By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

It was quite a week for Ashington FC as they collected a maximum points haul after recording wins against Guisborough Town (1-0), Redcar Athletic (4-0) and West Auckland (4-0).

But it was also quite a week for their Ben Harmison. Four days after he notched a second half hat-trick in the win over Redcar Athletic, the skipper was on the mark again against West Auckland on Saturday.

However after going in at the interval with a blank score sheet against Redcar, even Harmison – who has now notched 17 goals in all competitions this season – was surprised with his treble: “Naturally I was very happy,” he said, “but the thought of scoring a hat-trick never crossed my mind. The second period was good for us and the lads were putting good balls into the box – and that’s what I need. I scored three – but it was more about the assists and good service which gets you the goals so it was a team effort.”

The 37 year old netted Ashington’s third just after half time against West Auckland on Saturday and said: “We’ve been working on one or two things – and we are quite a hard side to handle with our size and power. Until Tuesday we had had no luck – but the deliveries (into the box) have been great.”

Harmison, reflecting on the last three matches and the forthcoming fixtures, insists the Colliers are merely taking things on a game by game basis: “The aim was to get nine points for the week – and we did that,” he said, “We had to battle with second half performances in all three games but the lads were unbelievable. We are just ticking the games off and it doesn’t matter who we are playing against – as long as we take care of what is in our dressing room and not worry about anyone else. We need to continue to put points on the board and look to catch whoever is in front of us (in the league table). It’s the old cliché of taking one game at a time – then seeing where we are at the end of the season.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was delighted after his side had collected three wins last week – but stressed that everyone within the dressing room are keeping their feet firmly on the ground.

Skinner looked on as the Colliers successfully saw off challenges from Guisborough Town, Redcar Athletic and West Auckland respectively to take over third place in the Ebac Northern League’s first division.

Ashington’s goals in the 4-0 win against West Auckland on Saturday came from Craig Spooner (2), Ben Harmison and Karl Ross – and a beaming Skinner commented afterwards: “We’ve taken nine points from nine; have scored nine goals and haven’t conceded one. I said we faced a big week – and I don’t think I could have asked for much more. We are most definitely going in the right direction – but we are not getting carried away and it’s still a case of taking one game at a time.”

Combining his thoughts from consecutive 4-0 victories (over Redcar Athletic and West Auckland respectively), the boss added: “I was pleased against Redcar on Tuesday night. Although the first half performance wasn’t too disappointing, I just thought we were a little bit slow at times but second half we played a little bit quicker. The challenge today (v West Auckland) was to start the game really quickly whilst the pitch was wet. We knew it (the pitch) was going to be heavy and knew it would cut up later in the game so we needed to try and do all of our best work as early as we possibly could. I thought we began really brightly and dominated the ball – and it was just a case of taking care in the final third which we’ve mentioned on a few occasions. Then we’ve scored with a good strike from the edge of the box by Craig Spooner and the second goal shortly before half time was a brilliantly worked move.”

He continued: “At the interval, we said to the lads, ‘look, let’s keep going the way we are; let’s keep moving the ball; let’s keep doing the right things and play with pace and purpose – and we had the benefit of scoring another two (goals) in the first six minutes of the second half which made the game relatively comfortable. We lost our way a little bit towards the last 15 minutes but that was a combination of a couple of things – tired legs on a heavy pitch and multiple changes (substitutions) and it’s difficult for the lads to then get up to the speed of the game.”

He went on: “Overall the performance today was very, very pleasing and credit to the players who were brilliant to top off what has been an excellent week. We’ll enjoy it and then report back for training to prepare for our away game against Newcastle Benfield on Friday (February 24) – which is never an easy place to go.”

On the team news front, Skinner said: “Lewis Green will come back into contention whilst Adam Johnson could return to the squad after missing the last two games through working commitments. However, we think the game will probably could come too soon for Dean Briggs who was forced off through injury in the game against Redcar.” Friday’s match has a 7.30pm kick-off.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s assistant manager Andy Coyles revealed that a half time pep talk paid dividends after the Colliers had swept Redcar Athletic away with an emphatic 4-0 victory at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

Coyles admitted that it wasn’t the ‘complete performance’ from the Wansbeck side – but said that the players had carried out the instructions given to them in the dressing room: “We just got at it a little bit more,” he commented, “We were disappointed at half time. Granted it was 0-0 and we had had a lot of possession but we just thought we had been quite lethargic in our play and the key was to move the ball a lot quicker and earlier and to be a bit more creative and add a bit more flair in the attacking third – and I thought we did that. Consequently we are extremely pleased. It wasn’t the complete performance by any means in terms of the standards we are trying to set – but if someone had suggested before the game that we would win 4-0, we’d have taken it hands down.”

