Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Football managers often use the cliché ‘you don’t always get what you deserve.’

On Saturday the expression was so apt to sum up Ashington’s afternoon as Cleethorpes pulled off a smash and grab raid when they scored with their only chance of the game to take all three points at the Myenergi Stadium.

As a result, Will Annan’s goal early in the second half sent the Colliers to their fifth league defeat of the season.

It was a bitter pill for the Wansbeck side to swallow which left them bewildered as they did everything but score during a contest which was played in gentle rain throughout.

Indeed they could have nudged ahead as early as the fifth minute.

The quick thinking Craig Spooner played a free-kick down the channel for Scott Heslop whose shot on the turn went past home ‘keeper James McKeown and was heading towards the net until the ball was cleared off the line by retrieving defender Jordan Cooke.

Spooner fired well over but after that, the only other semblance of a chance came as the half edged towards its conclusion.

Jordan Summerly and Declan Bisset combined to set up Spooner but he shanked his effort wide.

However, in the 52nd minute, it was The Owls who pounced to take the lead – after Ashington had lost possession.

Annan advanced before curling a superb right footer from outside the area wide of ‘keeper Karl Dryden and inside the far corner of the net.

In the final quarter hour, Ashington bombarded the home goal – but could not find a way through.

A chipped pass by Kyle Errington saw Heslop direct a header straight into McKeown’s midriff; a free-kick by Spooner rattled the bar then a cross shot by Matty Dopson clipped the outside of the post.

With time running out, Ben Sampson and substitute Max Emmerson both unleashed right foot thunderbolts which were goalbound but were blocked and pushed out respectively by McKeown.