Match Report

By Brian Bennett

Ashington made it three wins on the bounce and climbed out of the bottom four after a 3-2 thriller against Ossett United on Saturday.

The result also saw the Colliers complete their first double of the season having collected a 2-1 victory over the West Yorkshire outfit in September but they had to work extremely hard before overcoming their opponents who were reduced to ten men in the early stages of the second half.

Once again, the wind whipped up at Woodhorn Lane and the home side – who had the wind on their backs in the first half – made a great start when they forged ahead after only 90 seconds.

Josh Gilchrist played the ball down the flank for the overlapping Karl Ross and when the skipper crossed, Craig Spooner sent a looping header wide of ‘keeper Aleksandar Petrovic and inside the far post.

Despite the setback, the visitors looked sharp in attack in what was a lively start.

Jack Crook was through on goal but a heavy touch by him saw home ‘keeper Matty Alexander gratefully take the ball just inside the penalty area.

Shortly afterwards, Luca Bolino charged clear and Ashington were relieved when his right footer flashed wide of the far post.

On the quarter hour, Alexander made a vital stop from a shot by Joseph Crosby before Liam Henderson struck over on the half volley at the other end after a headed knock-down by Liam Noble.

Henderson was involved again when he glanced on for Gilchrist but when the winger centred, the ball went across the face of goal.

Crosby had an effort which took a deflection to roll just wide before Ashington doubled their lead in the 44^th minute.

The ball fell to Gilchrist inside the area and faced by Petrovic, he calmly dummied the ‘keeper before cutting inside and blasting home.

Seven minutes into the second half, it was certainly ‘game on’ after the visitors halved the deficit.

The ball was crossed from the right where Samuel Pashley’s header from just inside the area went wide of Alexander and inside the corner.

In the 55^th minute, Ross latched onto a quickly taken free-kick by Noble but when he centred, Ashington again had no-one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Two minutes later, goal scorer Pashley – who had already been booked – was involved in an incident at the far side and after referee Daniel Forbes had consulted with his assistant, the Ossett defender was shown a second yellow card followed by a red.

Gilchrist had a goal chalked off for a foul on Petrovic but with Ashington looking for a third and Ossett an equaliser, the game developed into an end to end contest which continued right until the end.

The visitors got on terms in the 77^th minute when the ball was swung into the area from the right where Ashington substitute Andrew Anderson turned it past his own ‘keeper Alexander.

Incredibly six minutes later, the Colliers got their noses back in front – with another own goal.

Noble’s pass down the wing found Gilchrist and when he crossed low into the danger zone, an Ossett defender nudged the ball into his own net.

In the dying embers of the game, substitute Josh Cairns and Spooner both missed out on opportunities to make the game safe before the final whistle brought another welcome three points for the Wansbeck side.