Coyles reflected on the first period: “We hit the bar and there were a couple of chances just in front of goal; and a couple where we were stretching,” he added, “However we also rode our luck a couple of times as well; one where they (Redcar) have hit the post and the ball has gone along the line and where they had shots from the edge of the box. We created one or two chances in that first half and just wanted to make it six or seven.”

Ashington scored three goals inside quarter of an hour in the second period and Coyles said: “You make your own luck – and we certainly did that after the interval. After Ben Harmison’s opener, super sub Paul Robinson has added a second after a great decision by the gaffer (manager Ian Skinner) to bring him on. We wanted to make a couple of changes because we felt we needed to freshen things up. Obviously we had had a game 72 hours ago (at Guisborough) and we felt some players looked tired – then the other (an injury to Dean Briggs) was forced upon us. But Luke Salmon did well for himself and Craig Spooner did exceptionally well after dropping into that number ten role.”

Coyles added that skipper Harmison deserved his hat-trick: “Ben’s doing really well,” he said, “He’s a threat but it goes to show that it isn’t just about his aerial presence and prowess. He’s good with his feet and that’s why again at times, we were disappointed at Guisborough on Saturday and again tonight that we weren’t using him to his full assets. However, he took his chances exceptionally well and deserves the match ball.”

Ashington are back in action on Saturday (February 18) – with a second home game in five days – as they face West Auckland: “We now concentrate on West Auckland because they are the threat,” added Coyles, “As a group and as a club, we should remember that they inflicted a 4-0 defeat on us at their place which was quite a tough pill to swallow. So we need to focus and reset and just make sure that we can recover in time which I’m sure we will.”

Ashington picked up a few niggles from the game against Redcar Athletic and ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off against the County Durham side, will run fitness tests on Dan Maguire and Dean Briggs.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s new midfielder Lewis Green was happy with his full debut against Guisborough Town on Saturday – but said afterwards that the most important aspect was that the team left Teesside with all three points.

After joining the Colliers from Consett, the 27 year old said: “Obviously I knew Ashington’s assistant manager Andy Coyles (from when I was at Consett) and as soon as he became aware that I was available for transfer, it (Ashington) was the first place I wanted to come. I’m glad to put pen to paper and get back playing.”

He continued: “It was a tough game today which it is whenever you come here (to play Guisborough). It’s a long heavy pitch and I hadn’t played a full 90 minutes since the end of November but I’ve been trying to keep myself ticking over by working out in the gym. I was happy with my debut but the most important thing was that we got the win.”

Green added that he had enjoyed his first appearance for the Colliers and could possibly have scored – if he had been match fit: “I wasn’t quite sure whether I would be starting today or would be on the bench – but I really enjoyed it,” said Hartlepool-born Green, “I had a half chance in the second half but I couldn’t adjust my body due to tired legs – if it had been in the first half it might have been a different outcome!”

He continued: “The few occasions I’ve been to Ashington with Consett and my previous clubs, it’s a good pitch with good fans and a good atmosphere. The games are coming thick and fast – but as a squad, we’ll be looking forward to them.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC defender Andrew Cartwright said he was ‘buzzing’ – after scoring a stunning winner at Guisborough on Saturday which secured his side all three points.

Cartwright’s moment of glory came with only six minutes of the 90 remaining. After playing a one-two with substitute Dean Briggs, he let fly with a thunderous right foot drive from 18 yards which left home ‘keeper Will Cowey helpless: “I’m buzzing,” said a beaming Cartwright afterwards, “I just smacked the ball and hoped for the best. When it flew in I was naturally delighted and with the goal coming near the end to win the game, it felt even better.”

The 28 year old added: “First half they (Guisborough) came out quick but we weathered the storm until half time and there’s no way a team can run that much in the first half and continue in the same vein after the interval. We rolled them over in the second half and deserved the win.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was delighted on Saturday – after a terrific strike from Andrew Cartwright cemented a precious 1-0 win for his side over Guisborough Town.

