Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Ashington began the new season in emphatic style as they went on a goal scoring spree against Seaham Red Star at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

Victory alone would have been a dream start for manager Ian Skinner – but the boss must have been purring at some of the football his side conjured up as they totally blew away the visitors, dominating the game from start to finish.

The final score was 6-0 but the Colliers could – and should – have recorded double figures without question.

Newcomers Lee Mason and Dan Maguire – the former who hit a brace – both opened their accounts whilst Lewis Suddick fired a double and although it was the opening day of the Ebac Northern League campaign, Craig Spooner surely put his name into the hat for a goal of the season contender after a stunning strike on the hour.

Ashington were all over Seaham from the first whistle. Inside 70 seconds, they ought to have gone in front when Maguire laid the ball off sideways to Dean Briggs. His shot was repelled by ‘keeper Andrew Jennison who also thwarted Suddick from the rebound.

In the fifth minute, more work by Maguire saw him again set up Briggs but the midfielder’s effort saved by Jennison.

However, four minutes later, Lee Mason broke the deadlock. Briggs and Karl Ross combined down the right and when Andrew Cartwright delivered a superb cross into the danger zone, Mason delicately side footed the ball from seven yards wide of Jennison and in off the post.

Spooner then played a one-two with Jordan Summerly and saw his right footer held by Jennison before the visitors had there first opportunity when Thomas Lawson swung the ball over from the right but Mark Robinson blazed over.

After that, it was bang, bang, bang from Skinner’s side with the pressure unrelenting.

Briggs fired just wide from 20 yards; Maguire moved across from right to left and when he slotted the ball through for Briggs, the number ten saw his shot deflected wide.

Briggs again went close from the edge of the box – but sixty seconds later, Suddick added Ashington’s second.

Briggs was the provider and Suddick remained cool as a cucumber as he neatly turned his marker close to the by line then whipped a low right footer past Jennison.

In the 35th minute, it was 3-0 with the same two Ashington players at the hub of the move. Briggs won possession and laid the ball off to the right for Suddick who made no mistake.

There was no respite for the visitors and after a free kick from distance by Suddick was held by Jennison, Maguire fired an effort narrowly over.

Ashington began the second period in identical fashion to the first and in the 49th minute, moved into a 4-0 lead.

The goal began with nonchalant but excellent work by Robbie Dale. Dale found Cartwright on the right flank who clipped the ball forward to put Maguire through and the centre forward lobbed over Jennison as the ‘keeper advanced.

Mason added the fifth in the 54th minute. Briggs floated a free kick from the left and Mason applied a clinical side foot finish after arriving at the back post.

Briggs must have thought he had scored after substitute Adam Johnson put him clear but the over worked Jennison saved with his legs.

However thirty seconds later, Spooner scored the goal of the game after Ashington had worked a short flag kick on the left. The midfielder let fly with a terrific right footer from the corner of the penalty area which screamed past Jennison and inside the stanchion.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Johnson cut inside from the right and his left foot effort was arrowing towards the top corner before Jennison tipped it over in brilliant fashion to deny him.

And the non-stop action from the Colliers continued until the final whistle.

Substitute Paul Robinson was foiled by Jennison who saved with his feet then sub Jordan Lashley rounded the stopper but his goalbound shot was cleared off the line by the retrieving Daryll Donnelly.

The last attack saw a great ball from Dale find Lashley but he was also denied by the Jennison.