Match Report

By Brian Bennett

A hat trick by Josh Gilchrist brought Ashington their first league win in 10 matches after they got the better of Bridlington Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

In midweek the Colliers had arrested an awful run of seven consecutive defeats with a merited 0-0 draw against Carlton Town in Nottingham – after ‘keeper Ross Coombe had saved a 92nd minute penalty.

Not surprisingly manager Nick Gray announced the same starting eleven on Saturday against a side who sat one place above the bottom four – but the boss tweaked his formation.

Gray handed recently signed Gilchrist a role up front – and the move proved to be a masterstroke as the former Whitley Bay and Dunston UTS player was a livewire and in the thick of the action all afternoon.

However it was not all plain sailing for the Wansbeck outfit that were forced to do things the hard way after they trailed twice in the opening period.

It was the visitors who fashioned the first chance in the sixth minute with Alex Peterson heading over from a cross from the left but it prompted a quick response from the hosts with Ben Sampson finding Gilchrist on the left and his cracking ball fizzing across the face of goal with only a touch required.

In the 11th minute, Ashington paid the price for slack marking when the ball reached Sam Leverett on the edge of the area and he opened the scoring placing a left foot effort wide of the diving Ross Coombe.

Ashington grew into the contest and after a right footer from Sampson had flashed just wide followed by a 30 yards free-kick by Craig Spooner which was narrowly off target, the Colliers drew level after a lovely flowing move.

Wilson Kneeshaw started things off in his own half before finding Spooner inside the centre circle who passed out wide to on-loan defender Ryan Wombwell – making his home debut after putting pen to paper from neighbours Morpeth Town.

Wombwell then advanced down the right flank before he slotted the ball through for Gilchrist who caressed a side footed shot wide of ‘keeper Ben Voase and inside the far post.

However five minutes later, Bridlington forged ahead again after another defensive frailty.

A corner on the left was back headed by a home defender across the face of his own goal and Leverett – standing almost on the line – nodded the ball into the net.

The lead lasted a mere eight minutes before Gilchrist claimed his second – from the spot.

Sampson slotted the ball through for Wilson Kneeshaw who was blocked by Voase before the ‘keeper upended Gilchrist.

Referee Tyler Dutton pointed for a penalty and after a delay where the stopper received treatment and was also shown a yellow card for the offence, Gilchrist stepped forward and made no mistake, drilling his shot emphatically into the net.

Minutes before the interval, Bridlington almost went ahead for a third time but Coombe turned around an effort from Dan Hartley.

It proved to be a key moment as six minutes after the break Ashington completely turned the game on its head when they went 3-2 in front.

The home side won the ball midway inside the visitors half which released Spooner and after darting into the box, his whipped cross was turned in by Gilchrist who completed his hat-trick.

After that, chances were rare although the Colliers twice came so close to adding a fourth which would have given them some breathing space.

Sampson fed Jay Errington who cut inside and his left footer missed the far post by inches then in identical fashion, Kneeshaw fired narrowly over.

The Colliers were defending superbly but after substitute Ethan Harrison had hooked over following a long throw in by Josh Barrett, the visitors were presented with a golden opportunity in the 89th minutes to grab an equaliser.

Ashington sub Gary Ormston was harshly penalised for a handling offence inside the area but Leverett missed out on claiming a hat-trick when his powerful penalty thudded against the underside of the bar, bounced down and was cleared.