By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner saw his side hit double figures at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday with victory over Billingham Town.

For the 4-0 result was the Colliers tenth league win of the season and afterwards, the boss labelled the display as being a real solid performance: “We had to make sure we stayed in the game and try to manage the conditions in the first half then use them to our advantage second half – and fair play to the players because they were excellent, following on from Tuesday night’s win at Newton Aycliffe where they were superb,” he said, “Consequently, I was really pleased because it was a real solid performance and another pleasing victory played in difficult circumstances. We maybes had to be patient but the wind was blowing and the pitch was heavy. I thought for the first 30 minutes we were comfortable and were the better side without really fashioning too many chances of threatening the goal but I thought we had the majority of possession and we moved the ball relatively well. However, when we got to that final third, our final pass maybes went awry or astray. Billingham came into the game just before half time and they had a period where they looked as if they could score or they posed a threat going forward which they hadn’t done earlier in the game.”

He continued: “I was pleased we got in 0-0 at the interval. First half it was a workmanlike performance and we did well. For the second period we talked about what we always talk about – ‘can we come down the bank with the wind on our backs and can we look to really stretch them and can we look to play with a bit of quality and tempo about our game and see if we can score early in the half as then that makes it really difficult for them (Billingham) because they then have to come out. They tried to play in a mid block and to be fair they didn’t really get out of their own half very often. As soon as we scored the first goal, I was confident it was always going to be a case of can we go on and score two or three. Our third goal was a fantastic move with great football which is what we have been about all season and credit to the players. We ask them to try and play expansive and with tempo but they take on the instructions and to win 4-0 again at home is fantastic not only for us as a group but for the supporters who came in there hundreds again which is great to see – that’s with lots of other clubs who are at home today and premiership football just up the road.”

Skinner gave a special mention to Liam Doyle who unselfishly laid the ball off for Dean Briggs to net the second goal: “Liam is that type of player,” he said, “He works and runs hard for the team and he showed his quality in the final third today. He’d probably be the first to tell you, that he prefers to play a little bit deeper but he’s come in and played down that right hand side and the last couple of games, he’s made that position his own. Today it would have been easy for him to have a strike at goal himself but he has put it on a plate for Dean (Briggs). Then later in the game in a similar sort of situation, he’s tried to pick someone out in the middle to score and their defender (Lexus Beeden) has put the ball into his own goal.”

He went on: “The players are a good tight group who are together and over the last ten days there’s been a real coming together. Obviously some people will look at that 5-0 defeat we had at West Auckland – and I still stand by the comments I made at the time that it was a funny old game and unless you were there to see it for yourself, you probably wouldn’t believe it. We then went to Newton Aycliffe who are a good side and blown them away in the first 45 minutes and then today we’ve had to be a little bit patient – and without being disrespectful – we’ve again blown the opposition away in the second 45 minutes. That comes from the group of players we have got at this football club and I’m bordering on saying that it could potentially be the best group I’ve ever worked with to be fair in terms of there togetherness. There are no egos in the dressing room; they all want to work hard for each other; they are all genuine and honest and they are reaping the benefits. And the club are reaping the benefits too because they are performing for the club.”

On Saturday (November 6), Ashington travel down to Teesside where they meet Thornaby.

Max Emmerson and Tom Bramley remain sidelined through injury but Bobby Taylor and ‘keeper Karl Dryden should return to the squad. Dean Briggs is emigrating to Dubai at the start of the week whilst Damen Mullen has returned to Hebburn Town after completing a one month loan.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton was clearly thrilled after the draw for the quarter finals of the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup landed his Woodhorn Lane side a plum home tie against Newcastle United under 23s.

The date for the game at The dwmedia Stadium has quickly been finalised and will take place on Tuesday December 14 with a 7.30pm kick-off. Tickets have already gone on sale to season ticket holders and will go on general sale on Tuesday November 2.

