Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Ashington went down to a third defeat inside a week when they lost 3-2 at Consett on Saturday.

The Colliers gave an improved display but left the Belle View Stadium with nothing to show for their efforts.

It was a bitter pill to swallow after a tough week.

In truth on the balance of play, the Colliers were worthy of a point.

The fact they never got one centred largely on two poor goals which they conceded in the second half before they staged a spirited finale.

Goals appear to be a common theme whenever these two teams meet and Saturday proved to be no different.

With only 65 seconds on the clock following a throw in, the ball found Wilson Kneeshaw who laid it off for Jack Camarda but he fired over the bar.

Consett hit back and when the ball was floated into the danger zone from the right, Brandon Holdsworth’s header brought a top save from ‘keeper Dan Staples diving to his right.

The deadlock was broken in the 12th minute. Andrew Cartwright fouled Isaac Walker in the area and although Staples blocked the resultant spot kick by Liam Colledge, home skipper Marc Costello was first to react to the rebound and headed the ball into the net.

After the early goalmouth action, the game turned into a lack-lustre affair and it was on the half hour mark before Ashington threatened again.

Cartwright found Matty Slocombe – who was playing against his former club – and the midfielder slotted the ball through for Andrew Johnson but his shot went narrowly over.

Two minutes later, Ben Ramsey cut inside from the right and his effort thudded against the bar with Staples rooted to the spot.

The Colliers got back on terms in the final minute of the 45. Michael Ndiweni was upended in the area and Jack Camarda sent ‘keeper Harry Moss the wrong way from the penalty.

However, Ashington could not have made a worse start to the second period as within three minutes, they were behind for a second time.

The ball was played down the right and as Staples advanced, Holdsworth applied a superb low finish, finding the far corner of the net.

Camarda drove over from 22 yards after Gary Ormston and Cam Gascoigne had combined to set up the opportunity then a back header by Slocombe was too high following a Camarda free-kick.

However a massive point arrived in the 72nd minute when ‘The Steelmen’ added a third.

They had just introduced Jake Jensen for Wil Shaw and within 30 seconds, the substitute latched onto a ball played into the danger zone before beating Staples from six yards.
Six minutes later, ex Collier Will Constantin was yellow carded for bringing Gascoigne down just outside the area and when Camarda’s free-kick was parried by Moss, Ndiwedi was blocked but the ball ran to Johnson who smashed it home.

As the game entered its final stages, Ashington threw on Eddie Thomas for Camarda – and it was Thomas who had a chance to equalise within minutes.

Ndiweni crossed from the right and Thomas flicked the ball towards goal but was thwarted by Moss.

Sixty seconds later, the home side were reduced to ten men when Constantin committed another yellow card offence and was sent off.

Thomas had another shot blocked before Consett saw the game out to claim the victory.