Over the years, clashes between the two clubs – particularly on Teesside – have always been extremely well fought but Saturday’s contest took on even more significance with Ashington fourth in the first division of the Ebac Northern League table and the Priorymen only a few points behind in fifth.

“I was delighted with the win,” said Skinner afterwards, “It’s a tough place to come and they (Guisborough) are having a good season themselves being just below us in the league table so it was a big three points for us. Yet again the group have bounced back after a disappointing result at Pickering the previous week – which has been a bit of a theme for the season.”

Chances were rare in the first 45 minutes and the boss added: “I don’t think we were quite at it in the first half and I thought it was a scrappy affair. The ball was in the air a lot; there wasn’t a lot of possession or build up play from either team so it was one to forget in terms of it being a contest – but nevertheless we battled; scrapped; worked hard and stuck at it.”

He continued: “At half time we talked about playing to our strengths a little bit more and shortening our game up. Ben (Harmison) has played up front today and I think in the first half we took the easy option on too many occasions of playing early and long and into him – and that’s not really Ben’s game. Anyone who has seen him play will know that he’s better with the ball in and around his feet and chest and such like. Also we needed to move them (Guisborough) around. They played with a back three so whenever a team does that, if you can exploit the space in behind the wing backs and down the outside shoulders of the outside centre backs that’s what is going to cause their system problems – and I think from the first minute (of the second half), you could see the intent that we were going to try and do that. Andrew Cartwright got on the ball; Karl Ross has made a great run from inside to out – we’ve played it up the line and got in and forced a succession of about three or four corners within the first five minutes. I think that really set the tone for the second half because in terms of possession of the ball we really dominated; in terms of getting the ball into key areas we did it far more than Guisborough and I’m just pleased we managed to get something to show for it with a good well worked goal at the end. It was a little ‘give and go’ and we always talk about the full back when he’s played outside to step inside – and fair play to Andrew Cartwright who’s put the ball into the back of the net.”

He went on: “From then on we’ve sort of managed the game well and seen it through. Our ‘keeper Karl Dryden made a great save in the first half but after that, I can’t remember him making any more. However, he did fantastically well when deep into added time, he came and claimed a corner which is what you want your goalkeeper to do when it’s virtually the last kick of the game so credit to him for that.”

Skinner outlined that the win came at the start of what is a ‘big week’ for the Colliers with back to back games against Redcar Athletic (Tuesday February 14) and West Auckland (Saturday February 18) at Woodhorn Lane: “To be honest, I can’t wait to get back playing at ‘home’ again as it seems like an eternity – not just with Ashington but all the other football I’m involved with as we seem to have been on the road forever,” he added.

For Tuesday’s 7.30pm start, Skinner will await fitness reports from striker Dan Maguire – who came off after 33 minutes at Guisborough – as well as Luke Salmon who missed Saturday’s game through illness. However lynchpin defender Darren Lough is a definite non starter: “Darren has broken toes sustained in the Pickering game so we’ll miss him for a few weeks,” added the boss.

By Brian Bennett

Furious Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner said Pickering Town’s late winner on Saturday was unacceptable and that his side are ‘too loose and lackadaisical’ in the final third.

After winning three games on the bounce, the Colliers dominated the game from start to finish but left Mill Lane with empty handed.

The Wansbeck outfit went a goal behind in the first half but just when it looked as if they were going to take at least a share of the spoils through substitute Luke Salmon, the Pikes scored with five minutes remaining.

“Obviously, I’m very disappointed,” said Skinner afterwards, “I thought our first half performance was really poor. People who have been here today may disagree because they have seen an Ashington team who started quite well and were quite bright – and we got in down the right hand side with Craig Spooner and Lewis Suddick. But the story of the recent games is that we get into the final third and are too loose and too lackadaisical and we don’t take enough care of it (the ball). I’ve said this before that it’s the hardest part of the pitch to get into because that’s where goals are scored so players defend that area really, really manfully. We got into great positions two or three times but didn’t take advantage of it and got caught with a classic sucker punch from a free kick. I didn’t think it was a free kick but we haven’t defended a ball into the box and they (Pickering) have scored.”