Giving his reaction, Mr Shotton – who has been at the helm for three years – said: “First and foremost it’s a home draw but obviously playing a Newcastle United side has always been a big game for the club whether it be a friendly or any other and to be fair I don’t think we have played them in a competitive fixture at home for many years. We were looking for a clash against Newcastle or Blyth Spartans which would attract a good crowd, so naturally we are delighted. However I’ve got to say that our home crowd are backing us to the hilt with attendances of around 500 on Saturday’s and nearly 400 against Sunderland RCA last midweek so I’d like to think that the Ashington public will come out and enjoy the night and cheer on whichever side they want to support.”

The 37 year old continued: “It will be fantastic to welcome Newcastle because even though I’m a Sunderland fan, I’ve got to admit that there’s a good buzz and a lot of excitement around St James’ Park at the moment.”

Crowds at Woodhorn Lane are on the up this season and Mr Shotton said: “I think it’s a vast mix of different things but it’s making a massive difference to the club both on and off the field. We have attracted a lot of new supporters who are undoubtedly enjoying what they are watching especially the last two home performances. We scored eight goals; played some superb football which we haven’t seen for years and last week against Sunderland RCA, we kept the ball for 30-40 passes. However, the club are also doing a lot of good as well as hard work to get us to where we are and people can see that and at the end of the day Woodhorn Lane is a pleasant ground to come too with great facilities.”

Mr Shotton revealed that tickets prices for the Newcastle clash will be as normal: “It’s important to keep the ticket prices the same but obviously we would encourage as many people as possible to pay online,” he added.

The price of online tickets will be £6 (adults); £2 (senior citizens and students) and £1 (under 16’s) but entry on the day of the game will be £1 more. The ticketing site can be found at: https://ashingtonafc.ktckts.com.

The other ties in the competition are: Bedlington Terriers v Newcastle University; Morpeth Town or Whitley Bay v Blyth Spartans and North Shields v Heaton Stannington.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was naturally disappointed – but not too down heartened – after reflecting on his sides 5-0 defeat against West Auckland on Saturday.

The boss said that it was not the worst performance of the campaign – highlighted that four of the five goals conceded were avoidable – and that generally it just wasn’t going to be the Colliers’ day.

Speaking afterwards, Skinner noted: “There was a tentative start to the game where both teams wanted to feel each other out knowing that we are relatively close to each other in terms of league positions. If you look at it on chances alone, it’s probably been one where it hasn’t been our day. They (West Auckland) scored five and instantly four of them were avoidable goals caused by individual errors. However I repeat what I said recently – nobody makes mistakes on purpose but unfortunately some of the positions where we have made the errors today have cost us a little bit. We have got good players and they don’t make them mistakes on purpose and then there was a big deflection for the third goal which you can’t do anything about.”

He continued: “Our ‘keeper Karl Dryden will be disappointed but he’s a very good goalkeeper and he’ll continue to be a very good goalkeeper for this football club but its possibly one of those days where Karl will tell you himself that for three of the goals he would probably save them on another day whilst a big deflection wrong foots him and goes in the other corner. But we’ve hit the bar; had two cleared off the line; fashioned a couple of half chances so on chances alone, we’ve probably had as many as West Auckland – but they were that little bit more ruthless and were a little bit slicker and a little bit more clinical than us. At times, we possibly didn’t quite get close enough to them and ultimately that has probably cost us the game.”

He went on: “I’ve got to be honest and say it’s a difficult post match interview to do because we have lost 5-0 and usually after a defeat I would be really, really despondent and disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still disappointed at losing the game but if you process and break things down, although there were things we could have done better, it certainly wasn’t our worst performance of the season. We’ve had a couple of days like that this season where everything we have touched has turned to gold and ended up in the back of the opposition’s net where today we were on the other side of it where everything in terms of chances has gone West’s way a little bit and they’ve had a bit of good fortune on some of them.”

He added: “We’ll dust ourselves down and we have another big game away to Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday night (October 26) and what we have been good at is bouncing back after a disappointment – so we will try to right the wrongs and look for a bit of reaction and try to return to winning ways as quickly as possible. That’s only the fourth time we have lost a league game this season and there will be individuals who will be disappointed with some of the mistakes they have made but they are not done intentionally and we’ll move on.”