By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was naturally disappointed after his side had gone out of the Isuzu FA Vase following a 6-4 home defeat at the hands of Billingham Town on Saturday.

In one of the most unbelievable of games ever staged at Woodhorn Lane, the home side led on two occasions at 1-0 and 4-3 before the plucky visitors came back to equalise then score twice in the final quarter hour.

Skinner said: “First of all congratulations to Billingham Town. From a personal perspective if there’s a crumb of comfort to take from today, I hope the late Gary Pearson wherever he may be – who had been appointed as the Billingham manager before his sudden passing – has got a smile on his face knowing that his Billingham Town team have come to Ashington and won 6-4 because I got on well with Gary and my condolences go to his family.”

The boss was not happy from the kick off: “I wasn’t particularly pleased with how we began the game,” he added, “In the first ten seconds, we made about three passes which were really slow, really sloppy and really under hit and that set the tone for the start of the game but then after four minutes we found ourselves one nil up and you think ‘hopefully that will settle us down and we’ll go on to have a better performance.’ To Billingham’s credit they came back at us and to be fair I don’t know if there were any defences on the pitch in the first half because it ended up 4-3 at half time! However, one of the key moments for me was right on the interval where again following a good little move, we got Robbie Dale in and the ‘keeper (Jordan Harkess) has made a good save. If we had come in at half time 5-3, it might have been a different tale – but it wasn’t to be. There were lots of things that the players – as well as myself – weren’t happy with but again second half we never really got going to the fluent levels which we know we can. Most teams who have come here this season have sat in – but they didn’t choosing instead to defend deep with a low block. They (Billingham) always looked a threat if I’m honest on the counter attack and overall, you’re thinking ‘we’ve scored four, we’ve had a couple of scrambles in the box second half, hit the bar twice and we’ve lost 6-4!’ When you look back and examine things, we’ve conceded from a corner allowing Ben Riding a free header then we’ve conceded after another free header from a long throw in by Riding where Jack Pounder has scored – and again we identified Jack (Pounder) as somebody who airily is very strong.”

He continued: “Maybes you wonder ‘was it meant not to be our day?’ I think when they went 5-4 up, it’s a strike where everybody thinks it’s going wide and it cannons off the inside of the post and flies into the other side of the net – and even the lad who struck it (Ben Heeley) didn’t even realise it had gone in! We can look back on hundred of things but what we can’t do is change the result so we wish Billingham Town all the best for the rest of the competition.”

Skinner went on: “I said earlier in the season that we needed to be careful in terms of the goals we were conceding and about turning situations around – like coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 . At the time it was great but I mentioned that there would come a point where it wouldn’t happen and unfortunately we chose the wrong day – and probably one of the worst days – for that to occur. But we have to dust ourselves down and go again and channel a bit of our disappointment about how we feel and use that to really spur us on in the other competitions we are still in. However, what we will certainly have to do is be better when we travel to face Carlisle City on Tuesday night and it’s time for the players to show a positive reaction. It’s nice that we have a game so quickly at Carlisle and nice that we’ve got another cup game at Ashton on Saturday against opposition who operate two leagues higher than us. Defensively, we‘ve had some issues this season in terms of injuries and unavailability – but that’s not an excuse and I don’t want to take anything away from Billingham because if you score six goals away from home, I think you deserve to win a game of football.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC goalkeeper is delighted to have signed a contract with the Woodhorn Lane based outfit.

Dryden said: “I’m happy to commit the next year to the club. Going off how we finished last year, I enjoyed my time after returning to the club and I think its worth giving it back. So far from pre season it’s been ‘steady away’ and implementing the new faces because there’s been quite a few additions in the close season. The changes we have had to make with Ben Harmison being in and out with the cricket season have been spot on. The lads have fitted in and they know what they need to do and it has showed in some of the games where they have done their jobs and we’ve got a result.”

On advancing in the Emirates FA Cup following the 2-1 win over Tow Law on Saturday, Ashington-born Dryden said: “We have had to grind out a result today. It’s one of those where it’s a hard game coming to Tow Law. It levelled it out that they are at home and on an awkward pitch coupled with the wind but we didn’t look threatened at any point until they scored. The second half it was how long we could dig in for and we ended up getting the win from the penalty spot as a result of a good passage of play.”

The 34 year old ‘keeper was beaten by a venomous strike by Ethan Bewley and he said: “It was one of those given the conditions today that as soon as he had half a yard and hit it – and with the wind behind it – that I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Dryden also praised the ‘very calm’ Robbie Dale who is playing in the back four: “Robbie is very calm on the ball,” said Dryden, “When he gets the ball all of a sudden he just plays at his tempo. He’s not threatened by any pressure of a striker closing him down – he’s a steady head.”

