By Brian Bennett

Ashington won for the first time in eight league games with a 2-1 victory over Ossett United  on Saturday – and manager Nick Gray and his assistant Liam McIvor were united in their postmatch thoughts.

Gray said: “I’m thrilled for everyone at the club really, the fans, the committee, the staff but more importantly the players. The win has been a long time coming and to be honest we’ve been close on a couple of occasions. However I thought that Tuesday night against Matlock Town – even though we lost the game 3-2 – gave us a bit of realisation that if we started believing in ourselves we can pick up some points. Today we were very good from the first minute to the last although it was soured a little bit near the end when they (Ossett) scored but it would have been criminal if they had gone on to equalise. I had a gut feeling before the game and lucky things turned out well for us.”

McIvor said: “I thought we were excellent and pressed them (Ossett) well. Our intensity levels were really good today and we took the game to them – something which I haven’t seen us do many times this season. The likes of Matlock Town, Bishop Auckland and Middlesbrough u21’s came to us at Woodhorn Lane with intensity – and we lift our game when we play against better teams – but it was about time we started taking the game to our opponents and we did that today. We got what we deserved but now we’ve got to kick on and put points on the board. We know we are a good team and we have got some good players in the changing room but the position we are in makes us look as if we are a bad team.”

Before the contest Ashington were on the bottom of the East Division table in the Pitching In Northern Premier League but the win lifted them up four places to 18^th.

Gray added: “To be fair, I haven’t looked at the table for the last two or three weeks because I knew we hadn’t won a game so I knew where we would be – and people love reminding me of it. But listen – it’s a long season and we’ve had a tricky start. People like Scott Lowery, Ben Sampson, Michael Colquhoun and goalkeeper Matty Alexander weren’t in the squad today whilst Tyler Jones has come in from Newcastle United and has been brilliant for us in goal. Today he stood up well and has make a fantastic save with the score at 0-0.”

Gray continued: “Ossett had about three chances in the game. They scored a good goal near the end but it was still disappointing to concede and with five minutes of time added on all I wanted was to hear the final whistle. It would have been an injustice if we hadn’t won the game and I’m delighted. We said it was going to be a big week with back to back home games to follow after today and we’ve made the best start possible. We were backed by supporters who came along this afternoon which was great – but to be honest we haven’t performed for them until today and the lads need to start to do that to show them (the supporters) what good players they are. Hopefully the players have now got belief and confidence which will do them the world of good. I said recently that we’ve got a good squad on paper – but paper doesn’t win you anything on a football pitch. Let’s hope we have turned the corner – and I’m confident that we have – but football is a funny game and let’s see what we are saying this time next Saturday. I thought against a good Ossett side that we made them look pretty average – that’s not being disrespectful – but I don’t think they can have many complaints.”

McIvor added: “I didn’t think we were that bad in the first half against Matlock Town last week because we matched them for tempo and no-one had a bad game – it was just the goals we gave away. Today we have done really well – but when they scored towards the end, it was a long five minutes of time added on when you are desperate for three points.  For the first time this season, our subs bench was the strongest we have had in terms of strength and depth. We have got 18-19 players and it’s time for us to kick on.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Nick Gray spoke of his frustration on Tuesday night after watching his side put up a spirited show against Matlock Town.

Josh Gilchrist and Craig Spooner scored in the second half but the Colliers lost the game 3-2.

“Listen after the Consett clash, we wanted a massive improvement and I was pleased with the lads because they gave their all against the best team we have played this season – and that’s no disrespect to any of the other sides,” he said, “We set our minds to it and played with intensity and worked hard and thought we might get some rewards but we didn’t get the run of the green when it mattered.”

Matlock opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a massive deflection: “The first goal

just typifies our luck at the minute” he added, “They have crossed the ball and Scott Lowery has slipped on a pitch which looked great tonight by the way and credit to groundsman Scott Robson. The ball took a deflection and wrong footed ‘keeper Tyler Jones but its the old cliché of if you don’t shoot you don’t score. However, with the form which we have been on recently, credit to the lads because they didn’t buckle and kept on believing.”

Gray was unhappy with Matlock’s second in the 25^th minute: “I’ll study the footage because I thought it was a blatant foul on the far side which led to the goal – but one thing which I will say is that the incident was 70 yards away from our net! Matlock have committed bodies into the box quicker than us but going in 2-0 down at half time, I thought we were still in the game.”

He continued: “The staff believed that we could get back into the contest – we just wanted the players to do the same – and to be fair we started the second half really well having a couple of half chances early doors. Karl Ross then put a great cross in and Josh Gilchrist has jumped for it and the ball has floated into the net. Now it was game on – we were on the front foot – and we wondered whether to change things but decided against it because we were doing smashing. You could see the lads had put a lot of effort into it with some of the players like Scott Lowery, Marc Ellison and Ben Sampson not having played a lot of minutes recently and we just thought about bringing on fresh legs. Then we’ve had another opportunity in the final third to put the ball into a good area and we’ve hesitated, gone backwards and they have broken on the transition with numbers – something which they are good at. The kid (Conor Washington) has had a shot which has hit the bar and guess what? Their player (Cameron Wilson) has reacted quicker than us and scored.”

In the 92^nd minute, Ashington reduced the leeway and Gray said: “The lads kept on going and we’ve scored with a great strike by Craig Spooner. It’s a fantastic individual goal full of technique and it gave us hope – but I was amazed that there were only four minutes of time added on when there were nine substitutions; a couple of head injuries and a little bit of time wasting.”

Gray is looking for the same desire from his side starting with Saturday’s trip to Ossett United: “It’s consistency that we need to look at and improve on as we go again on Saturday,” he added, “If the players continue to give what they have done tonight then there won’t be any issues. We have three important games coming up in a week and we have got to play with the same intensity. The bottom line is if we do that then we have got a chance in all three (games) to get points but the players have to belief in themselves and if we continue with that desire, our first win should come sooner rather than later.”

By Brian Bennett

Following Ashington’s 4-0 hammering against Consett on Friday night it was a distraught Liam McIvor who emerged from the dressing room to give his postmatch thoughts.

McIvor – the assistant manager at Woodhorn Lane – was bold and frank when he said: “I’m speechless to be honest. It’s not very often where I have come away from football and felt that I could cry. We have got some great players in our team but if you give goals away the way we do then you’ll get absolutely nothing. Had it not been for goalkeeper Tyler Jones we could have been 5-0 down inside the first 10 minutes – and we couldn’t have complained. Two nil was bad enough – the goals coming from long throw ins and where we’ve given the ball away – then the third (goal) has killed us just before half time.”

McIvor admitted that words had been exchanged in the dressing room during the interval:

“It’s not the first time this season where strong words have been said and we can’t continue having these conversations every week,” he said, “We’ve had four great training sessions since the Blyth Town game. We talked about how we got away with it at the end of that match with Tyler Jones’s save getting us a point in a 0-0 draw but realistically we should have been out of sight by half time. Against Blyth Spartans we scored a last minute equaliser after conceding a silly goal; the goals at Dunston were equally as bad – and its becoming a recurring theme every week. What I do know is that you don’t win games when you give away goals in the manner in which we do as a team.”

He continued: “Losing 3-0 at half time at Consett, for the second half you either roll your sleeves up, stick your chest out and jump in the trenches or you roll over. What I will say is that we were much better and although they (Consett) scored at the end, we have got to improve as a team. We can’t concede goals the way we are doing and expect to win games of football and that’s the reality. We don’t do the basics well enough at times and we can dress it us as much as we want but the goals we are giving away are a disgrace.”

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.