By Brian Bennett

They talk long and hard about the magic and romance of the FA Cup and on Saturday, Ashington again experienced a day which will be embedded in their history.

The Colliers caused a major cup upset – this time with a 2-1 win over Bradford Park Avenue – and what’s more, the Colliers enjoyed and fully deserved another slice of success.

The visitors who play three divisions higher in the National League North, the same as Blyth Spartans, languish near the basement of the table – but that was irrelevant to Ian Skinner’s side who gave it their all and went toe to toe with their opponents from West Yorkshire in what was a thrilling tie.

Ashington – who saw off Northern Premier League, Premier Division outfit Ashton United in the last round via a replay in Wansbeck in front of a crowd of 671 – even had the added satisfaction of boasting an attendance in excess of 700 with Woodhorn Lane rocking from the first whistle until the last.

Before kick off an impeccable minutes silence was observed by players, officials and supporters following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

When the game got under way, home supporters got a taste of what was to come in the fourth minute when Dan Maguire had an effort on target which cannoned off Reece Staunton on the six yards line.

Sixty seconds later when Ashington took the lead, it may have been courtesy of an own goal but nevertheless typified their high tempo start.

Andrew Cartwright picked out Dean Briggs with a superb cross field pass from right to left and after skipping past his man, the midfielder whipped over a cross into the danger zone which Staunton sliced past his own ‘keeper George Sykes-Kenworthy.

Ashington continued to go full throttle at their visitors and on the quarter hour after receiving from Briggs, Craig Spooner had Sykes-Kenworthy scampering across his line with a 25 yarder which went narrowly wide.

In the 18^th minute, the visitors thought they had levelled through Jacob Blyth following a free-kick but the goal was disallowed for offside then Maguire found Lee Mason but a timely tackle by Staunton thwarted him.

Bradford had a lot of possession from the start of the second half and in the 53^rd minute, a shot from Jamie Spencer was tipped around by home ‘keeper Karl Dryden.

But after digging deep and repelling the pressure, Mason had a great chance following a move which was initiated by Cartwright and also involved Maguire but drove his shot straight at the ‘keeper.

However midway through the period, Mason was cruelly denied by the woodwork after a piece of inspirational magic.

He latched onto a cross from Spooner and acrobatically volleyed a scissors kick with his right foot which rattled against the bar.

A minute later, Maguire played the ball across looking for Mason again but on this occasion, defender Mitch Lund made a great interception.

With a little over quarter of an hour remaining, Ashington withdrew Mason introducing Adam Johnson – and within three minutes and following a good move, the substitute saw his left foot effort deflected behind.

Briggs swung over a pinpoint cross from the resultant flag kick where skipper Ben Harmison towered above defenders to send a header into the net past Sykes-Kenworthy who was rooted to the spot.

The home fans erupted – but six minutes later, they were left to face an anxious finale after the visitors halved the deficit through Will Longbottom, the substitute heading just inside the upright after a cross from the left had been partially cleared at the near post.

Three minutes later, sub Eddie Church thought he had levelled the tie – but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside.

Then came the final whistle …… which sparked off jubilant scenes for the Wansbeck outfit.

On Saturday (September 24), Ashington return to league duty with a trip across to Cumbria where they face Penrith.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington marched into the next stage of the Emirates FA Cup on Tuesday night after turning in a magnificent performance to brush aside Ashton United in their first qualifying round replay.

The Colliers had deservedly brought the side from Greater Manchester back up to Wansbeck following a goal-less draw on Saturday – and Ian Skinner’s outfit were exceptional, winning 3-0 in front of a terrific crowd of 671 who backed them all the way.

Dan Maguire set the home side on their way with a goal in the first half which lit the blue touch paper and when Craig Spooner and substitute Adam Johnson added strikes in the second period there was no way back for Ashton – who play two leagues higher in the Northern Premier League, Premier Division.

The prize for the Colliers is a home tie against Bradford Park Avenue from the National League North on Saturday week (September 17).

But what an evening to remember in NE63 – and on a night where the Wansbeck side wore their brand new away kit of Green shirts and White shorts for the first time – in front of their home supporters – as a tribute to one of Ashington’s favourite sons Jackie Charlton, a World Cup winner with England in 1966 who was also a member of the Leeds United side who lifted the FA Cup six years later.

They talk about the romance of the FA Cup and how it has a special place in the hearts of players, management and supporters as it holds a bit of magic – and that’s exactly what Woodhorn Lane experienced on Tuesday night.

There were mixed fortunes for Skinner before kick-off. The inspirational Robbie Dale picked up a knock in Saturday’s contest which saw him ruled out whilst Dean Briggs – who missed out in the first match due to injury – came through a late fitness test.

Ashington had the first chance in the ninth minute when Ben Sampson – handed a role in midfield – won a header and when Maguire laid the ball off, Lee Mason spotted ‘keeper Luke Taylor off his line and tried an audacious lob from 45 yards which drifted wide.

On the quarter hour, the Colliers broke quickly from an Ashton corner with Jordan Summerly finding Briggs who tried to curl the ball around Taylor but Briggs didn’t get enough purchase on the ball and the stopper held with ease.

The visitors were posing threats from set plays with Matthew Reagan and Niall Battersby both heading off target from pin point deliveries from in-swinging corners by Cole Lonsdale.

There was a scare for Ashington in the 21^st minute, when referee Sam Ross pointed to the spot for an Ashton penalty after Darren Lough had caught Benjamin Hardcastle – but after consulting with his assistant Gary Hargrave, the man in the middle changed his decision to a free-kick a matter of inches outside the area.

