By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner took time out to give a special mention to striker Adam Johnson after Saturday’s emphatic 5-0 home victory over Crook Town at Woodhorn Lane.

Johnson made his first Ebac Northern League start of the season in Tuesday’s win over West Allotment Celtic – but has come off the bench in the Colliers’ other three ENL matches.

Johnson is still looking to record his first goal this term – but that didn’t stop Skinner from giving him a pat on the back: “I’ve said to AJ (Adam Johnson) ‘I know you’re a centre forward and people look at goals – but there’s more to his your game than just that and you won’t be judged just on scoring.’

Skinner continued: “I think there were a couple of occasions against Crook Town today where Adam took a shot on when there was probably a better option – but he causes defenders problems with his pace and power and the ball in for Dean Briggs’s second goal was a great pass. He went on for the final 25 minutes and has contributed with two assists for the five goals – so he’s made a big difference.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Dean Briggs says he hopes he is back on the goals trail – after netting a superb hat trick in Ashington’s 5-0 victory over Crook Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

The midfielder admitted that he was getting a ‘bit of banter’ from his team mates recently after failing to open his account – but hopes that is a thing of the past.

“It was good to get off the mark in the Emirates FA Cup win over Newton Aycliffe last week but today it was just a case of being in the right place at the right time,” he said, “For the second and third goals, AJ (Adam Johnson) has done really well. He put it (the ball) straight across goal then for the next one, it was a good ball in and I took the finish quite well. I’ve got to admit that my eyes lit up – I hit the ball first time; hit the target and luckily it went into the bottom corner and I thought it was the best of the three.”

Skipper Briggs was confident that ‘the goals were always going to come’ against an organised Crook Town side: “I thought we played well first half, even before we scored,” added the 26 year old, “We did everything right apart from put the ball into the back of the net. They (Crook) were okay and had a couple of opportunities but I thought the goals were always going to come.”

He continued: “Its quality playing in this team with the personnel we have got in midfield. We just work really well together and there’s good morale in the dressing room and on the pitch. We are all enjoying our football and to come out of the game with a clean sheet was also a bonus for us.”

He went on: “Hopefully I’m back on the goals trail but as long as the team are winning – that’s the main thing.”

Ashington manager Ian Skinner said: “The hat trick is good for Dean because he’s been taking a little bit of stick. All of the other lads have been chipping in with goals and Dean hadn’t really come to the party – but he got three today so I’m sure he’ll be reminding one or two people about that.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was extremely happy with his outfit after they had notched their fourth consecutive victory in the Ebac Northern League first division on Saturday – a win which saw them regain pole position.

Dean Briggs smashed a hat trick with other goals coming from Robbie Dale via the penalty spot and Lee Mason to sink Crook Town on a red hot day in Wansbeck.

And afterwards, Skinner acknowledged so many facets which happened during the 90 plus minutes at Woodhorn Lane: “First and foremost, I thought it was a good performance from our lads in difficult conditions in terms of the heat,” he said, “Obviously we were the home team so we wanted to try and dominate the ball – and I thought we did that throughout the whole game if I’m honest. We saw a lot of the ball and just needed to be patient. We are used to scoring early and that didn’t quite happen today and we need to get used to that because we’re not going to be able to score early in every match.”

He continued: “Credit to Crook Town. They were well organised – but we created a plethora of chances and you could see our first goal coming. If I’m being super critical, on occasions we were slightly wasteful but you felt as if breaking the deadlock was only a matter of time – and obviously we got there after a great finish by Dean Briggs across the ‘keeper and in off the far post. Then we got a penalty which Robbie (Dale) put away to make it 2-0.”

He went on: “Second half it was very much about managing the game. It’s really difficult for a team to come out and try and claw their way back into a contest in those sorts of temperatures. We also talked about dictating possession and dominating the ball and making them (Crook) have to run and chase so as to tire them out in the heat whilst if the opportunity presented itself to score more goals. If we could (score more goals) – then great and if it didn’t happen and we won 2-0, we would have been equally as happy. But we got the third and then had the luxury of being able to bring five substitutes on and freshen things up which adds a little bit more impetus into our play and Briggs has gone on to get another couple to complete his hat-trick.”

He added: “Without being disrespectful we controlled large parts of the game – Crook had a couple of maybes half chances but nothing really clear cut so all in all, I was pleased with the performance from start to finish; delighted with the result and also happy that we have been able to rotate the team as early as we did in the game. The win keeps the good run going and to get a clean sheet was a bonus. We are scoring lots of goals and not conceding too many – and also taking advantage of this run of home fixtures which we have had at the start of the season.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was delighted with his side who maintained their 100 per cent record in the Ebac Northern League with a 2-1 win at West Allotment Celtic on Tuesday night.

