By Brian Bennett

Liam Henderson lit up Woodhorn Lane on Saturday when he scored a wonder goal in Ashington’s 3-1 win over West Auckland in their FA Trophy clash.

In the opening minute of the second half and with his side trailing 1-0, the striker took full advantage of a slip on the half way line by a visiting defender to chip the ball from 40 yards over advanced ‘keeper Steven Bessent and watch as it dropped into the net.

Afterwards the 36 year old said: “I noticed that the keeper was creeping off his line during most of the first half. Obviously I’ve done well to nick the ball off the kid on the halfway line, looked up and when I saw the ‘keeper off his line I thought ‘I’ll give it a go’ and luckily it was the right connection.”

Reflecting on the game, Gateshead-born Henderson said: “In the first half I thought we did okay. We were lacking in the final third but I thought we were playing some all right football and getting into good positions without really hurting them. It was just about being a bit more clinical which was obviously said to the two lads (Benji Shodeinde and Scott Fenwick) who came on because they got the two goals which won us the match. It’s a squad game and we’ve got another match on Monday – so lads are going to have to come together and get minutes and hopefully it’s a good omen for us.”

He continued: “I’ve just come back off holiday and wasn’t expecting to play as long as I did against Dunston on Tuesday. I’m not getting any younger but as long as I am doing a job for the team then I’m more than happy. We’re unbeaten and doing all right without doing great and hopefully we can get our first win on Monday which is the most important thing.”

By Brian Bennett

Striker Scott Fenwick came off the bench and netted his first goal for Ashington in Saturday’s 3-1 win over West Auckland in the FA Trophy at Woodhorn Lane.

The Gateshead-born striker, talking about his strike said afterwards: “Obviously I wanted to come on and get on the ball. Jamie (Holmes) has picked it up (the ball) and slid me in and it’s taken a bit of a ricochet. I had a quick look up and saw the ‘keeper come charging off his line. I knew I was faster than him so I made sure I took a bit touch around him and just slid the ball into goal to wrap the game up and send us through.”

Fenwick – who works in recruitment for Premier League outfit Everton FC – added: “As a whole I thought we were in control from the start. It was disappointing to concede a goal but I thought the lads had plenty of the ball and moved it probably a bit slower than what we needed to at times – there were a few little areas where we could have upped the tempo and hurt them – but I didn’t think we were in trouble. They (West Auckland) maybes had a little spell of five minutes when they went a bit longer but I thought the back four and Rossy (Karl Ross)  dealt with things really well. Obviously Ryan (Donaldson) got on the ball as much as he could and dictated the game and I thought our goals at the end were credit to us for wearing them down.”

Fenwick spoke about fellow striker Liam Henderson and his fantastic goal straight after half time: “Liam’s a good player and has still got all of his experience,” he said, “We grew up together so I’ve watched him from being a young boy at 11. We went to school together, and came up in the school team together. Liam had a good career when he was young then obviously he’s come back home. He uses his body well and he’s a big old fashioned number nine who holds the ball up, He has chipped the ‘keeper today and it’s the old cliche that if you don’t shoot you don’t score.”

The 36 year old, who is based in Low Fell, is looking forward to Monday’s clash against Heaton Stannington: “Obviously  it’s another North East battle between two good teams. Heaton Stannington are very well organised and I think they will be looking to cement a proper play off place this season. They made some good signings in the summer and have started the campaign off okay. It’s an early kick off (12 noon), so there should be a decent crowd and it’s a nice game to look forward to.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Marc Ellison said he was ‘really pleased’ after his side knocked West Auckland out of the FA Trophy following a 3-1 win at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

James Hughes fired the County Durham side ahead early in the contest but the Colliers hit back to book their place in the next round with second half goals from Liam Henderson, Benji Shodeinde and Scott Fenwick.