Meanwhile Liam Smith gave his reaction to putting pen to paper – with the 26 year old revealing that Ashington manager Ian Skinner played a massive part.

South Shields-born Smith said: “I’m looking forward to my time with Ashington. I probably wouldn’t have signed had Ian Skinner not been the manager because I’ve known him from when I was younger. We spoke – the boss sold me the club – and I thought why not give it a go.”

Although Smith was on the bench for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup game at Tow Law, he had a slight injury: “I’m a naturally fit person anyway so my fitness won’t be that low,” he said, “I tweaked my calf last week so I only trained for the first time on Thursday and it’s still not 100 per cent – but I should be fine next week.”

By Brian Bennett

Robbie Dale’s late winner from the penalty spot on Saturday not only clinched Ashington a place in the next round of this season’s Emirates FA Cup – but also saved them from the possibility of a midweek replay against Tow Law.

Colliers manager Ian Skinner was delighted on both fronts: “We now haven’t got a midweek game and I’m pleased with that. Before today’s game (at Tow Law) we lost Dan Maguire who had a little niggle in training on Thursday and we didn’t want to take any risks with him. We then had to withdraw Lee Mason at half time with an injury. Football is funny for those sorts of things happening. On Tuesday night I had five strikers – and as I leave Tow Law, I think I’ve got one! Three are injured and are struggling; one has left the club and one was going to go out on loan and we’ve had to stop that.”

Jordan Lashley is the player who has departed Woodhorn Lane after being transferred to Heaton Stannington and Skinner said: “First of all, I only want players who are committed to Ashington Football Club and I was bitterly disappointed when I found out that Jordan instigated the move by contacting Heaton Stannington. That said since Jordan came to our club, he’s been brilliant. The reasons he gave (for wanting to leave), I couldn’t argue with as he wants to play regular football and at the moment we can’t give him that. Obviously the lads we have brought in have done really well and Jordan has been away on holiday for the last week or so and goes away again in a week’s time so that dictates that he’s down the pecking order. He needs to be playing regular so he goes with my best wishes and certainly no hard feelings at all and I hope he does really well – apart from when we play Heaton Stannington twice in the League! I’m sure he will do well because he was great in the time he was with us.”

Ashington now turn their attentions to the Isuzu FA Vase. On Saturday (August 27), they host Billingham Town with the winners at home to Sunderland West End in the next round.

Lewis Suddick, Lee Mason, Dan Maguire and Adam Johnson are all doubts for the Colliers whilst Thomas Kalthoeber could make a return to the squad.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was pleased with his side after they got through a difficult Emirates FA Cup match against Tow Law on Saturday.

Skinner said: “At the end of the day we are in the hat for the next round. It wasn’t a classic or a vintage cup tie and we certainly didn’t play to the levels we are capable of – but we’re through. Credit to Tow Law who worked hard, harried and chased. They matched us up in terms of the way we’ve been playing in the early part of the season so that shows that they have given us respect – unless they’ve been playing that way themselves. Certainly the two games I had reports on them they hadn’t and we had to change quickly to adapt. It was a bit bitty and a bit scrappy but in terms of chances, we had more than them and other than the goal which they scored, I don’t think our ‘keeper Karl Dryden has had a save to make. It was a great strike by Ethan Bewley for their goal down the bank and was wind assisted and flew into the top corner and there’s not a lot you can do about them – sometimes you’ve just got to hold your hands up.”

He continued: “I thought second half we had the majority of possession but at times we slowed our play down too often. It looked as if any side were going to score it was going to be us and it came from the penalty spot and if you could pick somebody to take penalties, you’d pick Robbie Dale. He stepped up nonchalantly and the ball ended up in the back of the net so I’m delighted with that.”

Dale, the hero of the hour, said: “It was a cup tie – and we’ve just got to get over the line. We’ve managed to do that and we’re into the hat for the next round so everybody is happy. We’re looking to win a lot of games – which we are doing at the minute – and hopefully we can keep our run going for as long as we can.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner – delighted with his sides 2-1 comeback win over Sunderland RCA on Tuesday night – has added to the squad by signing midfielder Liam Smith.

Skinner said: “Liam will come in and add even further competition to what is already a really strong squad. I worked with him at Newcastle United when he was probably one of the hottest young prospects within the club. He’s had a little bit of a rough time with injuries and after leaving Newcastle went to Blackpool then to a few football league clubs. Last season he was at Hebburn and played a couple of games towards the back end (of last season) and was promised a contract in America – only that hasn’t quite worked out the way it should have done for various reasons.”

