By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner has said that his outfit will need to be at the top of their game if they are hoping to find success when they tackle a Newcastle United under 23’s side at The dwmedia Stadium next week.

The Colliers meet the Magpies in the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup on Tuesday (December 14) with a semi final place at stake.

Skinner said: “We’ll be adopting the same approach as we do with every other game we play. We’ve trained this week and start to prepare for the Newcastle clash and we’ll have a little look at how they play and see if there’s anything we can use to our advantage. It’ll be a tough game but one which we’ll be trying to win and make progress in the competition.”

The boss believes the home crowd can play a huge part in a clash which has a 7.30pm kick-off: “It’s a game which the players and myself are looking forward too because it’s always good to pit your wits against full time professionals and I’m sure we’ll get a decent attendance through the turnstiles,” he added, “However our supporters can also play a key role by being our 12^th man with the noise and encouragement they generate from the stand and on the terraces.”

He continued: “It’s a nice occasion for the club but all I’ll be interest in is trying to advance into the next round – and I’ll make sure we are ready to do that. I’ll be looking at it as being 11 v 11 but we’ll need to be at our best and if we are, we’ll give them (Newcastle) a good game and hopefully we’ll come out on the right end of a good result.”

Skinner has to reckon without Jordan Lashley who is unavailable for the tie whilst Adam Johnson is cup tied: “We haven’t got a game on Saturday (December 11) so we’ll probably train or have an in-house sort of practice match,” added the boss.

West Allotment based whistler David Pill will be in charge with Charlie Ford and Dora Jakab as his assistants.

*Meanwhile Thomas Kalthoeber is back in the fold at Woodhorn Lane following a spell with Percy Main Amateurs. Kalthoeber came on as a substitute towards the end of the 6-1 victory over Whitley Bay on Saturday and Ashington manager Ian Skinner said: “Thomas has returned to the club full time having been at Percy Main to get game time and regain fitness. He has trained well with the squad over the last two weeks and it was good to see him back on the pitch against Whitley Bay on Saturday.”

Photo: Keith Saint

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s recent signing Adam Johnson scored a brace as the Colliers went on a goalscoring spree with a 6-1 win over Whitley Bay at Hillheads on Saturday.

However, the striker revealed afterwards that he could have grabbed a treble: “It’s always nice to score your first goal for a new club so I was delighted – but to be honest I could have notched a hat-trick! For my first, Craig Spooner passed the ball to me from the left – I took one touch – then drove it into the bottom corner and Craig (Spooner) was involved again for the second which I finished off with my right foot. I thought it was a really good game played out in front of a big crowd and I thoroughly enjoyed it. All of our lads were brilliant grafting from the very first minute.”

Ashington-born Johnson was delighted with the result – but stressed that consistency is a key issue for his side: “It was a tremendous bounce back performance today after our defeat at Crook Town,” he added, “but we can’t do that on a regular basis because the only way to get higher and higher up this league is through consistency. If you can’t win you try hard not to lose. Our biggest aspect is to graft and with the quality we have got going forward we will always score goals but we have got to try to concede fewer. Initially when we went 1-0 down today I thought ‘not again’ but then the quality of the lads saw us bounce back and everyone grafted; closing the space between players; watching the ball and getting there and it was just perfect from all of the boys.”

24 year old Johnson – signed from Blyth Town – has settled in quickly at Woodhorn Lane: “I love it here – it’s brilliant,” he said, “The training is really good and there is a great group of players.” However the Blyth-based striker will be forced into a watching brief on Tuesday night (December 14) when Ashington take on Newcastle United under 23’s in the quarter final of the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup – as he is cup tied having played for Blyth Town against the Colliers in the last round: “I’ll be at the match to spectate and support the lads,” said Johnson, “I’m gutted about having to miss out because it will be a massive game to play in.”

Photo: Keith Saint

By Brian Bennett

Jordan Lashley could be forgiven in believing his debut for Ashington against Whitley Bay on Saturday was a ‘walk in the park!’

Following his transfer from Bedlington Terriers on Friday, the Colliers newcomer scored twice and claimed an assist as the Wansbeck outfit comprehensively wrapped up a 6-1 win at Hillheads.

However, Ashington manager Ian Skinner had initially decided to ease Lashley in gently and had left him out of the squad – until a U turn on the morning of the match: “It’s a nice little story to be honest,” said the boss, “I put the squad out on Friday night and I spoke to Jordan and said I’m not going to put you straight in, I’m going to give you time to train with the squad and for you to get to know the rest of the lads and to gauge what it’s like. Then I was walking the dog in the park on Saturday morning and I had received a report on Whitley Bay from their midweek game at Newton Aycliffe. I thought about how I should approach the match and what would be the best outcome so I decided to bring Jordan in! I sent him a message telling him to bring his gear as I might have had a change of heart and he went from not being in the 16 to being in the starting 11.”

