By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner looked on as his outfit arrested a four match losing streak on Saturday with a 3-3 draw against basement side Billingham Town on Teesside.

Now Skinner says the Colliers season hinges on Tuesday night’s Division One cup quarter final tie against Guisborough Town at Woodhorn Lane: “We’ll be treating the cup game just as we do with every competition where we want to try and win it,” he said, “I just hope that we apply ourselves and play the way we are capable of and hopefully on the night that will be enough. I think we’ve proved already over the course of the campaign that on our day we can be a match for anybody in this league and it would be nice to have something to show for it at the end. I look forward to a game of football every week – whether it’s the league or the cup and I’ve said it many times before that on the day all that matters in cup football is the result. Yes as a manager you would like the perfect performance and the result to go with it – but if you just get the result and the performance is below key at least you progress.”

He continued: “Tuesday’s game is massive because our season hinges on it. We’ve got two tough league games left against Thornaby and Consett and we still want to finish as high as we can but the cup game against Guisborough gives us an opportunity to go further in a competition which we can still win.”

Skinner believes the Ashington supporters have a vital role to play: “Hopefully our fans will come out in their numbers and stick with us – as they already have done this season – and the noise they generate can make a massive difference to our players. It would have been nice to have got a win at Billingham Town over the weekend to go into Tuesday with more confidence but it wasn’t to be.”

Skinner revealed that injuries have clouded his team selection for Tuesday’s 7.30pm kick-off at The dwmedia Stadium: “We’ve got a few walking wounded and will need to check on the fitness of Max Cowburn, Jordan Lashley and Jamie Hanson,” he said, “I would imagine Hanson will be a big doubt whilst hopefully the other two (Cowburn and Lashley) are just knocks. That said we’ve got Bobby Taylor who can come back into contention.”

By Brian Bennett

Jordan Lashley came off the bench to help rescue a point for Ashington after scoring a late equaliser against Billingham Town on Saturday.

The 23 year old – who after being introduced as a substitute scored four in the league clash at Redcar Athletic at the beginning of last month – said: “It’s always good to get on the score sheet especially in the role of a substitute because that’s what the manager asks of you – to try and get a goal and make an impact. I think when we went 2-0 up, we became complacent and that’s why we had lapses in concentration and made some mistakes and let them (Billingham) back into the game. They’ve then rode on the momentum and gone 3-2 up, sat back in and tried to defend what they had. However, overall, I was disappointed that we couldn’t get a win.”

Lashley – a chat advisor for BT- now turns his attentions to Tuesday night’s home clash against Guisborough Town in the quarter finals of the Division One Cup: “I’m happy to start or be on the bench – as long as I can help the team in any way,” he said, “Obviously you want to be starting games but we’ve got to go into the game with the mindset that our season depends on this cup because for the past four and fives games we have been lack-lustre and poor and we really do need to finish the season strongly. The cup is a really good opportunity for us especially with the winners having a home tie in the semi finals.” He continued: “It’s going to be a test because obviously we were put to the sword by Guisborough in our league game a few weeks ago when we were really poor. It hurt losing 6-1 against them at home and there was silence in the dressing room afterwards because everyone knew the result was much below the standards which we have set.  I’d like to think that we can put on a show for the supporters because they are coming along spending their hard earned money to watch us – and if we can play the football which we know we are capable of and the crowd can cheer us on, then who knows?”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s left sided player Luke Salmon emerged from the dressing rooms after the 3-3 draw against Billingham Town on Saturday and helped to clear up the ‘incident’ which occurred with only seconds of the contest remaining by emphatically stating that the whole of the ball had not crossed the line when he made his last ditch clearance.

The Bedford Terrace side thought they had scored a dramatic winner until Salmon got back to steer the ball away to safety.

The 30 year old said: “I’ve got a habit of going back onto the line all the time – our ‘keeper Adam McHugh knows I do that – and obviously it’s worked today as I got the ball away. It was very close – but it wasn’t a goal.”

North Shields-born Salmon added that he came off the Bedford Terrace pitch ‘upset’ following the result.

Salmon scored the second goal for the Colliers – but was also involved in Billingham’s equaliser (2-2) after he had back-heeled the ball inside the Ashington area: “We should have won but personally I came off more upset than thinking I had had a good game,” he added. “The lads are disappointed with a draw because they know we are a better side than what we showed.”

