Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Ashington remain in the bottom four of the East Division of the Northern Premier League after a penalty scored by Curtis Burrows just past the hour mark proved to be the defining moment which gave promotion chasing Belper Town a slim victory at the Raygar Stadium.

Overall, the Colliers were the better side over the 90 plus minutes but whilst it was an encouraging performance, it was another defeat on the road.

Archie Small – signed on loan from Darlington – made his debut in defence and was part of a back line that coped well with the aerial threat posed by ‘The Nailers’.

There was little to choose between the sides in the first period.

Early on, Josh Gilchrist found Wilson Kneeshaw down the line but his cross was blocked then Craig Spooner had a shot which was partially saved by ‘keeper Kieran Preston and rebounded to the stopper off a defender.

Belper’s first raid came when Kelan Swales headed over and five minutes later Harry Draper nodded wide at the near post after a move involving Swales and Larell King.

However there was also a piece of controversy in the contest with home ‘keeper Kieran Preston somehow escaping any form of punishment after handling the ball midway inside his own half.
Kneeshaw clipped a ball which went right across the face of goal then on the stroke of half time, Small made a great block to deny Nathaniel Crofts.

In the second period, Ryan Wombwell pulled the ball back but Spooner’s shot lacked power then a turning point arrived when Kneeshaw found Gilchrist whose effort was finger tipped wide of the post by Preston.

After Gilchrist had fired over, Burrows edged his side ahead in the 63rd minute.

With the assistant flagging to indicate a free-kick to Belper down the right flank, the referee played the advantage and when Draper went down in the box under challenge by Paddy Almond, the match official awarded a spot kick from which Burrows sent ‘keeper Ross Coombe the wrong way.

After that, Coombe saved with his legs to deny Swales whilst for the Colliers Spooner had a shot held by keeper.

In stoppage time, Gilchrist blasted over the bar before the final whistle was blown which brought the curtain down on yet another afternoon of disappointment and frustration for the Wansbeck side.

Before kick-off, players, officials and supporters observed an impeccable minute’s silence for Armistice Day.