Skinner continued: “Jordan took a little while to warm into the game but he’s young; he’s quick and direct; he’s got good feet and can go past people and he’s got an eye for goal – and I’m pleased I changed my mind but I’m also delighted for him.”

Speaking after the match, 23 year old Lashley said: “On Friday night I wasn’t even in the squad but nevertheless I fully believed the lads would get the three points,” he said, “I got a text this morning to bring my gear and obviously found out before the game I was in the squad. I would have been happy to have been on the bench but when I was named in the starting line up I was very surprised. The boss (Ian Skinner) put his trust in me and I’m glad I repaid him with the two goals and we got the win.”

He continued: “Last week, I was just buzzing knowing of Ashington’s interest and that they wanted to sign me. I’m a local lad and I wanted to test myself. I was in the junior side at Ashington playing for them at the old ground at Portland Park and it’s great for me to sign for my hometown club. My whole family are delighted as well because they are big Ashington supporters so it’s a proud moment for them.” Lashley’s goals came in the 37^th and 54^th minutes as a rampant Colliers outfit brushed the Seahorses aside: “I was pleased with my debut but I could have scored a hat-trick,” added North Seaton based Lashley, “The first goal was the result of a link up with Liam Doyle on the right where he cut the ball back to me. The first few shots I had I went far post but on this occasion, I gave the ‘keeper the eyes and fired it in at the front post and luckily it went into the bottom corner. The second came after a break in play with a counter attack. I got the ball, ran forward and smashed it towards the far post and was glad when it hit the net. However, to notch two goals and claim an assist was unbelievable – and I couldn’t have dreamed about this last night.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s Neil Cooper was clearly delighted after the Colliers had hit Whitley Bay for six on Saturday.

And after the 6-1 away victory, the first team coach revealed that the key factor behind the success was how the players executed the game plan to perfection.

Cooper said: “Following the defeat at Crook Town, the main thing we worked on at our training session in midweek was to get that out of possession narrow; get the ball pressed and stay narrow out of possession; win the ball back and put them under pressure. We had to be wary as to how Whitley Bay were going to react coming into the game off the back of a heavy defeat (8-0 against Newton Aycliffe) especially when they got the early goal today and were they going to push on. However, when Josh Gilchrist put them in front, we were so much on top and it was a case of us keeping the pressure on and to keep going – and the lads did exactly as we asked of them carrying out the game plan to perfection.”

Stakeford-born Cooper continued: “At the start of the match, their ‘keeper (Dan Lister) has made a save from Craig Spooner in the very first minute. We went a goal behind – the lads wondered if it was offside – but it was nevertheless a soft one to concede. Even then they kept to the game plan really well. In the Crook Town game which we lost 4-0, the players did well when in possession; we hit the woodwork four times and the Crook ‘keeper has made saves but out of possession we were very poor all over the pitch. So we said to the lads today ‘we need to get into Whitley’s faces; we need to press the ball and we need to keep working hard out of possession which I thought they did. They worked as a team pressing and they backed each other up all over the pitch and got the benefit of what they did. You look at the saves which Dan Lister has made for Whitley Bay and at 1-0 (to them) and even when we were 2-1 ahead, he’s kept them in the game.”

He went on: “I wasn’t too disappointed going in with a 2-1 lead at half time. Whitley Bay have scored and blazed one over the bar but our ‘keeper Karl Dryden hasn’t had a save to make. You just haven’t got to panic and to make sure you score the next goal because it’s important and you don’t want the opposition to get their heads up. You know they (Whitley Bay) are going to come out the first ten minutes in front of their home crowd and are going to press you and they are going to work and from our angle we had to be big and strong. It was unfortunate for Whitley Bay after their midweek loss but we knew they would want to come out and get at us so we knew we had to do things right. We also believed that if we scored a third, we would go on to score a few more.”

Cooper – a retired fireman – who was previously reserve team manager at Whitley Bay for a period of four years, linked up with the Colliers via neighbours Bedlington Terriers: “I’ve been at Ashington for three months now and I’m settling in,” he added, “Ian Skinner is very much a hands-on manager but I’m getting more time to coach on the pitch at training sessions and also being involved on match days. I’m thoroughly enjoying it – it’s brilliant.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner said the 4-0 away defeat at Crook Town on Saturday was frustrating as well as disappointing – especially as it came on the back of an inspired performance against Consett the previous week.