After three games, the Colliers sit at the top of the division – but Skinner admitted that his outfit did not fire on all cylinders: “We were far from our best tonight if I’m honest,” he said afterwards, “We freshened the side up a little bit and made four changes – the reason being that we just don’t want one group of lads to be really, really flying and match fit and then another group who are falling behind in match practice but I don’t think that was the reason why we didn’t play particularly well.”

He continued: “We got off to a brilliant start, scoring after two minutes then I just thought we became a little bit sloppy and allowed West Allotment to come into the game and to be fair to them, they caused us some problems for about 15 minutes and when they equalised, we couldn’t really have any complaints. However, once we conceded we woke up again, went on the front foot, had a couple of good chances and regained the lead which is the sign of a good team. At half time we talked about trying to find a little bit more quality in our play regardless of how difficult conditions were.”

He went on: “Second half was bitty on what I thought was a difficult pitch – but it’s the same for both teams. I thought in spells we did alright – they (West Allotment) had a little spell which they are going to have and threw bodies forward. Towards the end of the game we started to find our passing range and kept the ball a little bit better and then the last five minutes, we decided to make it an end to end game. All in all, we weren’t at out best but people say in football that when you’re not at your best and you win, it’s the sign of a good team and I don’t think there are any arguments that we are a good team. It’s just about keeping our levels and performance high – and I demand them to be high -all of the time. However, we also need to be realistic and performances are going to dip now and again but it’s important when we aren’t playing as well as we can that we still win games and we have done that tonight. Credit to the lads because they stuck at it, dug in and they know themselves that the performance wasn’t as good as we would want. We’ve put another three points on the board whilst West Allotment will be a little bit disappointed because they’ll probably feel they should have got something from the game.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC skipper Dean Briggs scored the winner – and his first goal of the season – on Saturday as the Colliers advanced into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup after a thrilling 3-2 win over Newton Aycliffe at Woodhorn Lane in the extra preliminary round.

The Colliers had been 2-0 down in the contest before goals from Lee Mason and Lewis Suddick brought the game level then with 20 minutes left on the clock, Briggs popped up with a left foot strike on the half volley which was the clincher.

And afterwards the 26 year old – delighted to open his account – hopes it will put an end to the banter which he has been getting from his team mates over the past few weeks: “Obviously I was pleased to get off the mark,” he said, “I went into the game as the only one out of the forward players who hadn’t scored and to be honest I’d been getting a little bit of stick about it in training – so when the ball came to me, I thought ‘just hit it’ and luckily it went in the bottom corner.”

Briggs admitted that the Wansbeck side had been second best in the first period: “First half I thought we got a little bit outworked and they (Aycliffe) were probably the better side,” he said, “Second half with the wind on our backs, we knew if we got in their faces our quality would come through and it did with two well worked goals. Last season it could have been a different story as there were times when we folded after going behind – but it doesn’t look as if it is going to be the same this term as we showed our character. As a team we are playing well and with three wins out of three, we can’t complain.”

Four minutes from the end of normal time, Ashington – by then 3-2 ahead – had a let off when Jack Oliver hit the post and fellow sub Oscar Taylor missed a sitter from close range, skying the ball over the bar: “When that happened, Craig Spooner and myself just looked at each other because we thought it was going to go to a replay,” he added.

Goalkeeper Adam McHugh, who left Ashington during the summer, signed for Aycliffe a fortnight ago – and kept his new side in the game: “Adam made a couple of good saves,” said Briggs, “To be honest it was nice to put one past him for what turned out to be the winner and when the ball hit the back of the net, I looked at him and gave him a little smile! It’s always good to see him and he needs to be playing first team football every week. Adam’s a good ‘keeper and a good lad.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington have started to make a habit of it at Woodhorn Lane – only it’s something which manager Ian Skinner hopes his side will quickly eradicate!

For the second time in a few weeks, home supporters went into raptures after their team – who trailed by two goals – staged a magnificent fight back to win the contest 3-2.

The first occasion was the curtain raiser to the season which saw the Colliers lift the JR Cleator. On Saturday it happened again – this time in their Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round clash against Newton Aycliffe.

It’s pulsating viewing for the Ashington fans – but whilst Skinner was naturally delighted with the final outcome, he was also concerned that his side found themselves in that situation: “Cup football is all about the result,” he said afterwards, “We’ve won so the supporters go home happy; the players are happy and the club makes a few quid so all in all it’s a good day. Credit to the players for turning it around again – but it’s something that we need to be aware of and something which doesn’t become a regular occurrence.”

