Match Report

By Mark Fitton

With only a handful of games remaining Ashington started this match having failed to beat any of the sides below them in the table at Woodhorn Lane. That particular record was blown away in some style as the Collier’s went nap with a commanding performance over the East Riding side.

After a heavy shower on Friday afternoon had left the pitch with significant areas of standing water there was concern amongst officials as to whether the game would even go ahead. A precautionary pitch inspection at 8am settled any nerves of another postponement and by the time the sides kicked off they did so in sunshine under a bright blue Northumbrian sky.

Ashington started brightly and crafted a number of early opportunities. The best of which came when Ben Sampson began a sweeping move with Karl Ross releasing Craig Spooner down the right. His centre found Sampson who almost ended the move he had begun with only a last ditch tackle keeping the scoresheet clean. On 10 minutes however, the Colliers’ dominance was rewarded with a good goal from Dan Maguire.

Another good move from the Colliers began with Ben Sampson picking up the ball in his own half. He again fed Karl Ross who in turn sent Craig Spooner down the right. The tricky attacker cut inside his man and played the ball into Sampson who’s inch perfect pass found Dan Maguire in between two defenders with the front man finishing with aplomb.

The Colliers continued to press and a Kneeshaw strike sailed over after more good work on the right by Spooner.

On 18 minutes home supporters began to think that history was once again repeating itself when Bridlington equalised through Lewis Dennison. The Colliers knocking the ball around with confidence played it back to Ben Williams but a rare mistake from the impressive youngster saw his back pass to Coombe come up short and Dennison finished well leaving the keeper with no chance.

Nerves were settled only a few minutes later however when Dan Maguire grabbed his second of the game. Another sweeping move from the home side saw Exley released on the left. The full back then threaded the ball through two Bridlington defenders to find Kneeshaw on the left side of the box and his pass across the face of the goal was met and side footed home by the unmarked frontman.

The Colliers continued to exert their dominance and skipper Karl Ross extended the Colliers’ lead on 33 minutes. Maguire and Kneeshaw combined through the middle with the later laying off the ball to Karl Ross cutting in from the right. Twisting and turning his way into the box Ross bamboozled the Bridlington defence before driving the ball, from a tight angle, past the helpless goalkeeper.

The game was put beyond the visitors on 37 minutes when Charlie Exley grabbed Ashington’s fourth goal of the afternoon. Spooner who was to be a thorn in Bridlington’s side all afternoon drove with purpose down the right and played an excellent one two with Kneeshaw and his cross, hurdled by Kneeshaw found Exley at the back post. The left full back again showed calm firing the ball between the sticks.

Half time 4-1

Ashington began the second half the way they had ended the first and put the game beyond any doubt four minutes after the restart. A high press from Maguire and Kneeshaw forced a minor error from the Bridlington Keeper. His ball out was met by Spooner who drove at the defence playing a perfectly weighted ball into Wilson Kneeshaw who deftly chipped the keeper under pressure from a tight angle.

Bridlington, who never gave up throughout, grabbed another consolation on 60 minutes. Lewis Dennison who had scored the earlier equaliser grabbed a second after good work down the right saw the ball played into him. Never breaking stride he hit the ball neatly on the half volley leaving Coombe stranded.

Whilst both sides had chances in the remaining half hour, the truth was the game had effectively ended with the Colliers’ fifth goal. Ashington managed the remainder of the game with little in the way of excitement but no doubt with an eye on Monday’s trip to Hebburn Town.

When the final whistle blew the vast majority of an excellent 520 crowd went home happy, knowing that an unwanted record had been broken on Easter Saturday.