Ewan Forster was an early marksman for the Black & Ambers then Edward Thomas plus substitutes Kai Hewitson and Mason Hurworth added further goals in the second half.

Skinner said: “Frustrating and disappointing are the words which spring to mind – whilst after the Lord Mayor’s show is another term which is sometimes used. Everything which we did really well against Consett we didn’t do today if I’m honest. I don’t know whether the players have thought that because we’ve held the league leaders (Consett) 3-3, we just needed to come to Crook and things would happen for us – only this league isn’t like that. This league is built on working hard first and foremost and being willing to roll your sleeves up and battle and scrap – and today we were too easy to get at. In terms of all four goals which Crook have scored, they haven’t cut us open with good play nor has it been a bit of individual brilliance – it’s just been really easy for them and that’s despite us probably across the 90 minutes having more possession than them.”

He continued: “Crook have played what I would class as being a typical Northern League performance where they have looked to get the ball forward quickly; looked to get people around the ball quickly and looked to put the ball into the box quickly – everything which the Northern League has been built on for years whilst we have wanted to pass it (the ball) all the time without really creating too much. That said we have hit the woodwork twice in each half and the Crook ‘keeper (Ronan Makepeace) has made a couple of good saves in the second half.”

He went on: “It just felt as if when we got to the final third, there wasn’t really that cutting edge if I’m honest. I’m really disappointed – and hopefully the players will be too. All we can do is to put it to one side, train this week and prepare for Guisborough Townat home on Saturday (November 27).” Apart from Max Emmerson and Tom Bramley who remain sidelined, the boss should have an otherwise full squad to select from for the 3pm kick off against the Priorymen.

Since the early 20th Century, Ashington FC have played their home matches in their traditional colours of Black and White.

For our game against Newcastle United U23s in the Northumberland Senior Cup next month, we will however be breaking this tradition to wear our all blue away kit to promote the MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease Association), a charity close to the hearts of many at the club.

Club Chairman Brian Shotton commented “This organisation is very close to us all at the Football Club in memory of our dear friend Les Alderson who passed away in 2013. Personally, I also lost my Grandad to MND in 1998 so knew from a young age how devasting this illness is. It is a privilege for us to continue to raise awareness and funds for MNDA – their continued research, support for those living with MND and their families. We will look forward to the match and would love to see as many people turning out in blue as possible”

For every sale of our away shirt we donate £5 to the MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease Association) charity to aid their work and research into this debilitating disease.

On the evening, it would be great to have a sea of blue and orange shirts in the crowd, and shirts can be purchased from our online shop.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s newest recruit, Adam Johnson was pleased with his debut in the 3-3 draw against Consett on Saturday – and revealed that had he scored, it would have topped the day off.

Johnson – who was signed from Blyth Town in midweek – had a hand in the first goal as the Colliers took the lead against the league leaders and he said afterwards: “Ashington are a really good club to be part of. They are very ambitious and the facilities here are great. I’ve enjoyed my first game and I was happy with the graft I put in – but I could have done a bit better with the chances which came my way and if I had scored that would have been the cherry on the top of the cake. However, I was delighted to be involved in the opening goal which was a great move down the right hand side when Max Cowburn and myself combined and led to a great header from Craig Spooner.”

Johnson – who has joined his home town club – continued: “It was a really good game to be part of today. It was hard work and a good battle but they are the best games and are great for the supporters to watch as well. We’ve definitely got the backing of the fans who were noisy today and I think the club can go a long way.”

The 24 year old striker caught the eye at the beginning of last month when he was part of a Blyth Town side who came so close to causing an upset in the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup – against Ashington – at The dwmedia Stadium on an awful wet and windy night in Wansbeck.

Johnson scored a double – one goal in either half – to put the second division side 2-0 in front but the Colliers went through after scoring three times in the final quarter hour with the winner coming in stoppage time.

“The game is still fresh in my mind,” said Blyth-based Johnson, who is a factory worker in Cramlington “but now I’ll be kicking my heels because I can’t play for Ashington in the quarter final against Newcastle under 23’s next month because I’m cup tied!”

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner said: “I think AJ (Adam Johnson) should be pleased with his debut because I certainly would if I was in his shoes. We had a little decision pre game today against Consett about do we throw him straight into the side or do we ease him in. If I’m honest, he’s a centre forward and we’ve been playing a little bit without one so we thought ‘we’re at home and we’ve now got a centre forward so why have a one on the bench and not on the pitch’ – so we gave him the number nine shirt.” He continued: “Adam trained really well and looked sharp and what we saw in training we saw on the pitch today. He works tirelessly for the team; he’s always a threat; he’s quick and strong; he looks to run in behind; he chases things and I think he’ll be a good asset in terms of helping us stretch the opposition. Adam said he was a little bit disappointed with the chances he had – and on another day he might have scored – but as debuts go in terms of his endeavour, work rate, effort, application and the bit of quality he showed, he should be delighted. We took him off with 90+3 minutes on the clock and part of the reason was to help us see the game out. The other was because I wanted him to get a bit of recognition for a player who has stepped up from the second division of this league into the top flight and who was thrown straight into the team against the league leaders (Consett).”

