (bringing on Damen Mullen for Yannick Aziakonou) and once we made it, I just thought we looked a bit more solid and got to grips with things a little bit in the middle of the park.”

He went on: “Second half if I’m honest, I thought we were the better team for 20 minutes but in that period, we didn’t quite threaten their goal enough. Albeit we got into some good positions and the ball either didn’t quite drop for us or we snatched at it a little bit but as the game went on, I still thought there was a chance we could pinch something and bring them back to our place on Tuesday night. But to concede the third from a set play was disappointing. We had done a little bit of work on their set plays about double headers and when that went in I think it knocked the stuffing out of us a little bit. We’ve then got to change the way we play and be a little bit more direct and try and get the ball forward which doesn’t suit us to be fair and in the end they (King’s Lynn) ran out 3-1 winners.”

He added: “Now we now need to focus on the ambition – which is to try and move up the footballing pyramid and hopefully get to a position which Kings Lynn find themselves in now – which is top of the National League North. Throughout the FA Cup competition, we’ve played teams from higher up in the pyramid and we’ve seen that the current squad that we have got can hold their own. It’s up to us to be consistent enough in our division to give us the opportunity to maybes play the likes of the teams we have done in the competition (FA Cup) on a weekly basis and that will be the aim moving forward.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington go into tomorrow’s fourth qualifying round clash of the Emirates FA Cup against Kings Lynn Town in Norfolk, looking to bridge a gap of over 60 years.

The Colliers bowed out of the competition at the same stage over a decade ago, after travelling to face Grimsby but the last occasion the Wansbeck side reached the first round proper was back in 1961.

In the last three rounds this season, Ian Skinner’s outfit have performed cup shocks after toppling Ashton United, Bradford Park Avenue and Stocksbridge Park Steels – all of whom operate further up the non league pyramid – and against all three outfits, Ashington have been worthy winners.

Kings Lynn are currently top of the National League North – three tiers higher than Ashington. They are in the same division as Blyth Spartans but manager Skinner says he will be taking his side to face the Linnets in a positive frame of mind: “We’re looking forward to it and we’ll be going there looking to get a positive result just like we do in every match,” he said, “It’ll be a really tough game – they’ve only lost once in the league and are top of the National League North having come down last year from the National League so we’ll need lots of things to go in our favour. We’ll need every one of our players to be on top of their game playing to the levels which they are capable of and we may need Lady Luck to shine on us a little bit – and if all of that were to happen then who knows?”

He continued: “We’ll look at the clash like we have done with every other cup game. It’s a big occasion for the club because the fourth qualifying round is one step away from the first round proper. We’ve had a free week so we’ve trained a couple of times and have prepared properly.”

Skinners’ side will be backed by two coach loads of supporters: “Given that King’s Lynn is not the easiest place to get too and that it’s a long trip, it’s an incredible response by the fans,” he added, “I’ve said it before but our supporters never cease to amaze me to be fair. It’ll be great to have them there with us to share the moment and hopefully we’ll put on a decent performance which will make them proud.” The boss will await fitness reports from several of his players before being able to announce his side for the 3pm kick-off.