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.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner emerged from a gloomy dressing room after the 1-0 defeat against local rivals Whitley Bay on Good Friday – and whilst he shouldered some of the blame for the reverse, the boss reckons his players are suffering from ‘burn out’ at a crucial point in the campaign.

A header from Seahorses defender Elliott Day at the end of the first half proved to be decisive sending the Colliers to defeat and the result also means that the coast club will be the only side to complete the double over the Wansbeck side this term after their 2-1 win at Woodhorn Lane on Boxing Day.

Skinner said afterwards: “It was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance if I’m honest – and I’ll take the lion’s share of the blame for getting a few things wrong today in terms of potentially the starting eleven and potentially the way we wanted to play because it didn’t work. The players do have to take a little bit of responsibility because it’s them who go out onto the pitch and perform – but I just think we are coming to the end of a long tough season and I think our fantastic cup run is starting to take its toll in respect of tired legs. We’re almost crawling towards the finishing line which isn’t great because we are at the business end of the season and hence that’s why in the last couple of games, I’ve tried to make two or three changes just to freshen things up.”

He continued: “In terms of the game itself, I thought it was a pretty even, scrappy affair with not too many clear cut chances. We conceded a really poor goal at a really poor time in first half stoppage time which means they (Whitley Bay) can keep getting their full backs and their wide players to try and double up down the sides and they can play the ball forward knowing that we‘ve got to come out a little bit to chase the game. However the biggest disappointment for me was that we just didn’t threaten their goal anywhere near enough. We had a lot of possession but again we played too safe – we were happy to turn and go back or go inside. What we really need now is for players to stand up and look to make key contributions and drive forward with the ball and look to play key passes that create key chances.”

Skinner added: “Possibly a draw would have been a fair result although our ‘keeper Karl Dryden has made at least one fantastic save early in the second half. I was right behind it and he’s tipped the ball around the post.”

Skinner was furious that his side were not awarded a penalty ten minutes from time when Ben Sampson was bundled over inside the area and said: “It was a penalty for me. I’m not blaming the referee today and he didn’t contribute to the result – albeit his key decision potentially cost us what might have been a point – but the whole standard (of officiating) across the league now is really, really poor. Not only would I take great pleasure in getting Ashington out of this league, I’d take great pleasure in getting away from the standard of officiating (in this league) because it’s not up to what it should be and if we go up a league hopefully the standard will be a little bit better. People look at the Northern Premier League and there are lots of ex Northern League teams in there and it’s becoming a really strong league – and that’s why this club (Ashington) are trying to work hard to get there.” Ashington have three games remaining starting with their final home fixture of the season against Thornaby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday (April 15): “Three points is a must for us,” he said, “We’ll dust ourselves down; train twice this week and prepare for the game.”

By Brian Bennett

Supporters of Ashington FC will have an opportunity to put questions to manager Ian Skinner as the club will hold a ‘talk in’ following their final home match of the season against Thornaby on Saturday April 15.

The Woodhorn Lane boss said: “A couple of people approached me and asked if I would sit down and maybes have a chat with people – and it’s something which I have always been open to do previously so I’m hoping the fans will stay behind after the Thornaby game. In the past we have had a ‘talk in’ as a stand alone event and so not everybody could make it. I have no problem with it at all and it would be nice. I don’t get an opportunity to openly speak to people very often because it takes me a while to get in the clubhouse after games and when I do, lots of people have left.”

He continued: “I just thought that with it being our last home game, why not invite everybody to stay back for some refreshments regardless of where we are and what the situation is (in the league). If people want me to sit there and answer some questions, then I’d like to think I’m a pretty open and honest sort of person and I’ll be happy to answer them. Also it will be a good opportunity to say a ‘thank you’ to the fans who have been brilliant all season – they have come out in their numbers again today against Pickering – and their support was one again fantastic.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington striker Lee Mason said he was ‘massively delighted’ to score the only goal of the game after returning to the starting line up against Pickering Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

As the clock ticked down towards the end of the first half, the 32 year old lashed the ball into the back of the net and he said afterwards: “It wasn’t the best of games – it was a bit scrappy on a heavy pitch – but I was delighted to get back into the team and to score but the most important thing today was us winning the game and getting the three points.”

Newcastle-born Mason described his goal: “As soon as I turned the defender and got back onto my right foot, I was always going to put my laces through it (the ball),” he added, “It was mainly about getting power behind the shot and hitting the target. I was massively delighted to see it go in and the fact that it went in off the bar made it even better.”

