By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner – appreciative of the support his team receives from the Woodhorn Lane fans – has asked them to again come out in force and ‘raise the roof’ for his sides top of the table clash against Bishop Auckland at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

The Colliers attracted another whopping attendance of over 500 for Tuesday’s Ebac Northern League first division clash with Whickham – which certainly didn’t go unnoticed by the Colliers boss: “The backing was brilliant and they sang throughout which was great,” he said, “Now we want them back on Saturday to be equally as vocal and equally as supportive of the team and to raise the roof.”

The 4-1 win over the Lang Jacks propelled Skinner’s outfit – who are languishing behind with their league fixtures due to their exciting and prolonged run in the Emirates FA Cup – up to fourth in the table.

Skinner reckons Saturday’s mouth watering contest will develop into a ‘very good game’ – but says the club will be treating it just like any other: “Yes, it’s a clash between two teams at the top – but from our point of view, it’s just another match in our programme,” he said, “We obviously want to get three points from every home game because if you can do that, and then win or pick points up on the road, the law of averages and statistics tell you that you’ll be there or thereabouts at the right end of the division come the end of the season. Certainly it’ll be a tough encounter because Bishops have got a fantastic squad which they have added too recently. I’m sure it’ll be a very good game between two very, very good squads and two very good footballing sides and we are all looking forward to it.”

Skinner added “Paul Robinson, who has been on the treatment table recently, has got a chance to come into the squad and I also need to hear reports from one of two others but Dean Briggs and Robbie Dale are both ruled out.”

Kick-off is 3pm.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner emerged after the 4-1 victory over Whickham at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night and said that although his side were not at their fluent best, he was nevertheless delighted with back to back victories following Saturday’s 2-0 result over Thornaby.

The Colliers led 2-0 at half time with goals from Ben Harmison and Andrew Cartwright and when Lang Jacks defender Garon Garside put through his own net in the first minute after the interval it was just the start the home side wanted.

Whickham skipper Dale Burrell reduced the arrears in the closing stages before substitute Craig Spooner scored a stoppage time fourth for Skinner’s side.

“It was good to get another win and put another three points on the board,” said Skinner afterwards, “We knew it would be a tough game because Whickham work hard for each other and have got good team spirit and we knew they would come here and make it difficult for us but I thought we started the game really brightly. Within the first minute or so, we forced them into an error and that helps if I’m honest because it sets the tone and Ashington people think ‘yes we are on this tonight.’

He continued: “We just struggled to find our rhythm but when we did, we scored a fantastic goal following a great move which we had worked on with Ben Harmison being in the side and playing upfront. We talked about getting them to work on opposites and delivering the ball into that space in behind the back lines because now if teams want to come and sit deep, he gives us a different option and if they (the opposition) want to drop even deeper to prevent that ball then we’ll play in front of them. Then Ashington did what Ashington do – and went and gave a penalty away which I thought was really, really harsh if I’m honest. The second bit of football we played, we played out well and broke the lines. We attacked with numbers onto them which brought the foul and from Andrew Cartwright’s delivery obviously the ball took a massive deflection for the goal.”

He went on: “We went in leading 2-0 at half time and without being disrespectful, I thought it was relatively comfortable. There was a period of about ten minutes where we kept the ball and moved it and we talked about keeping clean sheets and defending properly throughout the game and if opportunities presented themselves we’d try to take them but if they don’t and we manage the game properly, we win the game. We got the perfect start to the second half really. We were quick out of the blocks again and forced them into a mistake which unfortunately for them has seen the lad (Garon Garside) put the ball into his own goal. After that, I thought the game petered out a little bit. We had two or three half chances where we’ve turned the ball over in and around their final third but maybes haven’t quite fashioned chances. Ben Harmison has had a superb header at the back post and the ‘keeper has made a great save – again from a good move where Karl Ross has gone down the wing and put the ball in early.”

He added: “We then lost our way a little bit and became very disjointed and very messy with Whickham coming into the game a little bit more. They stuck Jamie Dunn up front and bashed the ball up to him then Dale Burrell scored with a decent free kick for them – but if I’m honest I think we should have done better to defend it.”