He continued: “Liam is somebody I know really well. I stuck an arm out and said to him ‘look come and work with me; we’ve worked with each other before; I know what you are capable of; you have nothing to prove; come and get your love back a little bit for football’ – and he also knows one or two of the lads who are in our dressing room from his days at Newcastle. He’s a fit lad who is studying sports science and does some sports science work in a high performance gym so he’s in good shape. So it’s the football functional movement side of things which we’ll get back into him and once he hits the ground running, he’ll be a big asset for the club. Liam is a very forward thinking attacking player, who plays anywhere across the front line or in behind. He adds further options and more quality to what is already a very good squad.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC skipper Ben Harmison believes the Woodhorn Lane outfit are heading in the right direction for success – even though he reckons its ‘early days!’

The Colliers put their first piece of silverware for nine years in the trophy cabinet at the end of last season when they won the Ebac Northern League first division cup – and after a summer of key signings, the club sit proudly in pole position with a 100 per cent record of five wins out of five.

Harmison praised manager Ian Skinner as he spoke about the newcomers in the squad: “The boss wanted to sign lads who fitted into the changing rooms and had good attitudes, were hungry and were obviously good players,” he said, “the players who have joined us were not dropping down in leagues for easiness or luxury – just look at the shifts they have put in tonight against Sunderland RCA – they wanted a challenge and they wanted to get Ashington up the leagues where we want to be so the recruitment has been brilliant.”

And the 36 year old added that after lifting the cup with victory over Newcastle Benfield last season, the players are hungry to add to the success: “We won the first division cup and a lot of it was on the team spirit which is brilliant and long may it continue,” he said, “I know it’s early days but we are hungry for more and we can see some sort of success building. We had won four out of four in the league before tonight’s game against Sunderland RCA and after equalising, we could have settled for a point but we didn’t – we kept pushing and pushing because we wanted to make it five out of five and we achieved it.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC goalkeeper Karl Dryden has put pen to paper on a contract with the Woodhorn Lane outfit.

Manager Ian Skinner said after the 2-1 win over Sunderland RCA on Tuesday night: “Karl (Dryden) has signed a contract and we are delighted. We have got two very, very good goalkeepers – the other being Kyle Hayes – who have both committed to the club which means we are in a very strong position in that department. Both Karl and Kyle are very experienced and have played at a higher level. They are a good pair in terms of when one is playing the other – whilst disappointed at not being selected – takes on the role of goalkeeper coach and makes sure his team mate is warmed up before a game. They also do little bits in training together before I need them in the main session and are going to scrap it out for the jersey – which will only bring out the best in both of them.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC skipper Ben Harmison poured praise on his team mates and the management team at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night after the Colliers came from behind to beat Sunderland RCA 2-1.

The victory kept them at the head of the Ebac Northern League’s first division and also preserved their 100 per cent record after five matches.

RCA took the lead early doors through Mark Davison and it was Harmison – who came off the substitutes bench – who notched a brace inside the final quarter hour.

Afterwards Harmison said of his goals: “For the first, when Dan Maguire got the ball, I just tried to get across the front man. The ball was a little bit behind me and a back flick was the only thing I could try to do – and it came off. Then for the winner, Robbie Dale got so far down the left; cut back in and I was lurking at the back post and as the wind was coming across, Robbie just stood the ball up and I got on the end of it. It was a fantastic feeling to see the ball hit the back of the net and naturally I was delighted.”

The 36 year old believed his sides patience and decisions from the dugout were key factors in the comeback: “RCA had got the goal and the way they played it has helped them,” he said, “They just sat in and got blocks in and cleared off the line and if we had scored in the first five or ten minutes, I think we could have gone on to get five or six. We gave them something to hold onto and we knew we had to be patient but it gets to a point where you are running out of time so the management put some forwards on and we went a bit direct and it paid off.”

Harmison is happy to adapt – whether it be playing in the back four or as a striker up front: “I’ll do whatever is needed,” he said, “I knew before I went on tonight that it would be in a forward position. It suited us a little bit more because we had runners either side so I just had to lurk in, in dangerous areas on the back post as well as the diagonals and try and get little flick ons. It doesn’t come off very often but it did tonight and we deserved it. We must have had something like 90 per cent possession but we didn’t panic – we just kept pushing and our character and belief shone through. It feels like a really good win tonight and the fans helped us massively so for them to go home happy was much deserved.”

By Brian Bennett

Manager Ian Skinner emerged from a noisy Ashington dressing room on Tuesday night following the 2-1 win over Sunderland RCA and revealed: “These lads don’t know when they are beat!”

The boss was referring to his sides late, late show against the Wearsiders in front of a crowd of 427 at Woodhorn Lane. Mark Davison had headed RCA into an early lead before substitute and skipper Ben Harmison scored twice in the closing stages to turn the game around and preserve Ashington’s 100 per cent record after five matches in the first division of the Ebac Northern League.

