Competition: FA Cup

Paul Robinson

2024/25 Sponsor: Brian Shotton

Robbo re-joins the Colliers for the 2024/25 season after a year with Newcastle Blue Star. A veteran winger with plenty of tricks, Robbo was a huge part of Ashington’s success in recent years, scoring twice in Ashington’s 4-1 Northern League Cup final win over Newcastle Benfield in 2022, and then playing a major part in Ashington’s hugely successful 2022/23 campaign as the Colliers won the Cleator Cup, reached the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round and gained promotion to the Northern Premier League after a 3-0 play-off final win at Glossop North End. After playing professionally with Tranmere Rovers, Grimsby Town and York City early in his career, Paul would go on to win the FA Vase on 3 occasions with Whitley Bay and North Shields. Robbo has also played for Darlington, Blyth Spartans, Bedlington Terriers and Morpeth Town during his illustrious career.

Craig Spooner

2024/25 Sponsor: Gav Perry

Attacking midfielder Spoons is now in his fourth season at Ashington after making the move from North Shields in 2021. A former Newcastle United youngster, Craig went on to play for Whitley Bay and West Auckland Town. A very versatile player that has covered in both full-back positions. A set piece specialist who scored Ashington’s first goal back in the Northern Premier League with a stunning free-kick against Brighouse Town on the opening day last season. Spoons made 39 appearances last season, scoring 5 goals.

Jordan Summerly

2024/25 Sponsor: WOR MARCH FOR MEN

Left back that loves to get forward, Jordan is now in his fourth season at Ashington. Formerly with Blyth Spartans and North Shields, Jordan has won the Northern League Cup, Cleator Cup and promotion to the Northern Premier League during his time at Woodhorn Lane.

Ashington vs Newcastle Benfield

By Brian Bennett

Ashington had midfielder Luke Salmon sent off as the Colliers tumbled out of this seasons Emirates FA Cup at the first hurdle against Newcastle Benfield at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday.

The midfielder was shown the red card by North Shields based referee David Pill for flailing an arm towards a Benfield player ten minutes from the end of what then turned into a seven goal thriller in this extra preliminary round tie.

With the Woodhorn Lane side hanging on to a 2-1 score line, Salmon’s red card was the pivotal development in this cup tie. Within three minutes, the visitors were level through Connor Walker and shortly afterwards the Lions thought they had wrapped the game up with further goals from Abubaker Salim and Dennis Knight. However, Tom Bramley netted his second of the game for the home side and in the dying seconds, sub Bobby Taylor drove agonisingly wide of the post.

Yet two minutes before his indiscretion, Salmon had also been the focal point in a controversial incident.

On a swift counter attack, Ryan McGorrigan advanced down the right flank and crossed but Salmon – who was charging through the middle at full speed to meet it and would have only had ‘keeper Andrew Grainger to beat – had his shirt cynically pulled back by a defender – only the offence was not spotted by the officials.

The game brought together two unbeaten sides after their opening league games and although it developed into a mistake-ridden affair, the first half was pretty even.

Ashington started the brighter and Max Cowburn – who had scored twice on Tuesday against West Auckland with executed free-kicks – was presented with another opportunity from similar range after six minutes but on this occasion, his whipped right footer landed on top of the netting.

Then Cowburn, Dean Briggs and McGorrigan linked neatly and the latter’s shot on the turn was superbly blocked by Bradley Varga.

However in the 12th minute, Cowburn scored the opener following a great move down the left flank involving Salmon and Briggs.

Briggs’s effort was blocked but the rebound fell into the path of Cowburn who steadied himself then hammered home.

Three minutes later, Benfield’s Cameron Gascoigne cut inside but dragged wide before McGorrigan, after receiving from Cowburn, smacked a shot against the post with Grainger rooted to the spot.

Two minutes on and former Colliers midfielder Ritchie Slaughter levelled the scores.

Benfield’s captain had time to look up and fire into the top corner from 25 yards.

And before the half hour mark, another ex Ashington player – Jake Turnbull – saw his effort turned over by home stopper Adam McHugh.

With the period drifting towards a stalemate, Tom Bramley edged the Wansbeck side ahead for a second time when he was first to the ball to poke home a Danny Anderson corner from the left.

However, the Lions certainly roared from the first whistle after the break and the home goal led a charmed life.

On 53 minutes, Bramley – with no room for error – timed his tackle to perfection inside the box to thwart Salim then Gascoigne fired wide from distance.

Benfield were dominating the midfield and after Gascoigne had blazed over and McHugh had parried from Aiden Haley, Lewis Scorgie headed over a cross from Slaughter.

With Ashington struggling to piece anything together, Benfield continued to be in the ascendancy with substitute Knight stabbing wide before he had another effort fisted out by McHugh.

It seemed only a matter of time before Benfield would draw level but in a quick sorte by Ashington on the counter, the controversial incident involving the pulled shirt on Salmon which was missed by the officials, led to vociferous shouts from home supporters.

It was quickly followed with Paul Brayson finding the net but the veteran striker was ruled offside then came the explosive moment where Salmon completely lost his discipline and was ordered off.