Photo: Ian Brodie

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC midfielder Danny Anderson paid a glowing tribute to the supporters at Woodhorn Lane labelling them as being ‘quality’ – following the Colliers thrilling 3-3 draw against Consett at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday.

With only four minutes of normal time remaining and his side trailing 3-2, Anderson popped up to not only score his first goal of the season but his first for two years to help his side salvage a richly deserved point against the league leaders.

And afterwards, a beaming Anderson said: “Fair play to the supporters who were quality as they cheered us on all the way. Full credit to them because they were behind us even when we were losing and making mistakes – and that pushed us on to get the equaliser.”

Ashington-born Anderson reflected on his goal – and says he has a hunger for more: “I was only about four yards out when the ball came to me but I got in front of the defender and it was an unbelievable feeling when it (the ball) hit the net. The stats will correctly point out that it was my first of the season – but it was also my first since I scored at North Shields two years ago when we went on to win the game! However, I’m hoping it’ll be the start of something special because I want to get on the score sheet more regularly. As a box to box midfielder I would like to pick up some goals like some of other the lads do but sometimes I’ve been playing in a four, which alters my role in the side.”

North Seaton-based Anderson – who turned 20 in September – added that the Colliers need to add consistency to their game: “We always seem to bounce back after a loss but now we need to kick on,” he said, “We have drawn today but it feels like a win when you grab a goal so late on. I was really happy and it was great to get a point against the league leaders but we need to keep our levels up and find that consistency no matter who we are playing. It was a good game to play in today and even when I scored it felt unreal with the amount of noise from the supporters and it’s great that people continue to come through the turnstiles and support us.”

Ashington FC boss Ian Skinner said: “Danny has been in good form over the last few weeks – and I think the recent spell when we had Damen Mullen here with us on a month’s loan really helped him. Damo was good for the team and I always say to the younger lads in the squad when the more experienced players are around to learn from them because they are good players as well as being good people who look after themselves and do things right. When Damo went back to Hebburn I said to Danny; ‘you’ve got to step up now and I want you to play in that deep lying role and I want you to get on the ball and pass it for us.’ He’s tried to do that for us in the last couple of games and today he has kept going; got on the ball and has done what I asked him to do.” He continued: “If he makes a 60 yards ball and it doesn’t come off he’s confident to still try and get on the ball and do it again. I was pleased for him that he got his goal because he never stopped working. We were behind in the game and were pushing bodies forward and the ball has gone wide and he’s done what centre midfielders should do – make a run into the box – and thankfully the ball dropped to him and he’s finished it and helped us earn a point. It’s a challenge we had with all the midfielders at the start of the season where we needed them to chip in with goals to take the burden off the strikers and today (v Consett), all of our goals have come from midfield players – Craig Spooner, Luke Salmon and Danny (Anderson) so I’m delighted with that.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner took time out at the end of a see-saw thrilling encounter at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday before giving his postmatch thoughts on the 3-3 draw with Consett.

The boss then emerged from the dressing room and said: “It was a game this afternoon between what I consider to be two good sides – both who like to try and play football – so I thought it would be pleasant on the eye and it didn’t disappoint. Even being involved in it and the emotions we’ve gone through of being in the lead right the way through to us equalising near the end, I still think I’ve been able to process and appreciate what I’ve just watched. First half I thought we played well and if you break the game down across the 90 minutes, Consett ‘keeper Kyle Hayes has made more saves than our ‘keeper Adam McHugh. First half Hayes has made a great stop from Max Cowburn and another couple in the second half – again one from a Cowburn free kick and AJ (Adam Johnson) when he was through one on one then the ‘keeper got up and scooped the rebound away to safety. It was a really pleasing performance by us and as I say every week, this group of players are willing to work hard for each other, listen and try to play in the way we ask and encourage them to play which we think best suits their strengths. We had a disappointing result at Thornaby and yet again we’ve bounced back with a very good performance.”