The win lifted the Colliers up into second place and Mason said: “We’ve just got to concentrate on trying to win every game and hopefully end up by either winning the league or finishing runners up and going into the play off.”

Ashington manager Ian Skinner said: “I was delighted for Lee (Mason) because he hasn’t really played a lot of football in the last month and he is second top goal scorer at the club. I felt I needed to give him an opportunity and he’s repaid the faith I had in him with a great finish. He made the goal all himself with a run, turn, shot and finish. It proved to be the winner and its funny how little things like that happen in football.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner admitted that Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Pickering Town was by no means a classic – but it was nevertheless a case of job done.

Lee Mason – on his return to the starting line up – scored the goal shortly before the interval and Skinner said: “Obviously the place was a little bit flat after our defeat at Whickham on Tuesday night. We trained on Thursday and you could still see that there was a little bit of a hangover so all we tried to do was to take pressure off everybody and say ‘listen there’s a game of football on Saturday where we need to win. If we play to the levels which we are capable of, we can do that and we’ll worry about what happens after that.”

He continued: “I didn’t think it was a classic. Obviously Pickering are scrapping for their lives in the first division and I think they would have taken a 0-0 result from kick off! We expected that a little bit and we planned for them to sit in a little bit. We certainly dominated the ball and got into some good areas but didn’t really work the goalkeeper enough in the first half. And then to be fair from their corner, we broke really, really quickly and Lee Mason has put us in front with a tremendous goal.”

He went on: “Second half I thought we did everything right apart from adding to the score sheet and it’s a situation where you look at it and you think that although you are dominating the ball and getting into some key areas, whilst it’s only 1-0 there’s always a risk. I had a really attacking bench and you think ‘do I start and put two or three of those players on and see if we can get another goal when really 1-0 wins the game?’ so you are stuck in little bit of a catch 22 situation to be honest. With the pitch being difficult and having played on Tuesday, one or two of the players tired a little bit so I just got some fresh legs on to give us a bit impetus. It would have been nice to have got a second goal but ‘job done’ probably sums it up. We said before the game we needed to win against a team who were content to concede ground and sit in behind the ball and let us have it and even as the game drew on, they didn’t throw too many numbers forward. But what I liked about today is that we’ve bounced back – so credit to the players for that.”

Ashington now go to Whitley Bay on Good Friday and Skinner said: “It’s still about taking one game at a time. I know it’s a cliché but it’s all about on the day in the Northern League – anybody can beat anybody and this league is so unpredictable. We have got four games left and our aim is to take 12 points. Whitley Bay will be a tough game – it’s a tough place to go – and their manager Nicky Gray will have his side fired up. We’ll train on Tuesday and prepare for the clash but we’ll certainly not be looking beyond that.”

Defender Darren Lough has served his suspension and will be available for the encounter at Hillheads which has a 12 noon kick off.

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manage Ian Skinner – bitterly disappointed after his side 3-2 defeat at the hands of Whickham on Tuesday night – admitted that ‘it’s advantage Newton Aycliffe’ for promotion come the end of the season.

After leading at the interval through Karl Ross, the Colliers went 2-1 behind at Whickham to goals from Tom Romano and Scott Robson. Scott Heslop levelled but Romano got his second in stoppage time which sent the Wansbeck outfit to their seventh league defeat of the campaign.

“Tonight was a big game,” he said, “It was a game in hand – a game which had we won would have seen us go level with Newton Aycliffe at the top of the league. We are now three points behind them having played the same number of games so it’s advantage Newton Aycliffe. All we can do now is to look towards Saturday’s home match against Pickering Town, hopefully pick up three points and try to win every game between now and the end of the season. Wherever it puts us, we’ll have to accept because I’m a little bit old fashioned and over a 38 game season, the table generally isn’t wrong.”

As he looked back at the first half at the First Mortgage Glebe Stadium, Skinner commented: “I thought we started the game really, really well. We were bright and played with tempo; created a number of opportunities and probably scored the scrappiest of goals. A couple of chances fell to various people then the ball came out to Karl Ross and it wasn’t the cleanest of strikes but it’s gone in the bottom corner. They all count and to be honest I thought we deserved to be at least 1-0 up at half time.”

Whickham drew level within two minutes of the resumption with a controversial goal with Ashington claiming the ball had gone out of play for a goal kick. Skinner said: “We talked in the dressing room about doing the right things in the second half – but the start was disastrous. Obviously from where I was I couldn’t see if the ball is out (for a goal kick) but there’s a thing in football whereby if you are unsure you can usually tell by player’s reactions. Darren Lough left the ball and ran away from it – if the ball is still on the pitch why would he (Lough) leave it (the ball) and move away from it for there centre forward who started dribbling with it before putting it into the net? Everybody was looking as if to say ‘what’s gone on’ – but the goal was given.”

