By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner has told his players to soak up the current euphoria which is reverberating around the Woodhorn Lane club – until they report back for training on Thursday night!

The whole club were buzzing on Tuesday night after stunning goals from Dan Maguire, Craig Spooner and substitute Adam Johnson had seen the Colliers deliver a knock out blow against Ashton United in their Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round replay.

However Skinner said: “The mood is fantastic and rightly so – but the lads will be in for training again on Thursday. There are no nights off in my regime and we’ll be preparing for our league clash away to West Auckland on Saturday.”

He continued: “We didn’t alter too much tonight. We had a couple of enforced changes – with Robbie Dale dropping out through injury but we took a little bit of a gamble by playing Dean Briggs. Ben Sampson had to move inside (into midfield) and Andrew Cartwright came back in on the right. But again I’m delighted for the club as a whole because the win has brought a few quid into the coffers and also attracted some good publicity.”

For Saturday’s trip to the Wanted Stadium, Dale is rated doubtful whilst Ben Harmison, Lewis Suddick, Kyle Hayes, Ben Sampson and Jamie Hanson are unavailable.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner has praised the Woodhorn Lane fans following his sides 3-0 win in their Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round replay against Ashton United on Tuesday night.

Spurring their team on from minute one, Skinner said: “The fans have been brilliant all season and they were on top form again tonight. It’s been nice to give them lots to shout about other than the one disappointing result we’ve had so far this term (the loss to Billingham Town in the Isuzu FA Vase). To be fair went you look at it, it was a little bit of a win, win situation for us. If we won then its headline news because we’ve beaten a team who are two divisions above us; if we lost then people would have said ‘well Ashton should win because of their higher status!’

He continued: “I don’t like using the phase ‘free hit’ because there is no such thing as a free hit in football but I think the crowd came tonight thinking as long as the lads give everything and played to the levels which they are capable of and put on a good performance, that they would be proud of them and they would accept it. We’ve done that – and it was good enough to win the game and it was double delight really in terms of their fantastic support. We’ve given them the result which sent them home with a smile on their faces and hopefully they will turn out in their numbers and bring their voices again for the next round when we host Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday week (September 17).

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner afforded a wry smile after watching his team dismantle higher status Ashton United and comfortably go through to the second qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup following a 3-0 win in their replay at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

The Colliers will now host National League North side Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday week (September 17).

Skinner – who always uses the philosophy of not being too high after a win or too low after a defeat – admitted that after the score draw on Saturday in Greater Manchester, that he had taken some criticism on the journey back up North: “I got a bit of stick on the coach coming home on Saturday for being miserable and underplaying our achievements,” he said, “but sometimes I look at things and think ‘I hope that wasn’t our chance’ because I said afterwards that I thought we just shaded the game down in Greater Manchester.”

He continued: “In terms of the replay tonight, I thought on chances we deserved to win. We talked about being brave and having purpose to our possession and we did that. Dan Maguire has scored a great goal for our opener – a great footballing move and it gave us the belief to stick to our principles of getting the ball down and playing. We nearly had an unbelievable second through Maguire when he’s wriggled and twisted and turned but he’s hit the ball against the post. However, we had to be wary because Ashton are a good side and to be fair, they’ve switched the ball across the pitch well to try and open up the diagonal to play forward early. Again I thought our back four were magnificent – that’s 180 minutes against a team who are two divisions higher and 40 odd places above us in the pyramid and we haven’t conceded a goal – which has sometimes been our achilles heel if I’m honest.”

He continued: “At half time, we talked again about being brave and getting on the ball and playing and if we did that then I felt that the way we can move the ball – especially at home and coming down the bank – that we could cause Ashton more problems and we did. After we got a second goal, they’ve had a little bit of sustained pressure for around ten minutes or so where we struggled to get out and gave away too many corners and invited them (Ashton) to keep putting the ball into the box – but again we defended fantastically.”

He went on: “We always knew we would have a chance on the break with the pace of Dan Maguire and also after introducing Adam Johnson. AJ (Adam Johnson) takes some catching and there’ll not be many quicker than him about – so we just thought ‘okay, we might have to sacrifice our principles a little bit and look to play in behind a bit quicker and exploit the space because they (Ashton) are going to push on and try and get into the game. It was a bit of icing on the cake that we managed to fashion a chance albeit a little bit of a mistake by the defender which has allowed Johnson in for our third goal but he’s finished it off in some style. So over the two games I think without being disrespectful we deserved to win the game and go through and even more so tonight that Saturday. I thought we were better tonight than we were on Saturday and we’ve got our rewards through the goals. I’m delighted for the players and for everybody who are involved and who help around the club as well as the supporters.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC midfielder Dean Briggs admitted that he ‘kicked every ball’ during the Colliers away clash against Ashton United in the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Briggs picked up an injury during Ashington’s midweek 1-1 draw with Carlisle City in Cumbria which ruled him of the game in Greater Manchester but he nevertheless travelled down with the rest of the squad and watched the cup tie from the sidelines.

