Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Josh Gilchrist’s 14^th goal of the season brought Ashington three precious points from their clash against Liversedge at The Leading-Edge Clayborn Stadium on Saturday.

Gilchrist’s strike which came with 20 minutes remaining was the only piece of quality on the day as the two sides struggled to put anything together.

However, despite this result, Ashington are not safe from the relegation trap door. They climbed up to 14^th in the table whilst defeat in Yorkshire would have seen them drop into the bottom four.

Colliers boss Nick Gray had said earlier in the week that results – not performances – were the be all and end all as the end of the campaign closes in. At 5pm on Saturday night, Ashington supporters realised exactly what the Woodhorn Lane boss meant with only three points separating eight clubs at the wrong end of the East Division. Consequently, the importance of Gilchrist’s goal could not be understated.

It was a warm day in West Yorkshire – but what a dreary affair this was. It was uninspiring from start to finish as both teams struggled to put two passes together and after the opening quarter, it looked to be a game which had 0-0 written all over it.

The home side exerted pressure in the early stages. Jack Dyche struck a half volley which was clutched by ‘keeper Ryan Catterick to his left; a 30 yards free-kick by Ryan Watson was finger-tipped over by the stopper then after a bit of ping-pong in the Ashington penalty area, George Sebine stabbed wide.

It took the Colliers a full half hour before they fashioned a half chance when Liam Henderson helped on a cross from the left and Ben Sampson’s effort went over the bar.

Liversedge broke with Jack Crook firing wide and the final piece of action came shortly before the interval when Catterick held a header on the goal-line from a corner.

Just before the half-way mark in the second period, Danny Ellis went close with a full blooded 35 yarder which just cleared the bar.

Then came the all-important goal. Jamie Holmes slipped the ball through to Gilchrist who coolly placed a left footer from 14 yards wide of advancing ‘keeper Jamie Hassall.

Two minutes from the end of the 90, Craig Spooner’s shot from inside the area went across Hassall but struck the base of the post, rolled along the line and was cleared to safety.