He concluded: “We kept going right to the death and the ball has dropped to Craig Spooner and he’s lifted it over the keeper with a great finish. We’ve won 4-1 and if anybody had said that to me before the game, I’d have taken it. We were able to take key players off after an hour and I don’t think you can ask for a lot more. It’s now back to back wins and although we are not quite playing as fluid and as free flowing as we did earlier in the season, what we are doing is still picking up results and that’s what matters in the division.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s Robbie Dale said the Colliers have got a ‘big point to prove’ when they face back to back home league games against Whickham and Bishop Auckland this week.

The Lang Jacks visit Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday (November 1) for a 7.30pm start whilst the clash against Ebac Northern League leaders Bishop Auckland (3pm) should be a cracker on Saturday (November 5).

Speaking after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Thornaby, Dale said: “We reckon we are a good team and we’ve proved it again today (at Thornaby). We’ve got to be confident because we are at home and I think we’ve got a big point to prove this week because last weeks two home games weren’t good enough – so these two have to be. Whickham and Bishop Auckland will be two good sides to play. Both outfits will come and work and both are quality teams who have got good players. We will be able to welcome at least three players back into the squad for Tuesday’s clash with Ben Harmison, Adam Johnson and Damen Mullen all available which adds to the depleted squad we had today (at Thornaby).”

Cramlington-based Dale hopes the Woodhorn Lane crowd will provide noisy backing: “If the crowd can get behind us that would be fantastic,” he said, “but we’ve got to give them something to shout about – we can’t just rely on them to boost us. We’ve got to begin well – and I thought that was key today (at Thornaby) because we started on the front foot and if we can replicate that, the football I always think will take care of itself. We have got good enough players but it’s also about work rate and effort – and that’s what we got today.”

By Brian Bennett

Ryan McKinnon scored his first goal for Ashington at Thornaby on Saturday – and said that he hopes it will be the first of many!

As the Colliers exciting run in the Emirates FA Cup captured the attentions of the Wansbeck public before it came to an end with a 3-1 defeat against National League North side King’s Lynn in the fourth qualifying round, Hexham-born McKinnon had been left kicking his heels on the sidelines over the past couple of months – as the defender had played for Tow Law against the Wansbeck outfit in the preliminary round of the competition.

“It’s been a frustrating couple of weeks for us with a few poor results in the league,” said the 26 year old, “We needed a reaction – and I think we came up with a performance today (at Thornaby) where we’ve got a clean sheet and three points. I thought we played better in the first period as the second half wasn’t pretty and was a scrap – but we showed we could deal with it and hold our own and to be honest I don’t think they (Thornaby) had any real chances.”

McKinnon’s goal on the 22 minutes mark was a bullet-like header and he said: “I’d like to think it will be the first of many! It was a great cross in from Andrew Cartwright but then all the deliveries today to be fair and every week are quality and are just asking for someone to get on the end of them. I was rapid, getting across the front post and I was really pleased when the header went in. Obviously we’ve got a few big lads in our side so we should score more goals from set plays.”

The Consett-based lynchpin added: “To be honest I’ve been chomping at the bit to play from the start so it was nice to be back in the team and get 90 minutes in my legs and I felt strong. I’ve played the game long enough now to know what I need to do to keep myself ticking over so its not a case of if I get thrown in, not being ready for it. I felt good today although for the last ten minutes I felt my legs a bit – but that was because it was a heavy pitch.”

By Brian Bennett

Robbie Dale described Ashington’s 2-0 victory over Thornaby at Teesdale Park on Saturday as ‘job done.’

Ryan McKinnon notched his first goal for the club midway through the first half before a thunderbolt strike from Lee Mason 13 minutes from full time sealed the result.

Newcastle-born Dale – currently sidelined with an injury – was giving his postmatch verdict in his new role as being a member of Ian Skinner’s management team.

He said: “Squad wise we were short handed today so the result was very much a case of job done. We also needed to bounce back because last week wasn’t good enough and we owed ourselves a performance to prove a point. We knew we had to come here and be strong. We also got a clean sheet and it’s been a while in the league since we had one of them – so all in all, it was the perfect away performance really.”

Dale continued: “We asked the lads to put a shift in and I think everybody’s done what was asked of them today. Liam Smith has come in for his first game in a while. We asked him to do a deep role and I thought he played really well whilst Karl Ross was outstanding in midfield and the two centre halves (Ryan McKinnon and Darren Lough) were class. They marshalled everything – nothing got past them – and they had everybody organised. ‘Keeper Karl Dryden hasn’t had a save to make and that’s how good the defence has been today. I thought they (the defence) were screened really well because the midfield four in front of them ran themselves into the ground. But we asked the two centre halves plus Jordan Summerly and Andrew Cartwright to do a little bit more defensively to help out and they did that.”

