By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner admitted that promotion to the Northern Premier League ‘hadn’t sunk in yet’ – following his sides emphatic 3-0 win over Glossop North End in the Inter step play off contest at Surrey Street on Saturday.

“The players have got this club out of the Northern League today,” he said, “Its 55 years since Ashington were last in the NPL and I’m delighted for everybody. A few people said to me this week about the nerves going into the play offs whilst others commented that its sometimes the best way because its the occasion of a one-off game and you know at the end of it what the outcome is.”

He continued: “First and foremost, credit has got to go to the players because they have done the job which I challenged them to do. The aim at the start of the season was to get promotion. I seriously thought we could achieve that and we’ve done it – but I’m not sure it’s sunk in yet! Each and every one of the players deserves a massive pat on the back. Without being disrespectful, our lads were comfortable and convincing winners today and the only disappointing thing was that we were only 1-0 up at half time for all of our good play.”

He added: “Second half it’s a little bit of a stick or twist situation. We wanted to stay on the front foot and we talked about the quality we had showed in the first half. We wanted to score a second and make things a bit more comfortable for ourselves whilst they (Glossop) were always going to have a go. They did so for five to ten minutes but our second goal settled us down followed by the third and then I’m thinking ‘we should get the job done.”

On the eve of the game, England and Durham’s Ashington-born pace bowler Mark Wood sent a good luck message to the club via a video link whilst on the day, Tommy Charlton, brother of Bobby and the late Jackie, travelled to cheer the Colliers on.

Skinner said: “I’ve got to mention our supporters. We have averaged attendances of over 500 at Woodhorn Lane – which is phenomenal. They have backed us all the way (including our run in the FA Cup) as well as on our travels plus here again today. I’m just delighted for everybody – the town; the club plus individuals and volunteers who give up numerous hours like Gav Perry, Brian Robson and Alan Brown. I’d also like to give a special mention to Neil Cooper and Lee Anderson – people who didn’t quite end the journey with us. They were both part of it (the journey) but unfortunately for various reasons didn’t see it through – but they helped us to almost the half way point so they can be proud that they were part of this.”

Poignantly he concluded: “We have lost some really key people and big supporters this year which is always sad. I’ll not name them all individually in fear of missing one or two but for all those who we have lost – and it seems to have been a tough season with probably five that I can think of – hopefully they will have been looking down on us and have helped to carry us through.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner has said that the pressure is on opponents Glossop North End when the two sides meet in the inter step play off clash in Derbyshire on Saturday.

Glossop finished third from bottom of the Northern Premier League West Division and Skinner said: “It’ll be a decent drive down on the coach in what is a one off game where anything can happen. We’ll prepare properly; we’ll go down there and hopefully give a good account of ourselves. However, it’s a one of those situations where the pressure is on them. They play at a higher level than us but we will look at the fact that we’ve won a lot of football matches this season whilst they will not have won too many – that’s why they are in the position they are in – and we’ll try and use that to our advantage.”

He continued: “As for my group of players – I question them; I challenge them; I sometimes get after them and it’s just because I personally feel that we are the best team in the league. However, I also believe that at the end of the season the table doesn’t lie and it says we are the second best team in the league to Newton Aycliffe. They went on a fantastic run and won 20, drew one and lost one of their last 22 games so fair play to them and they were are worthy champions.”

He went on: “I’m delighted that we’ve still got a shot at promotion. The players have rested up a little bit this week – but we’ll be doing some homework on our opponents with one game of our season to go.”

Meanwhile Ashington’s Paul Robinson and Kyle Hayes have already faced Glossop. Robinson was in the triumphant Whitley Bay side that beat the Peakites 2-0 in the 2009 FA Vase final at Wembley. The midfielder also played in a pre season friendly for the coast outfit against Glossop three years later – on the same day as goalkeeper Hayes played as an outfield player!

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC boss Ian Skinner, caught up in the emotions after watching his side reach the play off final following their 1-1 draw against Bishop Auckland on Saturday, lauded his squad of players – but also gave the highest praise to the club’s supporters: “The players were excellent and I’ve rightly given all of them pats on the back,” he said, “but as for our supporters – I thought they were brilliant once again. Listen I can mention them (the supporters) every single day of every single week because they are tremendous. They came down here (Bishop Auckland) in their numbers and made loads of noise again today and I’m delighted that the lads made sure that they went across to see them after the final whistle. I also made a point of going to see them myself and I tried to shake as many hands and high-five as many of them as I could just to say thank you. Their support is really appreciated and it really does make a difference.”

