Competition: FA Cup

Crook Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Crook Town striker Sonni Coleman scored an injury time winner which sent Ashington spiralling out of the Emirates FA Cup at the Sir Tom Cowie Millfield ground on Saturday.

The late, late show from ‘The Black and Ambers’ – who had equalised through Corey Nicholson with quarter of an hour remaining – left the Colliers shell shocked.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. When Ashington had a goal kick in the first of four minutes of stoppage time added towards the end of the contest – and with the scores level at 1-1 – they elected to play out from the back. Given the same situation – with hindsight – they would make a different decision.

The Wansbeck side were barely three minutes away from bringing the Durham outfit back to Woodhorn Lane for a replay when they lost possession. The ball was whipped in from the left and Coleman did the rest with a header which found the net via the crossbar.

Ashington supporters couldn’t believe what they had witnessed as their side headed for the exit door.

Crook on the other hand were understandably in dreamland.

However aside from the error and especially the timing of it, the game should have already been out of sight with the amount of chances the Wansbeck side frittered away to add to their lead given to them in the first half by Paul Van-Zandvliet.

The first opportunity of the match came in the tenth minute when skipper Wilson Kneeshaw went past two defenders but shot across the face of goal.

Ashington then got in behind the home defence after a good move down the right but Kneeshaw’s cross was blocked.

Crook registered a chance in the 19th minute when Josh McDonald cut inside from the left flank and saw his right footer pushed out by ‘keeper Ross Coombe.

On the half hour, the visitors nudged ahead. Kneeshaw had a shot blocked on the left and when Craig Spooner whipped the resultant corner to the far post, the ball was headed home by Van-Zandvliet.

But the start of a plethora of missed opportunities came four minutes before the break following build up play involving Jay Errington and Cyril Giraud. The latter played the ball square to the unmarked Jack Camarda but he fired over from 18 yards.

Seconds later, Kneeshaw was through one on one but ‘keeper Alex Curran was swiftly off his line to close the striker down and block his effort.

On the hour, neat approach work saw Errington set up Giraud whose low drive was saved with his feet by Curran.

Midway through, a 25 yarder from Camarda whistled just wide then a cross by Matty Slocombe was missed by Errington. The ball ran to Spooner but Curran once again saved with his legs.

Then in the 76th minute, Ashington lost possession and Corey Nicholson went through and slotted the ball wide of Coombe for the equaliser.

Crook immediately had an extra spring in their step and three minutes later, Colliers substitute Andrew Cartwright – who had just replaced Camarda – made a vital tackle to stop Ethan Bewley.

And it was Cartwright who should have put the Colliers back in front with only two minutes of the 90 remaining but he lashed over.

Crook took the lead through Coleman before in a frantic finale, substitute Michael Ndiweni’s effort was blocked for a corner and a header by Paddy Almond was pushed over the bar by Curran.

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Bishop Auckland vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Cam Gascoigne struck a spectacular winner five minutes from the end of extra time to send Ashington marching into the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Following three fascinating games in eight days between the two sides, it was hardly surprising that this replay went the full distance – with Gascoigne’s breathtaking effort from fully 40 yards taking Ashington through where they will travel to meet Ebac Northern League outfit Crook Town on Saturday week (August 31).

This game had just about everything crammed into it. After a very cautious start, it was the Colliers who created first and after a shot from Gascoigne had been blocked by home ‘keeper Ryan Catterick, Cyril Giraud then dragged an effort wide.

Shortly afterwards, Catterick was called into action again, pushing a shot from Craig Spooner aside.

The opening half hour had been a game of cat and mouse but it exploded in the 33rd minute when the Wansbeck side took the lead with an outrageous strike by Jay Errington.

Both sides were guilty of losing the ball before when Errington picked up possession and unleashed a cracking left foot drive from the edge of the box which rocketed into the net leaving Catterick helpless.

Two minutes later, the 20 year old ought to have added a second. Wilson Kneeshaw pulled the ball back from the by line but Errington scuffed his effort which rolled narrowly wide.

Then four minutes before the interval, Bishops had a great opportunity to equalise when Louis Johnson rolled the ball to the unmarked Matty Tyson but the forward struck an effort which was held by ‘keeper Dan Staples.