In the 82nd minute, Walker latched onto a cross from Brayson to slam in the equaliser
then four minutes later, Salim headed across McHugh and inside the post from another delivery from the right flank.

Home sub Bobby Taylor went close with a sizzling half volley from the edge of the area but in the 90th minute, Knight unleashed a 25 yarder which bounced over McHugh and into the roof of the net for Benfield’s fourth.

Surely that would be the final action – but in the second minute of stoppage time, Bramley went up front and got on the end of a cross by Anderson to clip past Grainger.
Taylor was not far away – then came the final whistle with Benfield marching off as deserved winners.

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West Auckland Town vs Ashington (Pens: 3-0)

(*) – West Auckland Town won 3-0 on penalties.

By Brian Bennett

They say it never rains but it pours …… Ashington’s hopes of reversing the trend of results from away games against Stockton Town and West Auckland failed miserably within the space of four days last week.

Although the Colliers put up a spirited display at Stockton, they are still searching for a win after seven visits, going down to a what was a harsh 3-0 scoreline. On Saturday Ian Skinner took his squad to the Wanted Stadium to face West Auckland – a venue where Ashington, ahead of the clash, were still looking to break their duck of wins, having mustered three draws and lost eight from 11 clashes. But again it wasn’t to be.

Instead it was heartbreak as they were the better side in the second half and came back from being 2-1 and 3-2 down to force a draw – but then lost after a penalty shoot out. It was cruel…so cruel. Yet the early exchanges could so easily have seen West out of sight as they repeatedly got in behind the Colliers defence inside the opening 20 minutes. The first chance – and clear cut one at that – came after only five minutes when Jordan Blinco had a one-on-one with only Adam McHugh to beat but saw the ‘keeper block his effort for a corner and from it, McHugh again kept West at bay. Ashington’s first sniff arrived in the 12th minute when Thomas Kalthoeber and Dean Briggs featured to set up Dan Cranston but he delayed his shot and was snuffed out.

On the quarter hour, the home side had a glorious opportunity to go in front – from the spot. Full back Liam Hegarty ventured into the area where he was clipped by Max Emmerson and referee Grant Cuthbertson awarded a penalty. Anthony Bell stepped forward to take the kick but was thwarted by McHugh who made a brilliant save low down to his right to turn the ball aside. Blinco drove wide before West got to the by line again but the cross was intercepted.

Minutes later – at the midway stage of the half – Ashington boss Ian Skinner made a substitution replacing Owen Gourley with Lewis Robson and switching Elliot Tate to the middle of the defence. Ten minutes before half time, Kalthoeber and Briggs combined but when the latter crossed into the danger zone, the ball was hacked away. Briggs was beginning to be a threat and after having one shot deflected behind, the youngster put his side into a shock 41st minute lead with a stunning individual effort. He ran from the half way line, skipping past two challenges and then after moving into the area, drove left footed across ‘keeper Thomas Flynn and into the corner of the net.

But the old cliché of a side never being more vulnerable after scoring reared its head again as West were back on terms barely sixty seconds later when Blinco was allowed time to fire wide of McHugh from the edge of the box. And amazingly, the hosts were in front a mere 50 seconds into the second half.

They had introduced Kyle Fryatt for Mason Hurworth for the start of the period and after Ashington had conceded a needless corner on the right, Michael Hoganson’s accurate delivery with pace on it found Fryatt whose effort went into the roof of the net despite a last ditch attempt by the visitors defence to clear. The goal sparked a response from Ian Skinner’s side with Briggs a constant menace. The midfielder crossed where Cranston fluffed his lines inside the box and after Tom Bramley had headed over a corner from the right, it was Briggs who instigated an Ashington leveller shy of the hour mark. His darting run to the by line saw him cross and when Flynn pushed out his cross, the ball fell to Lee Scott who smashed it into the back of the net. Now level at two goals apiece, a massive turning point arrived shortly afterwards when Briggs was nudged in the back and went to ground inside the area but penalty appeals were unanswered by the match referee. Sixty seconds on and a 20 yards free-kick by Max Cowburn took a deflection and was pushed away by Flynn then in the 61st minute of this action packed encounter, West went back in front.

They built up through the middle and when the ball found Adam Mitchell, his exquisite right foot curler from the edge of the area gave McHugh no chance. However, maximum credit to Ashington who quite simply refused to feel sorry for themselves – and within five minutes, a restart by McHugh found Briggs who lobbed goalwards over the advancing Flynn but the ball was cleared off the line. Then in the 78th minute – and deservedly so – the Colliers got an equaliser from who else but the irrepressible Briggs who latched onto a cross from Elliot Tate and finished with aplomb from eight yards. Ashington could not find another way through …… then came the agonising penalty shoot out. West scored their first three kicks through Blinco, Callum Patton and Hoganson but when Scott smashed his kick against the bar and David Luke and Cowburn both had their efforts saved by Flynn, the Colliers were out.

Ashington: McHugh, Tate, Kalthoeber (Taylor 71 minutes), Emmerson, Gourley (Robson 23 minutes), Bramley, Cowburn, Luke, Scott, Briggs, Cranston (Ross 71 minutes)

Subs not used: Anderson, Slater, Hall (gk).

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