He continued: “I thought our first goal was brilliantly worked and it was a fantastic header by Craig Spooner at the back post and I thought we deserved to be ahead. We then just wanted to get to half time 1-0 up – so I was a little bit disappointed we conceded an equaliser from a corner with the ball bouncing in our box. I think there was at least one opportunity to clear it and we haven’t to be fair and James Metcalfe has hit the ball through legs and bodies and it’s gone in. At half time we talked about coming down the bank second half and how the game gets drawn into that side and we started relatively brightly. However I was slightly frustrated that we’ve conceded again in similar fashion as at Thornaby whereby we’ve had the ball in the opponents box and they have broke and scored. It was a great ball in to be fair from Jake Orrell but I wasn’t sure that we deserved to be behind. However credit to this group of players because they never know when they are beaten – certainly not at home – and we got back into the game with a fantastic finish from Luke Salmon with a scissor kick-type-esq finish and then for a little period after that we looked like we might pinch one (a goal) and go into the lead but being super critical we just tried to force things a little bit too much. We had a 10 to 15 minutes spell where we wanted to play a 40 or 50 yard pass in behind to almost try and play the perfect ball and at times it looked dangerous but on other occasions, the gaps between the units gets too big and I thought we could have been a bit more patient and built the play a little bit just to get our energy levels back because we did have a spell where our levels dropped slightly.”

He went on: “I was disappointed with Consett’s third goal because it looked a poor one to concede. We had an opportunity to clear it but gave it away. However yet again our character came to the fore. It was deep into the game with nine minutes left when they (Consett) went 3-2 ahead. We made a couple of substitutions and changed our shape to try and get more bodies forward and to have a go. Yannick Aziakonou played the ball wide – we work it – and by hook or by crook Danny (Anderson) at the back post hadn’t given up and we equalise. I then had to make multiple changes again because we had changed our formation to try and get back into the match and if I’m honest the way the game was going I thought ‘yes we want to win it but let’s make sure we don’t lose it having got back on level terms. We reshuffled the pack and changed back a little bit and the game petered out a little bit towards the end.”

He added: “All in all I thought we at least deserved a draw and if I had rose tinted glasses on I’d say we possibly could have won it in terms of game defining saves. Kyle Hayes for Consett has made three or four more than our ‘keeper Adam McHugh. Adam made one in the first half where everyone thought the ball was going wide but it’s hit the post and come back and he got down to it fantastically well – but other than that I can’t remember too many where he has had to go full length.” Skinner thought the crowd were magnificent – and got value for money: “The supporters added to the occasion,” he said, “The game itself was a fantastic spectacle and the crowd of 735 – plus the atmosphere – was good and it had a proper football-match-feel to it. Credit to Consett who brought a good following with them but it was an excellent game and I’m pretty sure the crowd had value for money.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC midfielder Max Emmerson has been ruled out for the rest of the season after tearing his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).

The 20 year old sustained what can only be termed as a freak injury eight games into the campaign in the 1-1 away draw against North Shields.

Last week North Shields-born Emmerson – a student at Sunderland University – received the results of a scan which revealed that he needs surgery for a full reconstruction of his knee.

“I have completely torn my ACL,” he said as he took in Ashington’s top of the table clash against Consett at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday, “I’ve got to go in for surgery later this month then it’s a recovery period of possibly six to seven months. I was more disheartened at first, not knowing the extent of the injury and although I’m gutted I’ve learned to accept the situation after being told what the diagnosis is.”

He continued: “I was enjoying playing for the club (Ashington) and the game when I did the injury against North Shields was one of the biggest of the season for me. It happened ten minutes into the match when I turned. My legs stayed rooted whilst my body went the other way. There was no contact with any other player.”

Ashington FC boss Ian Skinner said the club will support the Newcastle based youngster all the way: “It’s the news we feared to be honest,” said Skinner, “On the night when it happened, I just had this feeling that it was an ACL injury and all along we have worked towards that being the outcome. Our club physiotherapist Jay Robertson has looked at Max multiple times and felt it was an ACL and we just needed the results of the scan to confirm it.”

He continued: “I’m devastated for Max because he’s been fantastic for us since he came to the club and it’s probably the biggest setback he’s ever had in his football career. The good thing is that because we thought it was an ACL, Jay (Robertson) has been doing some pre op work with Max so when they do operate, he will obviously have some strength in and around the area.”

He went on: “As a club we will continue to support Max and it was great to see him at the game today (v Consett) and as soon as he has had the operation, I’m sure we’ll help him 100 per cent with his rehab. It’s a one of those situations where there are no short cuts – and he knows that – so he’ll do the rehab to the best of his ability and follow the guidance which he is given. Obviously we’re disappointed to lose Max for the rest of the season but we’ll look forward to seeing him back in a black and white shirt in the not too distant future.”