Skinner said: “Obviously I’m delighted that we have won the game but to be honest, even if we hadn’t managed to claw it (the game) back late, I don’t think my thoughts would have changed. I thought we played as well as we have done all season and I was delighted with the performance. The only negative was that I was really disappointed with the goal we conceded in terms of we could have stopped the cross and then we’ve allowed a free header at the back post. But then again, with this team of ours, you never feel too concerned. I thought we dominated the ball across the 90 minutes; created numerous chances and it will be interesting when I receive some of the stats back from the footage. RCA came and played a 5-4-1 formation which we are going to experience a lot this season. Obviously they had the added advantage of going 1-0 up so that makes them want to defend that little bit more but I just felt we created a number of chances in the first half and their ‘keeper (Keaton Marrs) has made some good saves. Other than the goal which they scored, they (RCA) haven’t really had another opportunity that I can remember of any great note.”

Skinner explained the half time team talk: “We went in 1-0 down and to be honest, I was full of praise for the players because of the way we played and the way we moved the ball. We just talked about a couple of little tweaks in terms of how we could just maybes open the space between their two units a little bit more so we could exploit it. Funnily enough we also mentioned about if we have to win the game late, then so be it. We just had to be patient and keep moving the ball and the deeper they got (RCA), the harder it is for them to get out as the game wears on. The more they had to move and slide and try to protect the goal becomes more difficult and we said we may need to wear them down and may need a bit of clever play or individual brilliance.”

He continued: “Second half we’ve had some very good chances. I was right behind the effort from Robbie Dale which was going into the top corner and their ‘keeper has made a brilliant save. He’s then made a couple of good stops and they threw their bodies on the line and just tried to defend manfully and hang on for a 1-0 lead. You get to the point where there are 15 minutes to go and think ‘it is going to be one of those days’ because we dragged a couple of efforts wide – but these lads don’t know when they are beat and that’s frightening.”

Skinner explained what was to be a game changing decision when he threw Ben Harmison into the fray just past the half way stage in the second period: “We just thought we are nursing striker Lee Mason a little bit at the moment and I thought it was an ideal opportunity to bring Ben on. It was a toss up really between him going up top or slotting him in at the back and sending Robbie (Dale) up there – but I just felt the way Robbie had played and the way the game was going that he was comfortable at the back. He was carrying the ball out of defence really well and I thought with fresh legs that Ben would be that bit stronger and it just gives them (RCA) something else to worry about because they would be concerned due to his height. Fair play to Ben. Before he scored, he probably had a really good chance on his left foot which he put wide of the post and knowing him as I do, he’ll be disappointed with that. But it was a great little deft touch by him for the equaliser.”

He added: “Ben was then clever because which ever side we were looking to exploit or attack down, he would pull off diagonally onto the opposite side so it gave us that option to cross the ball in. We brought Adam Johnson on to play off the back of Ben who is going to run players under the ball and if he misses it, he’ll take defenders with him and if the ball drops, one of our players has got a chance to be a hero. But to be fair, the ball that was stood up for him by Robbie (Dale) was excellent and as soon as I saw Ben rise, I thought ‘this is in.’ People will look at that piece of skill from Robbie (Dale) and ask me ‘why are you playing him in defence?’ with the way he marauded down that left wing which he has done for years. He’s gone one way then the other, dropped his shoulder, stood the ball up and Ben has got on the end of it and it was nothing short of what we deserved.”

He went on: “I was delighted with the performance and the result and full credit to the lads because it was important that we won. It was a game where we considered making one of two changes to try and freshen things up a little bit but after Saturday’s performance everybody reported fit and I just thought that when you win 5-0 at home to tell someone you are going to give them a little rest would be harsh. The bench is strong; the squad is strong and we are going to try and attack everything on all fronts starting on Saturday (August 20) as we turn our attentions to the Emirates FA Cup and an away clash against Tow Law. We have a two week break from the league and the FA Cup is an opportunity to progress in that competition. We’ll train on Thursday to prepare for the clash and we’ll see what Saturday brings – but it will not be an easy game.”

For the trip to the Ironworks ground, Lewis Suddick, Thomas Kalthoeber and Kyle Hayes are all ruled out but Skinner is hoping that Luke Salmon and Jordan Lashley will return to the squad.

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner said the 5-0 win over Crook Town wasn’t the sole reason why he wore such a big smile on Saturday night!

The Woodhorn Lane boss was also delighted after some of his players – who have been nursing injuries – returned to action: “We managed to get some more minutes into players who have been missing so Ben Sampson came on today having not kicked a ball so far this season; Paul Robinson – who was in great form pre season – started today and played the 90 minutes so that was great. We’ve also got another hour into the likes of Darren Lough and a little bit more into Damen Mullen and we had the luxury of being able to take others off to make sure we managed their bodies because they have also come back from injuries.”