He continued: “I thought we started the game a little bit sloppy and a little bit slow which is unlike us because we’ve began the previous two games really positively. Credit to Newton Aycliffe – they came – they pressed up high, they ran hard, they harried us and tried to stop us playing and maybes they knocked us out of our rhythm a little bit. Yet we still had the better of the chances and ‘their ‘keeper Adam McHugh has made a couple of good saves. After that Aycliffe scored a fortuitous first goal which was a cross and it sort of hung in the wind and hit the back post, cannoned in off a defender and into the net. A little bit of sloppy play by us presented them with an opportunity and all of a sudden we found ourselves 2-0 down. Then we sort of came into the game a little bit – whether Aycliffe suddenly thought ‘we’re 2-0 up’ and maybes were a little bit more cautious or whether we thought ‘we’re 2-0 down’ we need to up our game – or maybes it was a combination of both. We started to move the ball and I just felt every time we went forward we looked dangerous and looked like we’ll create chances and that’s not just today – that’s in every game we’ve played so far.”

He went on: “We scored a good goal through Lee Mason then we had a couple of opportunities to draw level. We went in at the interval 2-1 down and really we didn’t say too much at half time. It was a case of playing on the front foot; playing to our strengths second half and we knew we would get chances so we had to stay patient. Those chances came and Lewis Suddick and Dean Briggs have scored with good finishes – so we go 3-2 up. Then for the last 15 minutes it turned into a proper cup tie. Aycliffe had the one really big chance where they have hit the post, the ball has come out to the forward and he has blazed it over the bar. But Paul Robinson has come on for us and had two brilliant opportunities – and McHugh has made two brilliant saves – and in the end it became a classic end to end cup tie between two good teams who have started the season well. It was always going to be a good competitive game and thankfully for us we’ve come out on the right end of the scoreline and we’ll see where we go next. Our opponents in the next round – away to Tadcaster or Tow Law – have drawn 1-1 today and will replay so we’ll have to wait a little bit longer.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC take a break from League action on Saturday (August 6) when they tackle Newton Aycliffe at Woodhorn Lane in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Colliers manager Ian Skinner adopted a cautious approach to the clash – purely and simply because of his philosophy of taking one game at time – with his outfit hosting Northallerton Town in their second encounter in the Ebac Northern League’s first division tonight.

Nevertheless, Skinner described the Aycliffe match as being a potential ‘rip roaring cup tie’ when he said: “Newton Aycliffe have got a very good squad and I think they’ll be in and around the competitive end of the league table so it’ll be a tough one for us – but equally it’ll be a tough one for them! Obviously we have got home advantage but first and foremost we’ll be looking to build on the good work from Saturday, take it into tonight’s game and hopefully have the same momentum for the weekend.”

He continued: “It’s an important game away from the league programme and I reckon it will be a rip roaring cup tie. It means a lot to the players to be able to say that they have played in the FA Cup this season – the same competition which one team will win at Wembley. If you throw into the pot that it’s also worth a few quid to the club in terms of prize money, that’s why you get the excitement of the FA Cup.”

He went on: “We’ll obviously be looking to get a positive result and have a good crowd in attendance who I’d like to think got value for money from Saturday’s 6-0 win over Seaham Red Star. Hopefully they will have gone away from the ground and told their friends and colleagues about it and I’d like to think we will continue to put in performances like that – only we aren’t going to score six goals every week! If we can play the type of football we played on Saturday, I’m pretty sure we’ll become an attractive proposition but you’ve got to bear in mind a few things like the Premier League starting and Newcastle United are at home; the cost of living crisis that we are all going through and the multitude of home matches we have got.  For a non season ticket holder, it’ll be difficult and we’ll need to take that into consideration as well. But that aside, it’s another game which we’ll look forward too.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner admitted that his side had to work hard before collecting all three points against Northallerton Town at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night – but said it was a ‘pleasing result.’

Robbie Dale’s first goal for the club put the hosts ahead but Northallerton levelled five minutes before the break through John Howard.

However Karl Ross put the Colliers back in front before Craig Spooner scored for the second consecutive game in a 3-1 win.

Skinner said afterwards: “All in all there were lots to be pleased with. Some of our play was excellent but we’ll need to reinforce and remind the players about making sure when we lose the ball that we get into a good shape out of possession to make it difficult for the opposition. We aren’t going to play every week like we did on Saturday; we aren’t going to score six goals every week and we’ll have more games like tonight than we had against Seaham. It was a pleasing result. We had to work hard – but there again you’ve got to work hard in every game in this league. However, we are two games in with six points on the board; have nine goals for and one against and if anyone had offered me that seven days ago, I would have taken it.”

