Competition: Friendly
1 vs 2 
2:00 pm 
3 vs 2 
4 vs 2 
1 vs 1 Ashington vs Spennymoor Town
By Brian Bennett
Ashington ended their pre season warm up games with an eye catching 4-0 victory over National League North outfit Spennymoor Town at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night,
The Colliers begin the campaign proper on Saturday in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup at Shildon – and they will travel with this morale boosting and thoroughly deserved victory behind them.
The Wansbeck side took the lead in the ninth minute through Andrew Cartwright.
The full back ventured forward and played a well worked one-two with Cam Gascoigne before firing the ball wide of ‘keeper Ryan Johnson and inside the far corner of the net.
Play then switched from end to end.
From a tight angle, Craig Spooner hit the side netting then a free-kick by Matty Dolan was well saved by home ‘keeper Dan Staples.
On the half hour, Gascoigne got possession just outside the penalty area, advanced and curled a left footer just wide.
Then with an entertaining first half drawing to a close, Moors had two chances.
The first was a left footed free kick from 25 yards by Dolan which rattled the angle of post and crossbar then two minutes later Will Harris was clean through with only Staples to beat but a trialist got back to make a terrific tackle to thwart him.
Ten minutes into the second half, Ashington doubled their lead.
Charlie Exley’s diagonal pass found skipper Karl Ross on the right and when he pulled the ball back, Cyril Giroud produced some clever footwork before firing an unstoppable effort inside the near post.
In the 71st minute the Colliers added a third – after being awarded a penalty when Gascoigne’s powerful burst into the area was checked by Reece Staunton.
Referee Mark Bell pointed to the spot and Eddie Thomas sent Johnson the wrong way.
With ten minutes remaining, Ashington’s accomplished performance was rewarded with a fourth goal.
Outstanding work down the right by Gascoigne saw him cross the ball and after Ben Sampson had laid it back, Jay Errington made no mistake with a rasping drive.
Ashington: Staples, Cartwright, Exley, Slocombe, A Trialist, Shaw, Spooner, Ross, Thomas, Gascoigne, Giraud. Subs: Summerly, Camarda, Ritson, Sampson, Van-Zandvliet, Errington, Coombe (gk).
4 vs 0 
0 vs 1 
Morpeth Town vs Ashington
By Brian Bennett
A late double by Eddie Thomas secured Ashington a 3-2 victory against Morpeth Town at Craik Park on Tuesday night – but the game was marred by a first half injury to Colliers striker Connor Thomson.
Thomson was stretchered off just past the half hour mark with a knee injury and taken to hospital.
Morpeth had the first opportunity after five minutes when a snap shot from distance by Will Dowling smacked against the foot of the post but three minutes later, Ashington went in front when Wilson Kneeshaw charged into the penalty area and showed great determination before prodding the ball home.
Jordan Hickey headed over a cross from the left by Liam Miller then when play switched to the other end, a flowing Ashington move ended when a right footer by Thomson was held by the home ‘keeper.
In the 27th minute, Morpeth got back on terms after excellent work by Luke James. He weaved into the box and when he pulled the ball back, it was swept into the net by a trialist.
Shortly before the interval, Charlie Exley made a vital clearance inside the six yards box but in the third minute of time added on, the Highwaymen went in front.
On this occasion, Miller was the supplier of a cross from the left which was headed into the far corner by the trialist who notched his second goal of the night.
Early in the second half, there were chances at both ends.
Matty Griggs found himself clear in the inside right position but his effort was blocked by ‘keeper Dan Staples then when Ashington retaliated, Kneeshaw’s shot hit the post.
Just prior to the hour mark, the Morpeth trialist had a chance to compete his hat-trick but was thwarted by Staples before Thomas left his mark on the encounter with a quickfire brace for the Colliers.
In the 70th minute, the substitute was on hand to tuck the ball away neatly following a cross from the right by Jack Camarda and eight minutes later, Thomas scored what proved to be the winner.
Cyril Giroud was the provider of a defence splitting pass which sent Thomas through and he applied a cool confident finish.
Within two minutes, Dowling almost netted an equaliser when his effort from 25 yards whistled wide of the upright with Staples rooted to the spot.
2 vs 3 
1 vs 2 
4 vs 2