However four minutes later, Maguire opened the scoring. Briggs played the ball into the area and the striker nonchalantly skipped past one defender. He then delayed his shot as he side-stepped past another before firing low past Taylor and into the corner.

Woodhorn Lane was bouncing and minutes later Maguire pulled down a cross from Cartwright and after teeing himself up, volleyed just over.

Yannick Aziakonou made a superb interception diverting a goalbound shot before Maguire – who was an outstanding performer in the first half – cut inside from the right and produced an outrageous piece of skill as he twisted and turned but saw his left footer cannon back into play after thudding against the base of the post with Taylor rooted to the spot.

Ten minutes into the second period, Spooner had the home supporters on their feet again as he scored Ashington’s second. The midfielder let fly with a blistering right footer from just inside the box which flew into the roof of the net past a startled Taylor.

Saturday’s contest had been a drab affair but this game had turned into a rip roaring contest.

With just over 20 minutes to play, Cartwright made a timely clearance from a shot by Hardcastle before the Colliers added a third in the 82^nd minute, with another quality finish.

Substitute Adam Johnson broke from the half way line and was pursued by an Ashton defender.

But after advancing towards the edge of the box, Johnson unleashed a venomous left footer which rocketed inside the upright.

In the next minute, Thomas Kalthoeber made a vital interception after a cross from the right then with time running out, Summerly went on a surging run but after a swift one-two with Spooner, blazed over the bar.

The final whistle went and Skinner must have been delighted – not only with the result – but after his side left every drop of energy out on the pitch to deservedly move into the next round.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington advanced into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup after a thrilling tie against fellow Ebac Northern League first division side Newton Aycliffe at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

But for the Colliers, it was a case of de javu as for the second time this season – the other which saw them lift the Cleator Cup over North Shields – the Wansbeck outfit came back to win the clash having been two goals behind.

After Lee Mason had initiated the comeback in the first half, Lewis Suddick equalised shortly before the hour mark then skipper Dean Briggs fired in a superlative winner with 20 minutes remaining.

Both sides went into the tussle with identical records having won both of their opening two league fixtures and Ashington were up against it early doors as a quickfire double by the visitors had them reeling.

Yet for all they appeared to be off key in the opening stages, Ian Skinner’s side nevertheless manufactured two chances.

The visitors had Ashington’s former ‘keeper Adam McHugh between the posts and it was the stopper who denied Briggs in the fifth and 11^th minutes, the second save where he pushed a shot from distance away to his left.

Sandwiched in-between, Aycliffe’s Liam Jarvie tested home ‘keeper Karl Dryden with an effort which the custodian finger-tipped around at the foot of the post.

But in the 14^th minute, Aycliffe took the lead in bizarre circumstances. Dryden was caught out by a cross from the right from Callum Munro which deviated with the wind, hit the far post and went in off Yannick Aziakonou.

Barely sixty seconds later Aycliffe sliced Ashington open again with Benjamin Reay slotting the ball through for Jamie Owens but the striker’s tame shot was gratefully held by Dryden.

However, three minutes after Munro had scored the opener, the same player added a second. Jarvie was found in space down the right hand flank and after he played the ball inside, Munro’s initial shot was partially blocked by a defender but the full back bundled the ball home from the rebound.

However five minutes later the Colliers halved the deficit after a superb run from Jordan Summerly.

The full back played a smart one-two with Dan Maguire before advancing to the by line and when he pulled the ball back, Mason applied the finishing touch from close range.

Before the half hour mark, the home side pieced together a nice move involving Briggs and Suddick but the latter’s shot was saved by McHugh.

Two minutes later, Suddick had a glorious opportunity to level. Maguire and Mason combined to unlock the visitors defence but Suddick sliced his effort on the half volley which went wide.

Joe Ferguson had a 30 yarder fielded by Dryden but Ashington finished the half strongly and when Mason glanced on a free kick by Robbie Dale, Maguire’s shot on the turn went agonisingly wide.

It was a half which the home side didn’t want to end – but they continued where they left off from the first whistle after the break and in the 56^th minute, drew level through Suddick.

Craig Spooner swung the ball into the area which a defender tried to clear but it ran invitingly for Suddick who made no mistake hammering the ball across McHugh and into the net.

It was just the start the Colliers wanted – and it led to them bossing the half.

Suddick curled over after Dale and Andrew Cartwright had worked a short corner on the left then five minutes later, an instinctive lob from all of 40 yards by Briggs sailed over the advanced McHugh but dropped narrowly wide.

After a great move, McHugh denied Suddick but the ‘keeper had no chance 45 seconds later when a move which began with a Cartwright throw in on the right saw Briggs hammer a sumptuous left footer on the half volley from 12 yards which rocketed into the far corner.

With five minutes remaining, McHugh kept his side in the contest as he pushed out a blockbuster from substitute Paul Robinson. It was a pivotal moment as when play switched to the other end, Aycliffe ought to have levelled with their only realistic chance of the period.

Jack Oliver’s shot smacked against the base of the post and the ball ran into the path of fellow sub Oscar Taylor who somehow skied his effort over the bar from close range.

Then in the 88^th minute, Ashington had an opportunity to put the result beyond doubt.

Maguire slotted the ball through for Robinson who cut inside two defenders but saw his effort superbly cleared off the line by the retrieving Jake Petitjean.

That was the final piece of action – even though the home contingent had to endure a nail-biting seven minutes of time added on.