The boss has called on the fans for one last push in the play off final on Saturday (April 29). He added: “My message to the supporters would be: ‘there’s one game to go – if you can get on the road and follow us again and if we can get over the line, we’ll have one heck of a party on the way home.”

Tickets for the club coaches to Glossop North End can be purchased on the following link:

https://ashingtonafc.ktckts.com/event/asn2223ispo/coach-travel-inter-step-playoff-match

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Skipper Ben Harmison said the Ashington players were always confident they would score in their crunch match against Bishop Auckland on Saturday which finished 1-1.

Craig Gott scored with a penalty for the two blues on the half hour mark before Andrew Cartwright levelled matters in the 62^nd minute when he was also on target from a spot kick: “We just had to get the ball down and play and we knew that the goal would come,” said Harmison, “We knew we needed to score but we had to be patient and Carty (Andrew Cartwright) has got us back on terms.”

Ashington led Bishops by two points before the game and knew a draw would cement their place in the play off: “Our aim was to come to Bishops and make sure we had another game next week in the play off,” he said, “We didn’t come here just for a point – but we were happy to take one! I thought both teams probably got a bit nervous. The first half was a little scrappy but after the break, I thought we absolutely destroyed them and on another day could have scored four or five. We’ve had loads of chances but the Bishops ‘keeper (Ryan Catterick) has had a great game.”

Harmison – Ashington’s top scorer with 22 in all competitions – missed two glorious opportunities himself to add to his tally in the second period and said: “For the first, it was a great ball in from Jordan (Summerly) and I just wanted to make contact for the header and go back across goal but the ‘keeper got it. The second one, Scott Heslop has put me in and I should have taken a touch really.”

Harmison thought three games in a week took its toll on the players: “I was really, really tired,” he said, “We showed heavy legs on a heavy pitch and the way we finished was probably because we had had a game on the Tuesday and a bit of fatigue had set in – but we got over the line and we’re all delighted.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Andrew Cartwright confidently stroked home a penalty which booked Ashington their place in the play off final this coming Saturday – then the 28 year old defender said he’s a stranger to taking spot kicks!

Trailing to a first half penalty converted by Bishop Auckland skipper Craig Gott, Ashington simply had to get back on level terms as a minimum requirement if they wanted to keep their promotion hopes alive and Cartwright’s right foot did the trick.

“I don’t normally take them (penalties) but we’ve had a few takers this season and when we got the award, I stepped forward and was delighted when the ball hit the back of the net,” said the Newcastle-born defender, “We couldn’t believe it when the penalty was given against us in the first half but we’ve got a group of players who have got character and we know that if we go behind in a game, we can come back.”

Gosforth-based Cartwright – who runs his own football coaching company – could have added a second near the end with a free-kick: “The ball was going in but the ‘keeper (Ryan Catterick) made a great save,” he said, “To be honest I thought we deserved to win comfortably in the end because we played really well and had loads of chances in the second half to put the game to bed. They (Bishop Auckland) dug in to be fair but I just think we have got so much quality and when our attitude and desire is right then nobody should beat us. Second half we were fantastic and some of our football and some of the little link up play on the edge of the box to get people ‘in’ was excellent.”

Cartwright said getting to the play off final is amazing: “We are looking forward to the game,” He said, “It means everything to the players, the club and the community so hopefully we can kick on and take the club out of this division.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was ecstatic on Saturday after his side had secured a 1-1 draw against Bishop Auckland.

The result saw the Colliers march into a one-off play off place this Saturday – and what’s more they thoroughly deserved it.

Skinner said afterwards: “I’m delighted because we achieved our objective. That was to make sure we had another game left this season (play off) in a match which could potentially see us promoted and move out of the Northern League. However I’m disappointed that we haven’t won today’s match to be honest when you look at the chances we had. Their goalkeeper (Ryan Catterick) has made three brilliant saves and on top of that we have missed three gilt edged chances.”

The boss was aggrieved after a penalty was given against his outfit on the half hour: “I didn’t we started particularly well,” he said, “We played a little bit too direct in the first 10-15 minutes but when you come away from home, you just want to play your way into the game. It was a bit of a nothing clash although I thought Paul Robinson had a great little chance where they (Bishop Auckland) got a block on. Then we went a goal down to a penalty and I thought it was a poor decision but it’s a one of them which you see in the modern game. Robbie Dale has stood with his hands above his head as if to say I’m not touching him (the player) and not going anywhere and I’ll be honest, when the referee blew his whistle, the first thought in my head was that the player – who had already been booked – could be sent off. When the referee gave a penalty I couldn’t quite believe it to be fair and then when Andrew Cartwright was sin binned for remonstrating about the decision, I just thought ‘here we go again.”