“I thought the lads did really well and deserved to win,” he said afterwards, “I expected it to be a tough game but we performed extremely well. At the back, our two centre halves did really well and going forward, we caused a threat with the two lads up top working hard. However, I’ve got to admit that I was kicking every ball and its more nerve wracking off the pitch than being on it!”

The 26 year old added: “We were all disappointed to go out of the Isuzu FA Vase last week against Billingham Town but we are still unbeaten in the Ebac Northern League having won five and drawn one of our six matches and we also have games in hand so we can’t complain. Apart from the FA Vase result, we have started the season really well and want to keep it going.”

Ashington AFC take on Ashton United in an FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay at Woodhorn Lane tonight (Tuesday).

The team will wear our brand new away kit – paying tribute to FA Cup Winner and Ashington hero Jack Charlton.

Chairman Brian Shotton “We have just taken delivery of our new kit and thought it would be a great touch to showcase it in front of our own fans – and what better game to do it in – an FA Cup tie under the lights at Woodhorn Lane. The Charlton and Milburn families are a massive part of the fabric of this towns identity and we will be delighted to wear this kit in Jack’s memory”

Shirts pre ordered by supporters are expected to arrive in the next two weeks and will be dispatched immediately.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s stand in skipper Darren Lough was cock-a-hoop after leading his side to a deserved replay from their Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round tie against Ashton United at Hurst Cross on Saturday.

The 32 year old was given the captain’s armband before the game and said afterwards: “I thoroughly enjoyed it – and being skipper doesn’t affect my game. It was a good match to play in and every one of our lads put a shift in. They (Ashton United) made it hard for us but I thought we dug in and played when we needed too. We got a draw – and hopefully we can get an even better result on Tuesday night in the replay.”

Reflecting on the 90 minutes, Morpeth-based Lough – a drainage engineer – said: “I thought we started really well against a team who are two leagues above us. We were away from home and knew what to expect – that they (Ashton) were going to be a side with good players – but then we are also a very good team. We stuck to our plan and we played some good football and although it’s a result which may have surprised a few people – I’m not surprised at all with the team we have got. We are in the hat for the next round – and that’s the main thing.”

He continued: “They (Ashton) had a spell where they were largely on top then we got into it; had a bit of possession and towards the end of the game it was end to end. We created some chances; they had a couple of little chances and something might have given. But after we conceded late against Carlisle City in midweek, it was good to keep a clean sheet and overall, I thought we put on a good performance today.”

Ashington-born Lough – who missed the start of the season due to injury – is keeping his fingers crossed: “The injury is okay now,” he said, “It’s definitely pain free and touch wood it stays like this for the rest of the season as I don’t want to be sidelined any more.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner emerged from the dressing rooms on Saturday following the 0-0 draw against Ashton United in Greater Manchester and gave maximum credit to his players: “There’s not many nil-nil games involving an Ashington team that I have been in charge of – and although it’s not a first, it is rare!” he said afterwards, “It was certainly not a score line which I would have predicted before the game – but I can’t be anything other than pleased with the way the lads have played to be fair.”

Playing against a team who operate two leagues higher than the Colliers in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Skinner added: “The first half was quite tentative a little bit I thought – but that was understandable. We’ve got players who have played at this level and above in our squad and they certainly weren’t fazed by it. On the other hand, we’ve also got one or two who haven’t experienced playing at this level before in a competitive game and in the first half, I thought they almost just wanted to make sure they did their jobs and didn’t give anything away cheaply – which we were guilty of the previous week against Billingham Town when we went out of the Isuzu FA Vase.”

He continued: “At half time we talked about one or two things for maybes those who haven’t played at this level regularly and said ‘hopefully you’ve seen in the first 45 minutes that there is a game of football here which we can actually go on and win in the second half’ and I thought after the break – without being disrespectful – we were the better side. We certainly grew into the game; we had the better chances; their goalkeeper (Gregory Hartley) has had to make three or four saves whilst our stopper Karl Dryden has maybes made one. To be honest, it was just disappointing that we didn’t get a goal to win it because I thought our performance probably warranted it and again without being disrespectful we probably shaded the game.”

Skinner went on: “If somebody had offered me a 0-0 score line before the game, I probably would have took it so I was delighted. Having watched Ashton, I tried to work on how we could attack the game and get something from it. I gave them (the players) some information and they took it on board. They’ve carried the game plan out so full credit to them.”

Advanced tickets for the replay can book at:

https://ashingtonafc.ktckts.com/event/ashtonfacup/ashington-afc-vs-ashton-united-fc-fa-cup

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner – clearly delighted with the performance from his side who were excellent in the goalless draw away to Ashton United on Saturday – has praised the players who didn’t take part in the Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round game at Hurst Cross in Greater Manchester.

Skinner said: “We’ve come to Ashton and have kept a clean sheet – so that tells me that everybody has done really well. We’ve also fashioned chances at the other end so it shows me both in possession and out of possession we’ve been good.”

