By Brian Bennett

Ashington have been handed an away draw in the first round of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup.

The Colliers will travel to face Ebac Northern League second division outfit Newcastle University and manager Nick Gray said: “The Senior Cup gives teams a realistic chance to play at St James’ Park which is fantastic. Last year we did well in the competition before bowing out at the semi final stage on penalties against Morpeth Town so we’ll be looking to go one better this time round and get through to the final. We’re away from home and we know what Newcastle University will be about – they’ll be a young, fit and energetic team but we’ve just got to make sure that on the night we are firing.”

The full draw is:

Blyth Town v Blyth Spartans

Alnwick Town v Prudhoe YC

Newcastle Blue Star v North Shields

Newcastle Uni v Ashington

Whitley Bay v West Allotment

Newcastle Benfield v AFC Newbiggin

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Nick Gray is confident that his squad will break their seasons duck and register a first league win.

In the middle of a break – after the home game against Hallam was postponed last week as the Sheffield side were involved in a cup replay plus no fixture at the weekend or this midweek – Gray spoke frankly as he reflected on the campaign so far.

The Woodhorn Lane club have exited both the Emirates FA Cup and Isuzu FA Trophy whilst currently being on a run without a win in the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League: “We’ve completed the first month of the season now and its always difficult because you’ve got to find ways of winning games – and we haven’t done that yet,” said Gray, “The results in the cup competitions have been disappointing but the league is your bread and butter and we’ve been beaten twice in five games. I’ve spoken to the group and there have been some conversations between us – and what resoundingly comes out is that we are together because all of players and staff care. The fans have been great and we just need to start to turn things around – which we are confident we will do.”

He continued: “Since our last game we’ve had the opportunity to give the players time off but we haven’t – instead we trained three times last week including Saturday and we’re training again this week. If we had been top of the league I may have seriously thought about giving them time off but it’s been an opportunity to put some sessions together which rarely happens during the course of a season and we’ve taken advantage of that.”

Ashington travel to face Consett on Friday night (September 12) at the Belle View Stadium and Gray said: “Over the last couple of games Consett have done really well. They did go down 3-1 against Matlock but they are a very good side and there’s no shame in losing against them. To be fair Consett are a good side. They have made a couple of shrewd signings which have made a difference to them. Come Friday, we’ll have our full squad available with the exception of the two goalkeepers Matty Alexander and Josef Herdman who are both injured. Tyler Jones has come in from Newcastle United and has been a very able replacement in goal whilst outfield wise, it’s now down to the players to perform – which they know themselves. On paper we are strong – but paper doesn’t win you games of football. With holidays out of the way we are looking to move on and I’m confident our first win won’t be far away.”

He went on: “I think the young lads including the Powell twins, Harry and Rory have done really well and although defensively we’ve had a couple of lapses, generally we’ve looked pretty good. For me, it’s the middle third and final third where we need to improve – but we are confident on that score.”

He concluded: “Players always get opportunities and it’s up to them to take them and whilst I’m happy with the squad if there’s room for improvement we’ll look to do that.  This mini two week break has given us breathing space and a chance to regroup. It has allowed us to ask questions and to speak about things. Hopefully the supporters will see a different Ashington and look forward to the rest of the season.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington manager Nick Gray was clearly disappointed after his side had failed to pick up their first win of the season following a 0-0 draw against local rivals Blyth Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

Gray was irked about several facets of Ashington’s play but was clearly left frustrated after his side had failed to break down a Blyth outfit who were forced to play 40 plus minutes of the second half with ten men after Marcus Giles had been red carded for a second bookable offence.