Early in the second half, Kneeshaw had a chance but could not get the ball out of his feet and Bishops recovered to thwart him.

The Two Blues – the better side after the break – drew level in the 70th minute.

The ball was slipped wide to the unmarked Brandon Holdsworth and the substitute struck a cool left footed finish wide of Staples.

Holdsworth went close with a free-kick from 25 yards before Ashington forced the pressure in the dying minutes.

Gascoigne shot wide then Spooner fired a great chance the wrong side of the post and in the first minute of stoppage time, Errington was through and side stepped Catterick only to see his effort cleared off the line.

In the first period of extra time, Catterick held a weak effort from Spooner then when play switched, sub Alexander Walker header over from a right wing corner.

Holdsworth must have thought he had put his side ahead in the 103rd minute but his effort – arrowing towards the top corner – was magnificently tipped over by Staples.

At one end Spooner went close with a free kick then at the other Johnson side footed wide.

With the clock beginning the tick down, a fantastic long ball by Paddy Almond found Kneeshaw who was clean through but saw his shot blocked by Catterick.

The game appeared to be heading for a penalty shoot out when Gascoigne’s low effort from distance crept just inside the post – and minutes later, the whole of the Ashington contingent were jubilant when the final whistle was blown.

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Ashington vs Bishop Auckland

By Brian Bennett

It wasn’t primarily the half time pep talk which led to a complete transformation in Ashington’s performance as they battled back to force a replay against Bishop Auckland in the preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.

Joint head coach Richie Hill revealed afterwards that during the interval, an ‘honest open discussion’ was held in the changing rooms and before the second half got underway, the management team had made the decision to replace Matty Slocombe with striker Jay Errington.

And the difference was chalk and cheese. The Colliers – awful in the first period and guilty of constantly giving the ball away – deservedly got back on terms with a quality strike from Cyril Giraud and they should have gone on to win the match.

This was the second instalment between the two teams – Bishops having won the league clash 2-1 on the same ground earlier in the week – and this game which was beamed out live by the BBC didn’t disappoint supporters who were inside the ground or watching via iPlayer, red button and online.

Now another titanic and mouth watering clash will take place on Tuesday night (August 20) when the replay is staged at Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park with a 7.45pm kick off.

The first action came in the fifth minute when a dangerous in-swinging corner by Craig Spooner was cleared off the line before neat combination play involving Cam Gascoigne, Spooner and Paul Van Zandvliet led to a shot from Giraud taking a deflection and going behind for a corner.

It was midway through the period when Bishops had their first shot with an effort from distance by Joe Bartliff.

However in the 23rd minute, it was the Two Blues who took the lead. Ashington’s achilles heel came to light once again as they lost possession and when Jordan Fielding played the ball through, Louis Johnson advanced into the area before placing a left footed shot which went wide of ‘keeper Dan Staples and just inside the far post.

The visitors had looked composed during the first period but Ashington’s introduction of Jay Errington was to prove a key switch.

The substitute was involved immediately as he linked with Wilson Kneeshaw to set up Giraud but the number eleven overrun the ball slightly and ‘keeper Ryan Catterick collected.

On the hour Spooner delivered another flag kick which was headed off the line by Dale Milburn but seconds later, it was Spooner who played the ball to Giraud and a piece of magic from the midfielder resulted in the equaliser.

Giraud made space for himself as he weaved inside the area, switched the ball from his right foot to his left then drove an effort between Catterick and the near post.

After that it was one way traffic with the Colliers much the stronger outfit as they carved out several opportunities.

On 70 minutes, Kneeshaw was clean through but his shot was saved by the legs of Catterick then seconds later, the stopper saved at the second attempt from Van-Zandvliet.

Giraud hit the side netting before a stinging 30 yarder from Charlie Exley flashed just wide then a drive from Kneeshaw was finger tipped away for a corner by Catterick.

Ashington just could not find a winner – so the teams go head to head again in the replay on Tuesday (August 20).

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Shildon vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

They did it the hard way – but Ashington started the season proper with an excellent 4-2 win against Shildon in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The Wansbeck side trailed at the interval to a goal from Shildon’s long serving striker Billy Greulich-Smith before a second half transformation saw the Colliers turn on the style.