He added: “I’m proud of our defensive record this season in terms of before tonight’s game we had only conceded 30 goals in 32 league games – less than a goal a game – but anybody who saw our defending for all three goals tonight would be flabbergasted because they are very, very poor goals. There were individual errors within those goals but as a team second half defensively, we were all over the shop. We allowed Whickham to play more direct; we allowed them to play forward and run forward which they do well especially with the slope and we turned the game into a bit of a battle and a scrap and the squad I have assembled, without being disrespectful, aren’t battlers and scrappers – they’re footballers. Consequently it frustrates me when they decide to get into scraps and battles because that doesn’t suit us and that’s probably the reason why we found ourselves 2-1 down. We managed to equalise and when we did that we were the brighter team because we started to pass the ball again and I don’t know how many times in the second half I must have shouted to the players ‘keep passing it’. Then to concede another really poor goal and lose the game is very disappointing.”

For Saturday’s clash against Pickering Town at Woodhorn Lane (3pm), Skinner is hoping Dan Maguire and Andrew Cartwright – who both missed the Whickham game through injury – will be available but defender Darren Lough is ruled out through suspension.

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner thought his sides 1-1 draw with Newton Aycliffe on Saturday was a fair result – but the boss believed a controversial incident just short of the half way mark during the second half was pivotal.

After skipper Ben Harmison had blasted home his 19th goal of the campaign to put the Colliers ahead on the stroke of the interval, defender Darren Lough was penalised for handball and red carded by referee Lewis Hardy with Liam Jarvie confidently scoring from the resulting penalty for the equaliser.

“The game obviously swung on a massive decision in terms of a handball and a red card,” said the boss afterwards, “I need to see the footage back so I can only speak from how far away I was at the time but my initial reaction is that it’s harsh – the ball hasn’t travelled very far – it hasn’t travelled across a lot of distance and the way I looked at it, the ball was kicked at Darren (Lough).”

Before kick off the County Durham outfit held a three points lead at the top of the league from the second placed Colliers who had a game in hand and reflecting on the clash, Skinner added: “If I’m honest, a draw is probably the result neither team wanted – but I thought it was fair and in the final analysis, I wasn’t too disappointed. Newton Aycliffe started the brighter than we did then we grew into the game a little bit and we had a period of about 20 minutes in the middle of the first half where we were the better side. We had a spell where we had four consecutive corners and fashioned one or two chances. Then they (Newton Aycliffe) came back into it a little bit towards the end of the half before we managed to score and go in 1-0 up at the break.”
He continued: “Second half we had a fantastic little chance within a minute after a great move. We got in but the ball just didn’t quite sit right for us and then credit to Aycliffe who came and attacked us and it was nip and tuck. After losing Darren Lough, we really became a little bit ragged. We weren’t quite sure of our shape; and they (Aycliffe) moved us around and also moved the ball well. However a cynical foul on Robbie Dale as he’s stepping through saw a second yellow for their lad (Ethan Wood) and then its 10 v 10. After that, the game probably ebbed and flowed a bit without either team really creating too many chances. I can remember a fantastic header at the back post by Jordan Summerly where the ball was stood up and their player is running onto it and Jordan has managed to back head it away. At the other end, Dean Briggs has cut in from the left and bent one (a shot) just wide whilst Scott Heslop has had a header which has gone just over. We’ve scored from open play and limited Aycliffe who have only scored from a penalty and I said it when we played them at their place – and I said it again before the game – nothing would be won or lost today. It’s a case of as you were only with a game less because we both got a point and our goal differences stay the same.”

He went on: “It was a good game between two good sides. Obviously it was first versus second which attracted a fantastic crowd of 941 on Non League day and they have seen a good game of football with two teams giving it their all.”

Skinner believes his side have got a ‘tougher’ run in to the end of the campaign as opposed to Aycliffe: “I certainly think we’ve got the tougher run in of the two teams,” he said, “If you look at it, we’ve still got to play Whitley Bay and Bishop Auckland who are wanting to be in amongst those top two places and literally everybody we’ve got left to face have something to play for – including Pickering Town and Thornaby who are scrapping for points to stay in the league.”

He continued: “We’ll see how people have come through today’s game and prepare for our away trip to face Whickham on Tuesday night (March 28) but Damen Mullen, Ryan McKinnon, Adam Johnson and Lewis Suddick will all come into contention.”