He continued: “I thought we started the game really brightly again and scored which makes it that little bit easier. Northallerton didn’t spring too many surprises coming with a back five and trying to make it difficult for us so to break them down so early in the game as we did (sixth minute) was good. Then we probably had a 15-20 minutes period where we were camped in their half and created numerous chances. Their ‘keeper (Thomas Dawson) has made a couple of good saves and they have defended really well and put their bodies on the line. We then became sloppy and lost our shape a little bit and players wanted that extra touch and extra split second before letting the shot go which allowed Northallerton to get a little bit closer to be able to block it. We then started to almost overplay to try and score and they (Northallerton) came into the game a little bit towards the end of the first half. There were one or two warning signs for us because we were committing too many players forward and not working hard enough to get back. It was disappointing to concede that type goal because we were caught which was a little bit of our achilles heel last year.”

He went on: “We came in at half time and we knew if we kept playing to the levels which we are capable of, that we stood a good chance of winning the game. We just needed to be a little bit more patient and play within our shape; limit the touches and move the ball quicker. In spells we did that in the second half and we scored at a vital time when we were probably on top again. It was a good move; a good goal to be fair and a good finish from Karl Ross. They (Northallerton) haven’t offered too much after the break – obviously they were coming down the bank a little bit with the wind on their backs so they went quite direct and lots of things ran out of play or through to our ‘keeper Karl Dryden. Obviously we got a third goal and it was a good move and finish from Craig Spooner but again similar to Saturday against Seaham, Northallerton have gone right until the end. They made a couple of subs – the winger came on and caused us one or two problems but we saw the game out and I was delighted. Now we’ll look forward to Saturday’s clash against Newton Aycliffe in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton said he was delighted after the club had secured Lynx Precast as their major home and away kit sponsors.

The company – who are based at Lynefield Park near Ashington – are specialists in the design, manufacture and installation of precast concrete flooring systems.

The agreement was reached between the two parties with Ashington having to beaver away to get their new kit sponsors name emblazoned on their shirts in time for Saturday’s opening match in the Ebac Northern League’s first division against Seaham Red Star at Woodhorn Lane which the Colliers emphatically won by 6-0.

Mr Shotton said: “I’m really delighted to get Lynx Precast on board. It was the prime aim of the summer to get a major sponsor and that’s no disrespect to anyone who have been a sponsor in the past. However, the major sponsors do make the real difference when it comes to what you can do both on and off the field as a club. I look forward to working with Lynx Precast this season and hopefully a long term relationship will ensue. Wearing our home and away kits, the name will be on the front of our shirts and it’s really good.”

Mr Shotton poured praise onto club official Mark Ramsden when he added: “To be honest all of the credit has to go to Mark Ramsden, our physio, who got the deal over the line. He’s done a really good job and is carrying out a lot of duties on the commercial side for us. As a non league football club, roles come with many different facets – and Mark has taken it upon himself to do this work so I’m absolutely delighted.”

Brent Hall, Commercial Manager at Lynx Precast said: “Lynx Precast are proud to sponsor Ashington AFC for the forthcoming 2022/2023 season. We are thrilled to be this year’s shirt sponsor and to help further the club’s progress and we look forward to working with Ashington AFC and the wider community over the coming season.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Lee Mason, one of manager Ian Skinner’s summer signings at Ashington, said he was delighted to open his goal scoring account in the 6-0 hammering of Seaham Red Star on Saturday – but added that it was a great start to the new season for the club.

In the build up to the curtain raiser, Newcastle-born Mason – signed from Dunston UTS – was a doubt and he commented: “I’ve been struggling with my achilles. I’ve got a bit of tendonitis with the hard grounds but it’s manageable – so I was lucky to start and play a big part today. I was glad to get off the mark, especially being a striker. To score twice, it obviously gives you confidence and relieves you of that little bit of pressure of not scoring and it was the same for Dan Maguire – it was good to see him on the score sheet as well.”

After the Colliers had knocked on the Seaham door, Mason broke the deadlock in the ninth minute and added a second at a similar time after the interval. However he complimented two of his team mates: “For the first goal, it was a great cross by Andrew Cartwright on the right hand side. I just nipped in front of the centre back and got the faintest of flicks – and it was good to see the ball go in off the post at the back stick. For the second, it was a superb delivery from Dean Briggs from a free kick and I was unmarked at the back post. It was an easy kind of opportunity to score and I was glad I took it.”

Shortly afterwards, the 31 year old was substituted – but was not too bothered about missing out on a potential hat trick: “My achilles had been hurting so when the manager took me off I wasn’t disappointed at all,” he said, “It was more about giving it (my ankle) rest as we have another home game against Northallerton Town on Tuesday.”

Mason – who lives in Blyth and works for the Council – revealed he is settling into his new surroundings: “Today it was a great start to the season – not just for myself – but for the lads who scored for the club in general and also for the fans to see that score line. I can’t speak highly enough about the club – you’ve just got to look at the ground and facilities and the players we have got here.”