With 12 minutes to go Adam Johnson replaced Lee Mason whilst Luke Salmon came on for Paul Robinson later on: “It was a relatively tight game where changes sometimes disrupt the flow and the pattern of the game so we’ve made a couple because throughout the season we’ve had to manage Lee Mason (who has a slight injury) and I just felt that although Paul (Robinson) looked a real threat, he just tired a little bit. We just needed to try and shore up that side a bit in terms of attacking and Luke (Salmon) gives us that little bit of an opportunity late in the game to go more direct.”

He continued: “However, I feel I need to give a real shout out to the players who travelled but didn’t get onto the pitch. It’s part and parcel of the game but they have still been invaluable because a couple of times during the match when I’ve glanced along at the bench, I’ve thought ‘I’ve got good options whatever we might need here.’ All in all I was really pleased but preparations for the replay on Tuesday night have already started – and we’ll look forward to welcoming Ashton United to Ashington.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner and stand in skipper Darren Lough have both outlined the key role which the general public can play on Tuesday night when the Colliers meet Ashton United in their Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round replay at Woodhorn Lane.

The Colliers deservedly earned the right to the rematch following a 0-0 draw at Hurst Cross on Saturday – and will be looking to make home advantage count against a side who are second top of the Pitching In Northern Premier League’s Premier Division – two leagues above – for the game which has a 7.45pm kick-off.

Skinner – delighted with the result on Saturday – said: “Ashton have got to travel up to us on Tuesday night – which they’re used to because they travel midweek in their league fixtures – but hopefully we’ll attract a decent crowd. The drums will be out and the fans will make some noise on our patch and on our pitch – so we want Woodhorn Lane to be bouncing. We’ll attack and be looking to win the game because there has to be an outcome. However make no bones about it – it’ll be tough”

Lough – who took over the captain’s armband with skipper Ben Harmison unavailable and Dean Briggs ruled out through injury – said: “I always look forward to Tuesday night matches at Ashington. It’s a massive game – Newcastle United and Sunderland are not in action either – and it’ll be good if the fans can get behind the club. We play some nice football and hopefully we can put on a good show for the supporters – who can be our 12^th man – because they certainly help us. It’s great when they (the fans) come out in their numbers and cheer the lads on because it not only gives us all that extra boost to try and kick on – the lads all love it as well.”

On the team news front, Skinner added: “First of all, we’ll see how the players have come through today’s game – but for the replay, we’ll still have to reckon without lads who have already missed out including Ben Harmison, Dean Briggs, Lewis Suddick and Max Emmerson.”

Advanced tickets are already going well and supporters can book ahead at:

https://ashingtonafc.ktckts.com/event/ashtonfacup/ashington-afc-vs-ashton-united-fc-fa-cup

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was disappointed that his outfit conceded a late goal against Carlisle City on Tuesday night – but was nevertheless happy with what he described as being ‘a battling performance.’

Paul Robinson fired the Colliers ahead shortly before half time and the goal looked to be leading the Wansbeck side to a sixth consecutive league win – until Brandon Longcake netted for the Cumbrians five minutes from time which left Skinner frustrated: “A point on the road is not always a bad point,” he said, “But when you concede so late – with 85 minutes gone on the clock – its disappointing not to hold on.”

He continued: “We have got to defend that ball coming into the box better although it was a decent finish by the lad to be fair and I think the ball hit the same part of the net for both goals! However, there were lots to be pleased with and I thought it was a decent battling performance. We have travelled across to Cumbria this evening and have utilised the squad – a squad without ten players – and of those ten, probably seven of them would argue that they would probably get into what people might think is our best eleven. But that said, there are lads who have come into the side tonight and who were brilliant – people like Ben Sampson who hasn’t played a lot of football this season, has missed out through injury and then had to be a little bit patient; Yannick Aziakonou and Danny Anderson have come back into the side and in Danny’s case, he hadn’t played many minutes. It was also Thomas Kalthoeber’s first game back from injury – so there were lots of plus points in terms of the depth which we have got in the squad.”

He went on: “We went 1-0 and in the first couple of minutes after the break, Dean Briggs has gone clean through but had a heavy touch and the ‘keeper (Stephen Townsley) has come out fast off his line and done well to be fair to him. However, chances were at a premium in the second half – I can’t remember either ‘keeper having much to do – but Karl Dryden’s handling was good and everything else when hit from range, he has dealt with comfortably.”

He added: “I thought we sat off a little bit too much in the second half if I’m honest and switched off a little bit for the equaliser. We did really well to block the first effort but the ball has gone wide and we haven’t defended the cross which was disappointing. In situations like that, we’ve got to get out to the ball quicker as it (the ball) drops. However, we take the point and will dust ourselves down ahead of the Emirates FA Cup against Ashton United on Saturday.”

For the trip down to Manchester, strikers Dan Maguire and Lee Mason are both ruled out through injury whilst Robbie Dale is rated ‘very doubtful’ whilst the boss says he will need to check on the fitness of ‘two or three’ other players.