Skinner was happy with how his side played during Cartwright’s absence: “For that ten minutes period when we were down to ten men, we actually played our best football in the first half because we knew we had to be patient in the build up and had to play and move the ball,” he said, “The first half petered out although they (Bishop Auckland) had a spell at the end where they looked threatening.”

The boss thought his side were the better outfit after the break: “We didn’t say an awful lot at half time other than that we had 45 minutes to right the wrongs,” he said, “We wanted our build up to be more patient and actually to get back to doing what we’ve done all season – which is to get the ball down; move it and pass it and maybes not fall into the trap of going too long too early. I thought second half we were the better team. We controlled possession better than they (Bishop Auckland) did; we created numerous chances and on another day they couldn’t have argued if we had ran out three, four or 5-1 winners.”

He added: “Obviously for the last five minutes of normal time – plus the five which the referee said were going to be added on – things are going to become a little bit hairy and scary because they (Bishop Auckland) knew any goal would have seen them go into the play off whilst we knew that as long as we didn’t concede then we were through. It was hands to the pump really in terms of making sure we defended because they were always going to throw the ball forward in the hope that something would drop and they had a half chance which flashed just wide. We got Dan Maguire ‘in’ and the ‘keeper has made a great save again but we were just hoping to hold out – and we have done that.”

Meanwhile defensive lynchpin Darren Lough was forced to leave the field in stoppage time with a facial injury and Skinner said: “I’ll need to check on him for next Saturday and we wish him all the best in his recovery.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ben Harmison scored a ‘complete’ hat trick – his second treble of the season – for Ashington in the 6-0 rout over Tow Law on Tuesday night then said that the win was the key feature.

The skipper – who netted with a header followed by one with either foot – took his tally of goals in all competitions for the season to 22 and commented afterwards: “I like scoring and it was nice to get a hat-trick but the win was the key thing. Tow Law is a hard place to come to but I thought the lads were brilliant and it was probably one of our best performances of the season. We didn’t give them (Tow Law) time to get set with our energy in the final third as we pressed everything and won the ball back. We were trying to be a bit more direct so it was a case of hitting the two big lads up front early – Scott Heslop and myself – and to try to get balls into the box. We did that all night and we were quite happy that if we got chances we would put them away.”

He continued: “Our link up play was better but it’s easy to do that when you have got willing runners which we had throughout. They gave us energy as they ran past the forwards from midfield – players like Jordan Summerly, Craig Spooner, Ben Sampson and Dean Briggs. From my point of view, it’s nice when I can sometimes ‘drop in’ and flick the ball on or hold it up and play it them through for them. The lads showed hunger and desire to get forward and people got their rewards – like Karl Ross near the end. He popped up and scored and you’re not going to do that unless you get into the box.” He concluded: “To score six up here at Tow Law is a great effort from the lads – and hopefully it’ll be a massive confidence booster for us ahead of Saturday’s game at Bishop Auckland.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner emerged from the dressing rooms on Tuesday night wearing a broad smile on his face – and described his sides performance in the 6-0 win over Tow Law as being ‘one of the best’ of the season.

Skipper Ben Harmison scored a hat-trick with goals from substitute Lee Mason, Karl Ross and a Paul Robinson ‘special’ making up the tally in a totally dominant display.

“I think tonight will be up there as being one of the best displays of the season – and not just because we scored six goals,” said Skinner afterwards, “People will look at the result and think ‘you must have played well because you have scored six’ – but despite the scoreline we played very well indeed! I just thought from the first whistle the lads were ‘at it’ – both in and out of possession. We looked really bright on the ball; everybody wanted it (the ball); we had an enthusiasm about ourselves and on top of that we were creating chances. Obviously scoring within the first eight minutes made it an even better start but on the transition when we lost the ball, we must have won it back pretty much every time within a couple of passes. The lads moved the ball from side to side brilliantly; Paul Robinson and Jordan Summerly linked up well as did Scott Heslop and Ben Harmison whilst Andrew Cartwright was prominent and we just looked as if we were bang at it. So full credit to the players really because that first half is probably as good as we have played (all season) and it looked like we had our spark back from earlier in the campaign – and the pleasing thing for me was that we kept at it as well.”  