When Salmon netted in the 11^th minute, the goal put the Colliers into a commanding 2-0 lead which they let slip with the Teessiders going ahead 3-2 early in the second half before substitute Jordan Lashley levelled: “lt’s always good to score,” he said, “I was up in the box and Jamie (Hanson) just tried to repeat his first goal. I anticipated seeing the ‘keeper (Jack Norton) parry the ball away and it bounced in front of me and I just finished it.” Meanwhile Salmon is hoping to be in the squad on Tuesday night when Ashington face Guisborough Town in the quarter final of the Division One Cup at The dwmedia Stadium: “We got annihilated by Guisborough recently in the league match but it’s another game on Tuesday,” he said, “It’s good to still be in a cup competition and it makes our season a bit more exciting. Our crowd are always class so it’ll be great to have them behind us. Week in week out they always spur us on and I’m looking forward to it.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was left pulling his hair out after his side threw away an early two goal lead at Billingham Town on Saturday and came within a whisker of losing the contest at Bedford Terrace.

Skinner said afterwards: “I thought I had seen it all in football. However, I’m not sure I can believe the game which I’ve just witnessed in terms of a team (Ashington) who started really brightly, played quickly, were on the front foot and tried to go out and find a little bit of confidence to play the way we had played earlier in the season. We came out and did that and Jamie (Hanson) scores a brilliant first goal following a great move up the side, a great ball in and he did really well to finish it. We’ve worked a little bit with Jamie making those runs and have talked to him about that run across the front post. Then it was almost a carbon copy for the second goal really only this time the goalkeeper (Jack Norton) has made a fantastic save from Hanson and Luke Salmon has done what he does really well – following things in and has managed to prod the ball home. At 2-0 you think ‘this could be good’ and what we needed in terms of a win going into a cup game against Guisborough on Tuesday night – then we slowed the play down, stopped playing quickly, wanted too many touches on the ball, dwelled on the ball in really bad positions and conceded a really poor goal. We didn’t deal with the ball over the top and the player has wriggled free. We tell people to open their shoulders in the middle so they can see the player and the cross coming in but they’ve closed their body off and watched the ball and left Terry Stephenson with a free header in the six yards box.”

He continued: “We then think ‘let’s steady this’ but how do you legislate for someone back heeling the ball in the box when you are defending and you can’t see what’s behind you? They pinched the ball and score – that said Luke Salmon it was with the error but then he’s probably saved us a point at the end. Luke has gone from following in and scoring to costing us an equalising goal by back heeling the ball in the box and then by hook or by crook with last ditch defending has managed to get the ball off the line literally in the last few seconds. To be fair our ‘keeper Adam (McHugh) has made a great save in stoppage time at the end of the first half for us to go in level. Then we come out second half where we still wanted to be positive and recreate that first 20 minutes but we conceded. I thought it was a foul (on Ben Harmison) if I’m honest but they’ve scored and then we’ve had a sin bin in amongst all that. In the first half Jamie Hanson hit the post then in the second half we’ve hit the post again, the crossbar twice and all of a sudden I’m wondering ‘is it meant not to be?’ In the last three of the 90 minutes plus the added time, we could have won it after getting into some fantastic positions but our delivery today – whether it be in open play or set play – was really poor – then Billingham have had two great chances to win it.” He went on: “I’ve probably seen Ashington’s season in one game today – for the first 20 minutes the Ashington who have done really, really well this campaign and who have played some fantastic free flowing football and have scored some really good goals but then I saw the achilles heel Ashington who like to make things interesting and concede poor goals defensively as a team. We are great when we are going forward and scoring goals but for 25 minutes until half time when we haven’t got the ball, questionable in terms of how hard we work to make it difficult for the opposition. That Ashington carried on a little bit after the break then during the last ten minutes or so, you see the front foot Ashington who appeared to be stronger again and who looked as if they had the legs on them (Billingham). Certainly in the closing stages we looked fitter and were moving the ball and causing them problems. Having said that, we nearly got caught – but it’s a point which stops the run of four consecutive defeats.”

Photograph: Ian Brodie

By Brian Bennett

March has been a month of frustration for Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner. His side collected a midweek win at Redcar in addition to a Division One cup victory over Thornaby but are now on an unwanted run of four consecutive defeats in the league.

However, ahead of Saturday’s match against Newton Aycliffe the boss received some positive news from Tom Bramley and Ben Sampson after both declared themselves fit and available for selection – and Skinner was able to include both players in his squad of 16.

Bramley – out for over six months with an ankle injury – was named on the bench whilst Sampson was included in the starting eleven and had a superb match in the middle of the park.