Gray said afterwards: “I thought we were the better team for the majority of the game as I felt they (Blyth Town) never really hurt us and didn’t look a threat. First half I thought we contained them well as they have got one or two lively players who we kept quiet. We had a couple of great opportunities when we put the ball into good areas and if we had scored then the game would have changed. At the interval, I asked the players if they could just step it up a little bit and be a little bit tighter out of possession and a bit more aggressive in possession. Blyth had a man sent off for a second yellow card but we didn’t take advantage of that situation at all. I thought we were laboured and were too slow in possession; we didn’t get the ball to where we wanted it to go and we were taking too many touches – and when we did get the ball into wide areas, the quality of the delivery into the box wasn’t good enough. We didn’t work the ‘keeper either. We’ve had a couple of shots in the second half but they went wide of the post – and we are really struggling to score and create goals.”

He continued: “We tried to be aggressive and get the three points but we didn’t help ourselves in the second half then ironically the most clear cut chance fell to Blyth in the last minute but young ‘keeper Tyler Jones has made a great one on one save. So at the end of the day, it could have been a worse afternoon – and that’s what happens if you don’t take advantage of the opposition being at a numerical disadvantage.”

He added: “We need to have a bit more belief and desire and a bit more forward thinking when we get the ball in the middle third and top end third but on a positive note it’s a clean sheet and a point. However, looking at the circumstances and the bigger picture – and without being disrespectful to Blyth Town – we should be looking to take three points but we haven’t.”

For the final quarter hour, Gray brought on Ethan Bewley who had signed in midweek from Ebac Northern League first division outfit Birtley Town and Gray said: “Both Liam McIvor (assistant manager) and myself have known Ethan for a while and he’s been doing quite well at Birtley. Ethan will give us energy and he’ll score goals but to be fair it was a bit of a risk putting him on as substitute as he hadn’t even met the rest of the lads until today.”

The Colliers, who are without a game this Saturday (September 6), will now have a break in fixtures of almost a fortnight until they travel to face Consett on Friday (September 12).

By Brian Bennett

Sam Davison fired home a late equaliser in Ashington’s 1-1 draw against Blyth Spartans on Bank Holiday Monday and revealed that he had reverted back to the tried and tested!

The teenage striker had been a doubt before the game with a toe problem sustained in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Garforth Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

Davison went on as a substitute in the 76^th minute and said of the result: “It was a relief to be honest. I thought we battled really well during the game and we definitely deserved a point. It was just a shame we couldn’t get the three points but hopefully that will be next on the agenda.”

For his goal, the 18 year old said: “I tried to control the ball at first and I thought ‘it’s not dropping here’ so I hit it on the volley and luckily it went in. I’m buzzing. I had made my debut on Saturday and overall I was happy although I felt I could have done better with the chances which I got.”

However, Newcastle-born Davison revealed that he had to come through a fitness test ahead of the game at Blyth: “On Saturday I wore a new pair of boots and things didn’t go well. My toe was rubbing on the inside and the nail is coming off – so I changed back to my old boots today. I did the warm up and my toe felt better and better so I was passed fit.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington manager Nick Gray thought the result was right on Bank Holiday Monday when his outfit drew 1-1 against Blyth Spartans at Croft Park.

After Patrick McClafferty had put Spartans ahead on the hour, Ashington levelled with a goal from substitute Sam Davison in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Gray said afterwards: “Emotions have been all over the place this weekend and it hasn’t been pretty because there have been some difficult times.

Blyth started the game the better side whilst we looked a little bit leggy but we grew into the second part of the first half.”

However, Gray believed his outfit had the edge after the break: “I said in the dressing room at the interval, that we just needed to raise our game everywhere with the passing, the movement and not giving as much respect to the opposition as we had been doing and second half I thought we were the better side. We gave them a goal but Harry Powell is a young lad and he’s done smashing since he came to us. He’s held his hand up in the dressing room which is fair play to him – but you’ve got to learn quickly. We kept on going and they (Blyth) sat back a little bit then there was time added on and I thought we got our just rewards in the end with the equaliser. After that, we went for a winner with Michael Annang-Colquhoun having a header saved then they’ve had a chance, so for me, over the whole game a draw was a fair result.”