He continued: “We got in at half time and I didn’t say a great deal because I’m not a manager who screams and shouts or rants and raves but I found it really difficult not to lose my temper – and I’m not somebody who likes to do that. Second half, Pickering are going to do what you would do. They are finding points hard to come by so they sit in and try and invite us on and play a little bit on the break and their forwards worked very hard when they got the ball up to them. They kicked the ball off the pitch as far as they could and again that’s part and parcel of the game. It’s a side of the game that frustrates you because if you are leading and do it, everyone thinks it’s great – but if you’re behind like we were and are trying to get back into the contest, you think it’s terrible.”

He went on: “We got an equaliser and you then think ‘we might just go on to win it.’ But after we had worked hard, taking everything that came at us, to concede again to what was their only shot in the second half is not acceptable and beyond belief to be fair.”

He added: “There’s just something about us in that final third because we’ve gone from being free scoring to struggling to score goals and again I think lots of it comes down to being too loose and slack when we get in there (the final third). Certainly the last 10-15 minutes of the game, our decision making was way off. There were times when we took a shot when it was on to play somebody in and vice versa. But at the minute, it just feels as if I’ve got to get after them a bit (the players) to drive standards up. Coming into today, we had had a run of three wins on the bounce and then all of a sudden, we have this plummet where our standards really, really drop. So now I’ll have to get after them again to get back to the standards they are capable of – and I shouldn’t have to do that with this group. They are better than they are showing at the moment and need to start showing it again – or the only alternative is that we look to bring one or two new faces in and freshen things up and that might be what it needs.”

He continued: “We were playing a team who knew it was going to be a really difficult game playing against what is a good Ashington side. They knew they were going to have to work hard and battle and scrap for everything – and when teams do that at the minute, my team struggle. Coin my favourite phrase ‘hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard’ – I keep hammering that home and today is an example of it.”

Without a fixture in midweek, the Colliers travel to face an in-form Guisborough Town side on Saturday (February 11) before they play Redcar Athletic at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday February 14.

For Saturday’s trip to Teesside, Skinner will await fitness reports from skipper Ben Harmison, Darren Lough, Dan Maguire and Jordan Summerly.

By Brian Bennett

Striker Adam Johnson was the match winner on Saturday as Ashington won their Ebac Northern League first division clash away at Crook Town.

Johnson, who had come on as a substitute for the injured Dan Maguire, struck in the 37^th minute of the clash – but was quick to point out that the Colliers third victory on the trot was the all important factor: “It’s always nice to score but getting the three points was much more important,” said Johnson afterwards, “These away games are always hard especially when we are in quite a run of them but if we can just get through them,  it’ll stand us in good stead to go forward.”

The 26 year old described his goal: “It was a great ball played through by Lee Mason and I just tried to get the first touch out of my feet so as to give me an angle to get the shot away. The ‘keeper (Ronan Makepeace) spread himself and I just put the ball through his legs.”

Johnson added that his performance was just ‘routine’: “I get up front and graft – that’s what I do best,” he said, “I try and put the pressure on high up the pitch and put the opposition under the cosh. Pace is my biggest attribute so I look to threaten in behind all the time.”

Blyth-based Johnson believes the Colliers will hand out a big defeat in the coming weeks: “We kept plugging away today and created a lot of chances including hitting the bar twice,” he said, “One day everything is going to click and we are going to hammer someone but we are just having a bit of a run in front of goal at the moment – other than that I think our performance was really good today.” Ashington’s assistant manager Andy Coyles said: “AJ (Adam Johnson) deserves a lot of credit. I thought his work rate was exceptional; his first touch to get the ball out of his feet before he let loose (for his goal) was excellent and he just caused the central defenders numerous problems. Yes he has come off – and sometimes that looks bad when a player has been ‘subbed on’ then ‘subbed off’ – but it was merely a tactical reason in the final three or four minutes and AJ deserved all of the plaudits which he received when he came off so fair play to him. His attitude is phenomenal both in training and in the games – he’s scored the winner today and let’s not forget that he also scored the clincher for us against Penrith three weeks previously.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington Football Club’s assistant manager Andy Coyles was naturally delighted on Saturday night after a goal by substitute Adam Johnson had secured the Colliers all three points against Crook Town – and also a third consecutive win.

Johnson’s all important strike came in the 37^th minute and proved to be decisive as the Wansbeck side returned to winning ways only three days after suffering the disappointment of exiting the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup following their 3-1 reverse against Heaton Stannington at Grounsell Park.