Skinner said: “Tom (Bramley) has been out a long time but trained on Thursday and came through okay. We suggested he might need to try his ankle out so we put him in the squad today as a precaution really given the circumstances we found ourselves in last week where we were really short on centre backs. It wasn’t really to involve Tom if I’m honest then before the game, I thought we were a little bit short up top because of the injury to Adam Johnson. We played Jamie Hanson and Jordan Lashley up front and gave them an opportunity and I thought if the game wasn’t going our way and we needed to chase it, then it was an option to put Tom (Bramley) at the back and push Ben Harmison up top. As soon as Ben went up there for the last 20 minutes it was almost panic stations in the Aycliffe back line! He wins things and brings the ball down and brings people into play. Ben did really well to play the ball on for Jamie (Hanson) and then Jamie has put it on a plate for Harmison to tap it in for our goal. We’ll see if Tom has any reaction but if not then it gives us a little bit of a lift at both ends of the field.” Skinner also showered glowing praise on Sampson: “The hamstring injury which Ben picked up seems to have settled down really well and quickly so it mustn’t have been as bad as first feared and been more of a twinge as opposed to a pull, strain or tear,” he commented, “Ben trained last week and said he felt comfortable and that he had no reaction – so I put him straight into the side and I thought he was excellent. He gave us that bit of presence and was really good at breaking the play up – but what I really liked about him today was once he won the ball, he was really positive in driving forward. He carried the ball and drove at the opposition – and opposition players don’t like you running at them. I thought Ben would be in the running for almost being one of our best performers on the day and I was delighted he came back in. It was definitely a plus point and we can now consider him moving forward.”

Photograph: Ian Brodie

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner said mistakes cost his side dearly as they tumbled to a fourth consecutive defeat against Newton Aycliffe at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday.

Striker Liam Jarvie scored both goals for the visitors – the second from the penalty spot shortly before the interval – and although skipper Ben Harmison netted ten minutes from time, it was the County Durham side who took all three points.

Skinner said: “I thought it was a pretty even game but one which was decided on mistakes – and Aycliffe have taken advantage of the ones made by us. I was disappointed with the first goal we conceded as to how easy Jarvie got through. We got the wrong side, Jarvie’s shot has gone through someone’s legs which is always difficult, and he’s finished it. However the game changed massively changed on 43 minutes when we’ve tried to play out from the back. Our body shape and everything else was all wrong and we were caught in possession on the edge of the box. We got away with that a little bit in terms of getting back to delay him (Jarvie) when he’s in the box and give away what was a very soft penalty. All of a sudden we go in at half time two nil down and you worry a little bit because it’s a recurring pattern. The last three home games we have gone in at half time 2-0 down and it then takes a big pendulum swing and a massive effort to get back into it.”

The boss was however, pleased with his side’s display after the break: “I thought second half, they (Aycliffe) looked to contain a little bit but from the first minute, we looked better and there was bit more intensity. We looked to play on the front foot a little bit more and to be fair we have fashioned some good opportunities. Jamie Hanson has had a decent chance; Liam Doyle has done really well to dance all the way to the by line and then tried to cross from a tight angle and the ball has gone across the face of the goal and trickled out for a goal kick. Dean Briggs has also had a golden opportunity where they (Aycliffe) have tried to play out from the back similar to us and whereas we conceded a penalty, they have presented the ball to Dean with an open goal. He’s under hit it and the defender has got back on the line to clear it. However, I was pleased with the second half performance; disappointed that we have lost the game and until we cut mistakes out, we are going to lose games of football.”

Skinner continued: “I thought we should have had two penalties and it will interesting to review the incidents on the footage.”

Ashington now go to Teesside on Saturday to face Billingham Town. Max Emmerson, Thomas Kalthoeber, Adam Johnson and Paul Robinson are all ruled out whilst fitness reports are required from Tom Bramley and Ben Sampson. However Luke Salmon – who was unavailable for last weekend – will come back into the reckoning.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC striker Adam Johnson has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

The 25 year old picked up an ankle injury quarter of an hour before the end of the Colliers home clash against Seaham Red Star: “I went to Wansbeck General Hospital the following day,” he said, “I had an X-ray which luckily showed no break or fracture but it revealed ligament damage and I was told I would be out of action for a minimum of eight to 12 weeks before I could even think about playing again. “

He continued: “I’m gutted because I wanted to help to get us as high up the league as we can – and I know the lads will be trying their best. On top of that there is also the quarter final of the Division One Cup. I think we are a good cup side and have shown that we can scrap it out when needed. Apart from the last two weekends, our home ground has been pretty much a fortress for us so I think it will do us the world of good to have home advantage for the cup tie on Tuesday April 5 against Guisborough Town.” Johnson – who joined the Colliers from Blyth Town in November – went on: “I’ve settled in here and I love it – and I’ll be watching and cheering the lads on from the sidelines.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s Thomas Kalthoeber and Ben Sampson are hoping to give manager Ian Skinner a double boost – despite the end of the season being just around the corner!

The two defenders are currently out of action with hamstring injuries but both are eyeing the possibility of a return before the Colliers travel to Consett for their final league game of the campaign on Saturday April 16.