He continued: “We got stronger before we equalised – but we don’t help ourselves. I keep on talking about having belief and that we’ve got to put balls into good areas. The ball which led to our goal was put into a good area and Sam Davison has scored. The Blyth ‘keeper hasn’t had a lot to do but we’ll take the positives out of the game and work on things which we need to work on.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Nick Gray was full of praise for Newcastle United and Gav Perry after there was frantic action behind the scenes at Woodhorn Lane last week.

At training on Thursday night – and less than 48 hours before the Colliers away clash against Garforth Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy – both goalkeepers picked up injuries.

Regular stopper Matty Alexander sustained a finger injury then minutes later Josef Herdman rolled his ankle.

Gray said: “For both of your goalkeepers to go down injured within 15 minutes of each other and end up in A & E at the hospital is certainly not ideal preparation. So I’d like to thank Newcastle United who helped us out massively by agreeing for Tyler Jones to join us on a short term deal. Then there is the paperwork side of things as well as phone calls and Gav Perry was first class. He got the signing over the line when the deadline was 12 noon on Friday.”

Gray was delighted with the debutant: “Tyler did smashing,” he said, “He was really good including his kicking which was excellent.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Nick Gray said his outfit face ‘a huge nine days’ after they went out of the Isuzu FA Trophy following a 3-0 defeat against Garforth Town on Saturday.

Goals from Mutty Al-Jahadhmy, Rinor Ejupi and sub George Harrison wrapped victory for ‘The Miners’ in Leeds and ended the Colliers interest in the competition.

Gray’s side now face a quick turnaround with the derby clash against Blyth Spartans tomorrow followed by home games against Blyth Town (Saturday August 30) and Hallam (Tuesday September 2).

Although the Woodhorn Lane boss doesn’t like to look too far ahead, he broke with tradition when he said: “For me we’ve had five games and although some players have had more minutes than others, they know if they’ve done well in the five games. Fans want to see cup runs and I understand that but we are never going to win the FA Cup or FA Trophy. But I tell you what – we’ve got a huge three games in nine days now starting on Monday – and they are all defining matches for me. We have two local derbies (against Blyth Spartans and Blyth Town) then Hallam and there’s a lot of unanswered questions for me which we have got to try and put right.”

Gray – who was still perplexed after the defeat against Garforth – added: “There are worse things and harder things that go on in life and football is an enjoyment for people and is also a relief for them – but if that (the performance against Garforth) is an enjoyment and relief then for me its soul searching and I’ve got to ask questions of myself and of the players. Listen I’ve always said that I don’t mind getting beat although I don’t like getting beat – but it’s the manner of it and I’m a bit speechless to be honest.”

He continued: “For the first goal we switched off from a set piece. It was too easy and too acceptable – then we’ve had a great chance to equalise but haven’t taken it. I ask the players to pull the trigger and they don’t – and guess what the lad for Garforth did for the second goal? He pulled the trigger and the ball has gone into the top corner. I’m sick of saying it – if you don’t shoot you don’’t score. At 2-0 we had another great chance then it was just before the final whistle when the third goal went in.”

Gray says that things have got to improve: “The three games in nine days will define a lot for the players and myself whereby we need to learn and change quickly. However there are some good players in there (the dressing room), only they haven’t clicked yet and we are still a new group. I’m confident that things will change but it’s got to be quick and the players have got to realise that. The players know who need to step up to the mark but the good thing is they are good players who have got a lot of experience. Now is the time for them to deliver because in ten days, if they haven’t, I could be gone; they could be gone and that’s me being brutally honest.”

Ashington were left numb after learning of the tragic passing of lifelong supporter Craig Dickinson and Gray said: “It’s been a sad week for the club and for some supporters and I feel for Craig Dickinson’s family. It was really appreciated that some of them (the Dickinson family) came down today under difficult circumstances along with other fans and I’m really sorry for them that we didn’t get the win which we wanted to for Craig. My thoughts plus those of the management team and the players are with Craig and his family.”

In a poignant moment, as Ashington’s players came off the pitch they applauded and acknowledged the supporters (including some of the Dickinson family) who were in the stand.