Whitehaven-born Coyles said: “That’s three league wins on the spin and it was a comprehensive result. I thought we were in control of the game for the majority and any wave that Crook had, we cancelled it out quite quickly and effectively. Although our ball retention was ‘off’ by our own standards in the first half, we improved massively in the second. But we came here to get three points and when you look at results today where Whitley Bay have dropped points it’s a bonus. I thought everybody contributed today in some way, shape or form and there were some really pleasing performances there today. However, we’ve bounced back after a really disappointing result in midweek and we’re just happy to walk away from Crook with a clean sheet and overall what was a solid performance.”

The defeat against Heaton Stannington ended Ashington’s hopes for cup silverware this season and Coyles added: “We can focus solely on the league now – there are no other competitions to think about. We’ve got 16 games left but there’s still a long, long way to go. A few weeks ago I think people were getting carried away with where we could be but it’s a very long season. We’ve got to keep plugging away and hope we can try and get ourselves a cushion between now and the final quarter of the season because we’ve got some tough fixtures coming up – but if we can continue to put in performances like today and walk away with 1-0 wins each week then we’ll take them all day long.”

The 37 year old continued: “It has to be the old cliché of taking one game at a time – and that’s the way it should be. You shouldn’t be thinking about any other fixture and that’s what we are doing with our squad. We’ve got a big pool of players – a few with niggles – and all we are looking to do is put our best team out each week and then worry about the next game afterwards.” Ashington made five changes to the starting line up from Wednesday and Coyles added: “A few players were selected on merit because they worked exceptionally hard in training which should be about getting into good routines for the game and about fighting for your spot to get in that starting eleven. Today (at Crook), two or three players got in off the back of their performances and attitudes in training.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner saw his side go out of the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup on Wednesday night after they went down 3-1 against Heaton Stannington at Grounsell Park.

With a home tie beckoning for the winners of the clash, a quickfire start from the hosts – where they scored twice in the opening quarter hour – proved pivotal. Then after dominating the play, the Colliers conceded a third in the dying embers of the contest.

Skinner said: “I thought the three goals we conceded were very disappointing. Probably for about 70 minutes of the game we controlled it but the final third let us down. Obviously I’m disappointed but there are also mixed feelings to be fair. There were some things which I was really, really disappointed with whilst there were others which I was quite pleased with.”

Talking about the negative side, Skinner said: “I was disappointed with the way we started the game. We knew when we came here that they (Heaton Stannington) would come flying out at us; we knew that their threat was the two players with pace who they like to leave high (up the pitch) and play quickly into them. But after five minutes, we conceded a poor goal which was avoidable. We know the lad who has gone down the left is right footed so we know he wants to come inside – yet we’ve allowed him to do that and it opens the goal up and fair play to him (Konner Lamb), he finished it really well. Then the second goal is a mistake. Andrew Cartwright gave the ball away in a bad area – we got punished for it – and that puts us 2-0 down.”

However, the boss was pleased with the response from his side: “From that moment on for the rest of the half we actually came to life a little bit. We moved the ball and kept it better and caused them all sorts of problems – and we penned them in for probably the last 25 minutes of the half. We got the penalty which I didn’t think there was any doubt about and it was a fantastic finish from Damen Mullen from the spot – and if anybody wants to know how to take a penalty, I’ll send him the video!”

He continued: “We got in at half time and really gave the players a clear emphasis on what we expected from them in the second half in terms of how we wanted them to play and again I thought we dominated the ball. I think they (Heaton Stannington) only got into our half two or three times but to their credit, they battled and scrapped and made it difficult for us whilst we got into some fantastic areas but were too sloppy in the final third.”

The home side added a third goal in the closing minutes and Skinner said: “Again I was really disappointed because if anybody was going to score it should have been us. When they (Heaton Stannington) got a free kick, we know the lad Cassidy has got a decent delivery. Our ‘keeper Kyle Hayes, has made a fantastic save to be fair but they were first to react to it (scoring from the rebound), which probably sums up our night. We are out of a competition now where we would have had a home semi final tie but we wish Heaton Stannington all the best.”

He concluded: “We will train tonight (Thursday) as we prepare for our away clash in the league against Crook Town on Saturday but Andrew Cartwright and Yannick Aziakonou are both rated doubtful.”