Match Report

By Brian Bennett

It’s an increasingly worrying situation.

Last season Ashington avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth.

Now after four consecutive defeats – and with teams around them picking up points – the dark clouds are again hovering menacingly over the Woodhorn Lane based outfit.

Before Christmas, Nick Gray’s side put together a run of four wins on the trot but since the slender 1-0 loss against neighbours Blyth Spartans on Boxing Day, it’s been one defeat after another.

Consequently the Wansbeck side find themselves embroiled in a battle to get away from the drop zone – and following Saturday’s 4-1 reverse against Silsden they are only two points above the trap door.

The trip to West Yorkshire to face Silsden – another club in the mix – was crucial. Now every game is becoming bigger and bigger after the last four results.

Not surprisingly, Ashington’s assistant manager Liam McIvor has labelled the Colliers’ upcoming derby clash away to third from bottom Blyth Town on Saturday (January 31) as a ‘cup final’

The resurgent Gateway Park side go into the contest having won their last two matches.

On Saturday at the Regal Interiors Stadium, there was a bit of deja vu for the Colliers as they found themselves 3-0 down by the interval – an identical situation they were in during their recent home game against Bradford Park Avenue.
There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the opening quarter of the contest with Ashington looking comfortable – then it all began to go wrong.

In the 24th minute, ‘keeper Matty Alexander blocked Kayle Price’s initial effort but Price followed up to poke the ball home.

The turning point of the match arrived two minutes later when Ashington thought they had equalised.

Liam Henderson headed home from a Liam Noble free-kick but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside with the Colliers convinced Henderson had run past a defender before nodding in.

Within 60 seconds, Silsden doubled their advantage with a wonder goal from Jake Cassidy.

The striker was allowed all the time in the world to fire a right footer from 25 yards wide of Alexander and into the net.

The picture got worse in the 36th minute when Cody Cromack’s cross was spilled by Alexander and following a melee, Luke Brooksbank forced the ball home.

Shortly before the interval, Silsden hit the bar then minutes into the second period, a 25 yarder by Noble clipped the top of the woodwork.

Liam Wotherspoon and substitute Louis Burns both had efforts brilliantly saved by home stopper Tommy Brown whilst at the other end, Alexander denied Brooksbank.

In the 74th minute, Ashington were caught on the break and after Cassidy’s shot had struck the post, Price slammed in the rebound.

With seven minutes of the 90 remaining, Brown grabbed hold of Henderson just inside the area and after the referee had awarded a penalty, Josh Gilchrist converted from the spot.