Twenty year old Kalthoeber has a grade one tear which could keep him out for four weeks: “I’m not going to push things in case my hamstring goes again but ideally I would like to come back before the end of the season as we want to finish as high up the league as we can,” he said, “I picked up my injury in the Division One cup game against Thornaby over ten days ago and although I know we face a tough test against Guisborough in the quarter finals of the competition, if we can progress, it would give me an added incentive to try and return to the fold. I think the cup is an exciting prospect with some good teams left in.”

Meanwhile Ben Sampson said: “My hamstring was a bit tight in the cup match at Thornaby on the Wednesday and I played through it – then I felt okay when I was warming up against Seaham Red Star on the Saturday but during the game I went to kick the ball down the line and it just went. I’ve been resting it and I don’t think it’s too bad – and I’m hoping to be back before the end of the season.”

The 23 year old continued: “I’m gutted that I’m out when we’ve had an sticky spell over the last few weeks. However, we have improved so much and it’s easy to forget how far we have come.” Manager Ian Skinner said: “Obviously we will see how things develop but I’m writing Thomas and Ben out of the equation for the rest of the season. If we can get them back then it’ll be a bonus.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC boss Ian Skinner said at the weekend that if his players can’t look at Saturday’s 6-1 defeat at the hands of Guisborough and get motivated for the forthcoming quarter final cup clash against the Teessiders early next month, that his outfit have got problems.

Speaking in the wake of the heavy reverse, Skinner is challenging his players to bounce back for the Ebac Northern League Division One cup tie which is at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday April 5: “After losing 6-1 at home today and knowing you have got an opportunity in a couple of weeks time to play the same opposition in a cup competition in a straight knock out, if that doesn’t motivate this group of players to say ‘let’s go and show people that the 6-1 defeat against Guisborough in the league was not the real Ashington and that we’ll really be trying our utmost to book a place in the semi final’ – then we really have got problems,” he said, “It’s not solely because it’s a quarter final tie with the opportunity of a home semi final – it’s also as we have been nowhere near good enough today.”

The Colliers have four league games remaining and Skinner added that he doesn’t want the season to merely peter out. However for Saturday’s home clash against Newton Aycliffe (March 26), the boss will have to reckon without Max Emmerson, Tom Bramley, Adam Johnson, Thomas Kalthoeber and Ben Sampson who are all ruled out through injury whilst Paul Robinson is suspended.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was seething after watching his side slump to a 6-1 defeat at home to Guisborough Town on Saturday. The Woodhorn Lane boss said there were no excuses and that his players ‘need to have a look at themselves.’

After being one win away from going second top of the Ebac Northern League’s first division recently, the crushing defeat was the third reverse in a row for the Colliers who have now slipped down the table to seventh.

And afterwards Skinner said: “There are no excuses. I thought we started okay and kept the ball okay and were probably the better side until they (Guisborough) scored – and then we did what we do fantastically well where we concede twice within five minutes which gives us a mountain to climb. I always protect the group of players that we have here because I’ve got a lot of time for them – but they need to have a look at themselves now. That’s three Saturday’s in a row where we have fallen way, way short. There’s a phrase in football of ‘they’re either on the beach or don’t want to be here anymore’ and they (the players) need to decide which it is because those last three league performances aren’t good enough for this football club – and I’m not going to tolerate it anymore.”

He continued: “Don’t get me wrong – we’ve lost three of the back four today. We have got four centre backs at the club and all four are injured – two of whom are out for the season whilst we don’t know when the other two will return. So we’ve fielded a real makeshift back four and we’ve had to call on Owen Gourley to come and help us out – and credit to him. Owen hasn’t played at this level for a while and we’ve also had to ask Yannick Aziakonou to play at centre back which isn’t his preferred position but that said we attack as a team and defend as a team so I’m certainly not going to point the finger at the defence. Again you cannot plan for the goals we conceded – they are sheer individual errors which are unaccountable and the players need to start learning lessons. I don’t think Guisborough have created anything – yet they’ve scored six goals. We’ve literally – and Guisborough may chuckle at this – gifted them six goals and at this level you can’t do that.”

Skinner revealed that going in 2-0 down at the break, he challenged the players: “At half time all I did was to challenge them to show some spirit and desire and some want and I also challenged them for a performance which we haven’t seen for a few weeks but we know they are capable of. I told them they were in danger of unpicking all the good work they have done throughout the season to get them into the position we were in but the last few weeks they seem determined to just throw that all away. We have conceded four in the second half – that’s the reaction we got.”

He added: “We trained on Tuesday and the intensity was really, really good. Unfortunately we had to cancel training on Thursday due to unforeseen circumstances but the last three Saturday displays shows me they are not up for the fight.” Skinner revealed that he will step up his search to bring in new players this week: “There’s not long left before the March 31 deadline but I’m going to seriously have a look to see if I can bring one or two in,” he said, “It’s not something I usually do but because of injuries coupled with performances which are not acceptable any more – I feel I have no alternative.”