Dale heaped praise onto the two goal scorers Ryan McKinnon and Lee Mason: “Ryan is a very good player who attacks the ball well at both ends,” he said, “He nearly scored from the previous corner and as soon as he got his head on the next one, I knew it was going in. For the second goal from Lee Mason – that’s who you want the ball to fall too. Ben Sampson drove the ball and committed the man which we had asked him to do and as soon as it goes onto Mason’s right foot, he lashes it and it’s a perfect strike – although I didn’t expect him to put it into the top corner!”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner pulled no punches when he gave his postmatch verdict following his sides 1-0 defeat against Heaton Stannington at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

“It was a tough watch at times today,” he said, “Firstly, I don’t think we (Ashington) played anywhere near the levels which we are capable of whilst for the second, we looked like a team who have had a tough week, with a long trip in the FA Cup followed by two home games in quick succession. I thought one of the positives was a good 15-minute spell in the first half where we moved the ball quick and caused them some problems. It was during this spell that we created our best chances including the penalty. Obviously we missed the penalty which was a big turning point in the game and Dean Briggs has hit the post from the rebound when really he should score. They’ve then broke and scored and for a team that had to this point sat deep, to give them a 1-0 lead, we knew it would be difficult afternoon and so it proved.”

He continued: “They’ve put 11 men in their half, and they’ve said ‘come and break us down’ – and today we couldn’t because we haven’t moved the ball quick enough; we haven’t passed it well enough, and we’ve turned the ball over too cheaply. So fair play to Heaton Stannington – they go away with three points in what was not a game for the purists. But how many times have we seen that this season? I keep saying to our lads that teams are going to come here and put a large number of players behind the ball, because if teams come here and open up and play football against us, we know we’ve got the quality to cause them lots and lots of problems. However today it just didn’t happen and it probably started to become ‘one of those games’ where you just think ‘it’s not going to be your day’ and ‘it’s not going to go in’ – whether the ball has dropped to the wrong person or it’s took a bobble or we’ve been leaning back or they’ve had 11 men in the box from corners and when it’s bounced, they’ve thrown their bodies on the line.”

He went on: “You could see what it meant to them today to hold onto their 1-0 lead, and we have to accept that today we haven’t quite done enough to break them down”. It will be nice to have a week off in terms of fixtures and for us to rest both mentally and physically following a tough week. We will however be back out on the training pitch twice this week to prepare for next Saturdays trip to Thornaby, where we will look to get back to winning ways in what will be another difficult game.

Skinner thanked the supporters: “We appreciate the fans,” he added, “They have again turned out in their numbers – and long may that continue.”

Meanwhile the boss will await fitness reports from several of his players ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Thornaby (October 29).

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Luke Salmon felt it was two points lost rather than a point gained following Ashington’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle Benfield at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

The defender who netted the Colliers third goal – and equaliser – ten minutes from time said: “Football wise it wasn’t a great game to play in. Second half we got a bit of confidence back playing a bit more but it got scrappy at the end.”

Salmon said he was in the ‘right place at the right time’ for his goal: “I saw Dan Maguire and thought he’s going to turn the defender and the ball is going to come back,” he added, “I guessed correctly and it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.”

He went on: “After the first half, when we were 2-0 down before pulling one back, I think we would have taken a draw – but the way we were throwing things forward and switching it in the second half, it feels like two points lost.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner used the words ‘disappointing’ and ‘poor’ to describe several aspects of his sides performance in the 3-3 draw against Newcastle Benfield at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

“It was a disappointing performance,” he said afterwards, “There were lots of things to be disappointed with which isn’t something I’ve had to say too many times this season. I thought the goals we conceded were really, really poor from a defensive point of view – and when I say that, I mean the team collectively. The areas in which we lost the ball which led to the goals and then the desire and the want to get back and make it difficult was disappointing. I thought we didn’t pass the ball anywhere near as well as we can do and we found ourselves two goals down from two shots on target. For the second one, their ‘keeper (Andrew Grainger) has caught the ball from our corner and we were left short at the back. People will tell you every goal you concede you can dissect but ours were really poor this evening and if we defend like that as a team collectively on a consistent basis, we’ll give ourselves difficulties in games.”