Ellison said: “Overall, I’m really pleased. Obviously, it’s good to get the win, and I’m really happy for the lads who maybe haven’t played as much as they’d have liked so far. I thought there were a lot of positives in terms of how we tried to play as well. It’s still early in the season and things are far from perfect, but some of the things we’ve been working on and the concepts we’re trying to get across definitely poked their heads out this afternoon, which is a real positive. I thought our desire to go and get the ball back as quickly as possible was really good again, and that gave us a better platform to enjoy some decent spells on the ball. So yeah, I think over the course of the game we deserved the win.”

He continued: “I still think we could be a bit more composed in the final third, especially in the first half, but there were some really good moves in the second half and it was good to see some of the things we’ve been working on coming together. On another day, we could probably have had a few more. I thought Jude Cogdon was brilliant as well in his first start for us – I thought he took his opportunity really well and we’ve got real healthy competition now across the pitch.”

Looking ahead to the league clash against Heaton Stannington on Bank Holiday Monday which has a noon kick-off, Ellison said: “The most important thing for us now is that we keep building and finding come consistency in our performances. We’ve got another really tough game on Monday afternoon at Heaton, so hopefully we can get as many of our fans there as possible to make the short trip and get behind the lads.”

Ashington AFC will offer FREE ENTRY to Blue Light Card holders for our home league fixture against Bridlington Town on Saturday 5 September.

The gesture follows the recent fire behind Woodhorn Lane, which came dangerously close to our floodlights and stands.

We were fortunate that serious damage was avoided, thanks in large part to the swift response of Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, who quickly brought the fire under control.

At a time when our communities are facing growing challenges, our emergency services and frontline workers continue to be there when they are needed.

While the idea came from wanting to recognise and thank the firefighters who responded that evening, we wanted to extend the gesture to those working across our other emergency and frontline services who are there for people every day.

It’s a small way for Ashington AFC to show our appreciation and simply say thank you.

⚽ Ashington AFC v Bridlington Town
📅 Saturday 5 September
⏰ 3pm kick-off
📍 Woodhorn Lane
🎟️ FREE admission with a valid Blue Light Card

Simply show your valid Blue Light Card at the turnstile to receive free entry.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Marc Ellison said it was a kick in the teeth and his group of players as well as the management team were left bitterly disappointed after they conceded a late equaliser against Dunston on Tuesday night.

Second half substitute Liam Henderson poked the ball home to give the Colliers the lead just past the hour mark but Ben Ramsey struck in the last minute of time added on to secure a point for promotion chasing Dunston.

The boss said afterwards: “I’d have taken the draw at 5.30pm when I got to the ground, but when the equaliser comes that late, it’s a bit of a kick in the teeth, especially when the boys have worked so hard throughout the game. The main objective tonight was to show a reaction to Saturday’s second-half performance (against Thornaby), and we knew we’d have to suffer without the ball for spells. Dunston are a really, really good side with a brilliant management team. They’re going to be challenging for promotion again, if not even winning the league this year and I think they’ve improved all over the pitch in the summer.”

He continued: “For long periods tonight, yes, they had the ball, but I thought we defended really well and stood up to anything that came our way. My only gripe would be that, after we went in front, we started going long to Hendo (Liam Henderson) far too early. The gaps between the units ended up being too big, and the ball just kept coming back at us. The law of averages tells you that eventually one attack might sneak in, and unfortunately, that’s what’s happened (for their equaliser). Also as well as being a little bit braver in possession at times, just to relieve some pressure and impose our style is what we want to do with the football. But listen, we’re fighting different battles to Dunston this season. If we put a shift in like that, then we’ll earn the right to go and play our football against 90% of our opponents.”

He added: “Overall, of course, we’re bitterly disappointed that we couldn’t take all three points after conceding so late. But it’s a point at home against a top side, it’s another point closer to where we need to be, and it’s another league game unbeaten at home.”

Ashington now prepare for a double-header over the bank holiday weekend with a home game against West Auckland Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday followed by a local derby fixture in the league against Heaton Stannington on Monday and Ellison said: “We’ll have to assess a few of the players before the weekend, with a few niggles here and there. Saturday-Monday games are a big ask, so we’ll be looking to utilise the squad as much as we can.”

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.”