Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Two clinical finishes at the beginning of each half by Wil Shaw and Scott Fenwick wrapped up victory for Consett against Ashington at Woodhorn Lane on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Colliers – fresh from picking up their first win of the season following a 2-1 result over Stocksbridge 48 hours earlier – had plenty of possession but gave a poor and uninspiring display in front of a crowd of just under 700.

The home side had the first chance of the game when Oli Thompson and Craig Spooner worked a swift one-two which ended with the former’s shot being turned away by ‘keeper James Anderson.

But in the ninth minute, the home side pressed the self destruct button and consequently found themselves a goal behind.

Playing out from the back, they were caught out as they lost possession. The ball found Shaw who burst inside the penalty area before making no mistake with a drive which screamed past ‘keeper Karl Dryden before nestling inside the corner of the net.

Ben Sampson blazed wide and a cross by Thompson was cleared by Calvin Smith in the nick of time with Charlie Exley ready to pounce but generally Ashington were causing their own problems and on occasions their passing was sub standard.

Wilson Kneeshaw and Dan Maguire combined to set up Sampson whose effort was deflected for a corner and in the dying minutes of the half, Maguire turned on a sixpence and directed a left footer which flashed narrowly over.

Early in the second period, Spooner had a shot blocked by former Collier Ryan McKinnon then at the other end Zak Atkinson released Jack Gibbons down the right but the number seven hit the side netting.

Then in the 56^th minute the Steelmen added a second on the break when the ball was launched into the Ashington half. After beating Darren Lough in the air, Fenwick put himself through with a clear run on goal and applied a cool finish past the advancing Dryden.

Spooner threatened on a couple of occasions then Thompson and Karl Ross had efforts blocked by a Consett defence who defended manfully.

Inside the final ten minutes, Spooner provided a great cross from the left but substitute Mason Hardy headed well wide then play switched with Shaw driving wide of the far post.

With time running out, a shot by Thompson was snuffed out before Nathan Buddle’s pass found Hardy whose drive struck the outside of the post.