In a storming display, Ashington’s goals came from Wilson Kneeshaw (2), Cyril Giraud and Jon Shaw.

The upshot is that with Bishop Auckland beating their local rivals West Auckland, the Wansbeck outfit will now host Bishops on Saturday August 17 – and face them twice in the space of five days as the teams clash earlier in the week in their Northern Premier League East Division fixture.

Conditions were perfect at Dean Street on a sunny but humid day and with no wind – and within seconds of kick-off, the Colliers could have put their stamp on proceedings.

Andrew Cartwright played a ball down the right flank which saw Cam Gascoigne advance into a good position but when he pulled the ball back, his cross was intercepted by a home defender.

Just past the quarter hour mark, a great ball played over the top of the Shildon back four by Paddy Almond released Craig Spooner with only home ‘keeper Shaun Newbrook to beat but his shot was blocked by the stopper.

In the 20th minute, Shildon broke the deadlock. Leighton Harris produced some good work as he charged through the middle from his own half and when the ball found Greulich-Smith, his initial effort was parried by ‘keeper Dan Staples but he followed up to net the rebound.

With half time approaching, Paul Van-Zandvliet found Gascoigne who dragged a right footer wide of the far post.

For the start of the second period, Ashington made two changes with Cyril Giraud and Eddie Thomas replacing Van-Zandvliet and Spooner.

Chances had been at a premium in the first half – but within a minute of the resumption, a turning point arrived.

Greulich-Smith released Andrei-Vasile Ardelean in the clear but the striker fired his shot across goal and wide with Staples looking on.

However on the hour, Ashington stunned the hosts with two goals in as many minutes.

The first saw Kneeshaw latch onto a through pass and after taking the ball around the advancing Newbrook, he slotted home the equaliser.

Ashington supporters had barely finished celebrating when Giraud put them in front. He ran from the half way line before firing into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.

The visitors had well and truly lit the touch paper and after Kneeshaw had smashed a half volley into the side netting, substitute Jay Errington put the forward clean through but he was thwarted by Newbrook.

The ‘keeper came to Shildon’s rescue seconds later as he parried from Errington who had been set up by Giraud and the procession of chances continued as from a flick on by Errington, Kneeshaw drove the ball across the face of the goal.

However two quickfire strikes put the Colliers firmly in control.

The first came in the 75th minute as Kneeshaw beat the offside trap and finished superbly wide of Newbrook.

Debutant Jon Shaw then got in on the scoring act with a sublime effort as he moved across the park from right to left before he chipped left footed over the advancing Newbrook with the ball nestling inside the corner of the net.

In the closing stages, Shildon – who had hit the bar – reduced the arrears when Ardelean forced the ball home and in stoppage time following a run down the right by Luke Spalding, Staples bravely smothered the ball in the nick of time ahead of Ardelean.

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Eddie Thomas

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A new signing for the 2024/25 season, centre forward Eddie Thomas makes the move to Woodhorn Lane after recent spells at Marske United and Whickham. He played a major part in Newton Aycliffe’s promotion to the Northern Premier League, scoring 18 times in the 2022/23 season. Eddie has represented England Universities, featuring in the Home Nations tournament this summer against Scotland and Wales. Former clubs also include Gateshead, Dunston and Crook Town.

Jon Shaw

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A vastly experienced player that has had a long and successful career in both the Football League and non-league. Jon started his career at Sheffield Wednesday, making 18 first team appearances, scoring goals against QPR and Luton Town, before moving to Burton Albion where he made over 100 appearances. He would later move to Halifax Town, scoring 20 goals in his first season at The Shay, before making transferring to Rochdale. He went on to have spells at Gateshead, Mansfield Town and Luton Town, where he won the Conference Premier title, before returning to Gateshead. He would later move onto South Shields and Dunston, before joining Blyth Spartans, first as player/assistant manager and then taking on the role as manager at Croft Park last season. Now back playing, Jon scored a fantastic goal on his Colliers debut in the FA Cup win at Shildon. Jon has 6 England ‘C’ caps, scoring once against Barbados.

Jay Errington

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Young striker that joins the club from Northern League Newcastle Benfield for the 2024/25 season. Jay has also previously played for Blyth Spartans.