He continued: “However, we have again showed good character to come back and get back into the game at 2-1 which was important before half time and then I thought we started the second half quite well. We moved the ball quite well and have fashioned a couple of chances – then scored from a penalty to equalise. The momentum was with us but we go and concede again – and it gives Benfield something to try and sit in and defend and the goal which we have conceded is very, very disappointing. After that I felt we became very disjointed and although Benfield didn’t offer too much going forward, when they did, they looked like they were going to break on us on multiple occasions.” He went on: “We got into a little bit of a ‘everybody wants to go forward and nobody wants to get back’ mentality which was part of the reason why we conceded the third goal. Whether it was the excitement of ‘we were back in it at 2-2 and we are going to go on and win this’ I don’t know – but what we needed to realise was that there were another 40 minutes to go in the game and we didn’t need to try and win it in the next two minutes.”

He added: “We huffed and puffed but we just weren’t at it tonight and the biggest positive I can take from the result is that we haven’t lost and have taken something from the game. Moving forward, if we want to achieve our ambitions this season, we have to be better than that – starting with Saturday’s home game against Heaton Stannington.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton said after the Colliers had gone out of the Emirates FA Cup against King’s Lynn following a 3-1 defeat on Saturday that they need to turn their attentions towards league points.

The Woodhorn Lane outfit went down at the fourth qualifying round stage in Norfolk in what has been a great run in the FA Cup but their success in the competition – including replays – has resulted in them playing only eight league matches whilst leaders Bishop Auckland have completed 15!

Mr Shotton said: “Our aim now switches to the league – the bread and butter – and we’ve got quite a bit of catching up to do. We have made no secret of the fact that we want to get promoted and want to be participating against different opposition and to be playing some of the teams we have done over the last few weeks on a regular basis. So our target now has got to be to turn the disappointment of not winning today (in the FA Cup at King’s Lynn) into league points.”

He continued: “I’d like to think that the supporters will stick with us – and I’m convinced they will – because we are growing all the time. We’ve got a special club here but have got to keep working hard and if we continue to do that, we’ll get our just desserts in the end.” Ashington return to league action this week with two home games in five days. On Tuesday (October 18), they take on Newcastle Benfield before Heaton Stannington make the short trip up to Wansbeck on Saturday (October 22).

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC skipper Ben Harmison remained upbeat on Saturday night – even after the Colliers had exited the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-1 defeat against King’s Lynn at The Walks.

Harmison said: “The result was disappointing but we definitely didn’t go out with a whimper. They (King’s Lynn) are flying at the top of the National League North and they pushed us hard – but we gave a good account of ourselves. In the second half, I thought we dominated but obviously when they scored their third goal, it deflated us – and then their fitness showed.”

He continued: “We were disappointed to concede the first goal and Karl (Dryden) will probably say himself that he should have saved the shot – but you can’t knock him (Dryden) because on the other side of the coin, he’s made some brilliant saves to keep us in the game and it’s just one of those things. I thought we thoroughly deserved to get back at 1-1; they (King’s Lynn) had lots of possession which you would expect being a team three leagues above us and I’d like to see the footage of their second goal as I thought it looked to be offside. I didn’t think we were under much threat and we wanted to stay in the game – and that’s what we did. We had the wind second half and I thought for the first 20 minutes, we dominated and probably should have scored but when they got the third, it was hard for us to come back.”

Harmison hopes the town will be proud of their run in the competition and once again expressed his thanks on behalf of the players and management team to the Ashington supporters who travelled down after leaving Woodhorn Lane at 7am: “They were absolutely brilliant and you cannot say enough about them,” he added, “They kept the lads going and I hope the whole town are proud of us – but its not just about the team. We went across to show our appreciation to the fans at the end and for around 160 people to travel five or six hours on a bus to King’s Lynn was absolutely phenomenal. We need the supporters – they have been behind us all season – and hopefully we can win something for them because they deserve it.”

Harmison says it is time to ‘park’ the achievements made in the cup run and concentrate on catching up with their programme in the first division of the Ebac Northern League: “We have a big week ahead with back to back home games against Newcastle Benfield on Tuesday (October 18) and Heaton Stannington on Saturday (October 22),” he added, “We’ve enjoyed the cup run but our attentions turn towards the league which is our bread and butter. We’ve got good attitudes and team spirit in our camp and after going out of both FA competitions, we’ll be up for Tuesday’s clash.”