Photograph: Newcastle United Football Club

Newcastle United under-18s goalkeeper Tyler Jones has joined us on a short-term deal.

Jones, a second-year scholar, put pen to paper on a full-time scholarship with Newcastle United in the summer of 2024.

He will link up with as a short-term basis to gain some senior experience.

Tyler was registered with Ashington AFC earlier today ahead of the registration deadline for our Isuzu FA Trophy tie at Garforth and is eligible for selection in the tie.

Everyone at the club wishes to thank Newcastle United for their support and co-operation with this short-term deal.

Welcome to Woodhorn Lane Tyler.

By Brian Bennett

Reflecting on the 2-0 defeat against Dunston on Tuesday night, Ashington manager Nick Gray said the home sides’ quality was the difference.

Dunston skipper Michael Pearson fired his side in front after 13 minutes and midway through he second half, Harvey Neary added a second. Ashington couldn’t break through and even when they were awarded a late penalty, Craig Spooner’s effort was saved by ‘keeper Dan Lowson.

Gray said: “First half we matched Dunston for effort but the difference was their quality in possession. We gave the ball away so much – what’s the point in working hard if you’re going to give the ball back to the opposition? At half time, I was quite pleased that we were only 1-0 down even though they didn’t cut us open. For the goal we had plenty of bodies in the box but no-one took responsibility for picking people up. Space doesn’t score goals – players do. The kid has had a shot and if you don’t shoot you don’t score – its as simple as that.”

He continued: “Second half I thought we were the better side until we conceded. But after winning a 50-50 challenge on the half way line, Harvey Neary has run 50 yards, advanced and guess what he’s done? He’s pulled the trigger and deflected it over the goalkeeper so he’s earned his luck.”

He went on: “It was a slick greasy pitch tonight and I thought it was lovely. We had opportunities to score goals at the end. We got the penalty but Craig Spooner’s effort was hit at a good height for the ‘keeper which was disappointing. I’ve known Dan Lowson for years at Morpeth and for me he’s the best goalkeeper in the league. Sam Davison has come on and had a couple of chances. He made the penalty and hit one just past the post. If we had scored, who knows because Lowson has made a great save at the end from a corner.”

He added: “My concern is that we did well against Bishop Auckland but you’ve got to be consistent. It’s still early days and as a group we need to have more belief. I cannot fault the lads’ work ethic – they kept going until the end but imagine if we had looked after the ball better? Dunston are a good side and they have aspirations of trying to go up (promotion) but it was a game where their quality showed against ours at the important times and that was the difference.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington have appointed Kev Chapman as their new physiotherapist.

Manager Nick Gray is delighted to have “signed” Kev – and likewise the newcomer says it is a ‘privilege and an honour’ to join the management team at Woodhorn Lane.

However, Chapman did admit that because of a string of other commitments, he delayed his decision – until he received what he described as being ‘a little bit of gentle persuasion from Nick (Gray).’

North-Shields born Kev tells the tale: “I’ve worked with Nick before and I was a bit apprehensive at first because I don’t like letting people down. I’ve got my own MSK clinic in Blyth but I’m also finishing up a Masters in physiotherapy and I’m currently on a placement at NSECH (Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital) as a respiratory physio.”

He continued: “My main concern was the amount of travelling in the league but after analysing it, it wasn’t as bad as I initially thought. Nick simply wouldn’t let go either, ringing me time and again so I came up to the club, had a bit crack with him and accepted the job. Ashington are such a well known club and it is an honour and a privilege to come onboard.”

Gray said: “Obviously we were told just before the season that we were losing our physio which wasn’t ideal and I’m delighted to get Kev in. I know what he brings to the table not just as a physio but as a person and with the players I think that is key. I was fortunate to work with him when I was in charge at Whitley Bay and the players will see how good he is. It’s not just about you’re job – its about how you interact with the players off the pitch just as well as on the pitch. He’s proactive, is the ultimate professional and I’m thrilled to bits that he has agreed to join us.”