He continued: “At half time, we talked about being 3-0 up – which meant we didn’t have to go chasing for goals but if opportunities presented themselves to try and add to the tally and to be ruthless. We came out for the second half and were equally as hungry. Tonight we brought 18 players so obviously I had to leave two out of the squad altogether and four of the five substitutes got on. However for the 11 who started, I cannot speak highly enough of them because Tow Law isn’t an easy place to come to. On Saturday at Bishop Auckland, we are going to play on one of the best pitches in the league and if we move the ball like we did tonight then I’ll be delighted.” He concluded: “Before the game tonight, we tried to keep things low key. We talked about it just being another game and that nothing would be decided. We encouraged the lads to enjoy it and to play with a bit of freedom – and I think they did all of that.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Assistant manager Andy Coyles praised the Ashington players for a job ‘well done’ – following their comfortable 3-0 victory over Thornaby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

Ahead of kick-off, the result was crucial for both clubs. Woodhorn Lane boss Ian Skinner had described it as being a ‘must win’ game if his side wanted to push for a play off spot whilst the Teessiders needed maximum points from their final two games to have any chance of avoiding the relegation trap door.

The Wansbeck side got off to a great start with Craig Spooner giving them the lead after ten minutes then early in the second period, Spooner – with a beauty – and Paul Robinson added quickfire goals to cement the win.

Had it not been for an outstanding display between the posts by Thornaby’s experienced ‘keeper Robert Dean, Ashington would have scored a lot more, such was their dominance and craft at carving out opportunities.

A delighted Coyles said: “I thought there was a lot of pressure riding on the game because we knew what we needed to do in order for us to keep in contention for a play off final spot. We also realised how important the game was for Thornaby knowing that they needed to win their last two games to stand any chance of staying up – and sometimes that can be a dangerous animal to be up against. However, as far as I was concerned, I thought we dealt with the pressure really well and it was a job ‘well done’ by the lads. It was also our last home game of the season and we wanted to put on a performance for our supporters who have come out in their numbers again today and who have been absolutely superb all season.”

Coyles was equally pleased with Spooner’s early opener: “Taking the lead in the tenth minute calmed the nerves and settled us down,” he added, “It allowed us to play – and for the first 20 minutes we were excellent. We spoke to the lads at half time because after that opening 20 minutes, we dropped our standards. We allowed the pace of the game to drop and it took us a while to get back into it.”

He continued: “Second half the lads turned it on once again and for the first quarter of an hour were brilliant. It was nice to see a bit of fluidity to our passing and I also thought the energy levels from start to finish and the desire to win the ball back was exactly what we wanted.” He concluded: “I’d like to think that we put on a good show for the fans today. The scoreline could have been a lot more – but you can’t be greedy.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

After being handed a starting place in Ashington’s side to face Thornaby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday, Paul Robinson had an extra-special afternoon to remember.

The Colliers won the game 3-0 – with the Whitley Bay-born midfield maestro notching his side’s third just past the hour mark before he spotted his 12 year old son Charlie standing behind the goal and was able to give him a hi-five. However, unbeknown to Robinson senior, club photographer Ian Brodie captured the moment on camera to provide the family with a lovely keepsake memory.

Reflecting on the 62^nd minute, Robinson said: “First of all it was brilliant play on the right by Lee Mason, Andrew Cartwright and Dan Maguire. Maguire fired the ball across and the way it came to me, I knew I was going to touch it out of my feet and feign to shoot and drag it back onto my left foot. I didn’t connect that cleanly – but the shot was accurate, kissed the post and went in.”

He continued: “Charlie has come to loads of our games this season. He sometimes sits in the stand but for the start of the second half I picked him out behind the goal and when I scored it was a great feeling to be able to celebrate with him. Not many players get the opportunity to do that and the photograph taken by Ian Brodie is unbelievable. It was a lush little moment – and it’s a memory which our family will cherish forever.”

However Robinson – a football coach with Pro Direct Academy – had been the centre of attention early in the match when he came close to scoring – from the half way line!

The 38 year old recalls: “I knew the Thornaby ‘keeper (Robert Dean) plays quite high. When he slipped after kicking the ball out, it sat up for me and I didn’t really think about it – but I couldn’t have made a sweeter connection. I thought it had a massive chance (of going in) and it would have been nice if it had dropped in – but I was unlucky. On reflection maybe I should have hit the ball a little bit harder so it bounced into the goal instead of over it!”

Robinson had opportunities to add to his single strike later in the contest – but was denied by Dean’s brilliance: “We had loads of chances but Dean was unbelievable,” he said, “I could and should have had another two which the ‘keeper has tipped over and when I got to my car afterwards, even Charlie said ‘Dad, you could have scored a hat-trick!’”

Robinson – based at Seaton Delaval – added: “I’m always ready to play whenever the manager (Ian Skinner) needs me. Because of my age, sometimes I know there are games which won’t suit me and others which will but at Ashington, it’s a brilliant club with a brilliant squad.”