Competition: Friendly

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 71^st 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

Ashington vs Workington AFC

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 27^th 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 70^th 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

Whitley Bay vs Ashington

1 vs 2

West Auckland Town vs Ashington

4 vs 2

AFC Newbiggin vs Ashington

2 vs 5

Jack Camarda

2024/25 Sponsor: Arlo & Odei

Jack makes the move to Woodhorn Lane for the 2024/25 season after a couple of seasons at fellow NPL side Dunston. The midfielder has had spells at Oldham Athletic, Mansfield Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fleetwood Town and Preston North End as a youngster, before returning to his native Isle of Man to complete his education. While there he played for FC Isle of Man in the North West Counties League. Now studying at Durham University, Jack has been selected to represent England Universities.

Daniel Staples

2024/25 Sponsor: The Messenger Family

A new signing for the 2024/25 campaign, experienced goalkeeper Dan joins the Colliers from Dunston where he made 30 appearances last season. Starting his career at Sunderland and Newcastle United, Dan then moved onto Wrexham before returning to the North East. He had a brief spell at Ashington at the beginning of the 2019/20 season, before making the move to Penrith. Previous clubs also include Bedlington Terriers and Consett.

Lewis Ritson

2024/25 Sponsor: Available to sponsor, click here for more details.

A new signing for the 2024/25 season, central defender Ritz started his career in the youth ranks at Hull City, captaining their Under-23’s in the 2019/20 season. Former clubs of Ritz include Blyth Spartans, Whitby Town, Redcar Athletic, Hebburn Town and Whitley Bay.

Ashington vs Workington AFC

By Brian Bennett / Photographs: Ian Brodie

A hat trick by striker Lew Reilly gave Workington victory over Ashington at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

The Colliers – who went into the game on the back of an impressive performance and 0-0 draw against Morpeth Town the previous week – did have some enjoyable moments in the first period but manager Ian Skinner admitted afterwards that his side had conceded three ‘avoidable’ goals.

The home side started brightly and in the seventh minute a great patient build up ended with ‘keeper Jim Atkinson clinging hold of a shot from Craig Spooner.

Shortly afterwards, a searching ball out of defence by Nathan Buddle found Dan Maguire who laid off to Spooner but after cutting inside, the midfielder’s shot trickled past the post.

Workington responded with a quick break and when Kofie Moore broke clear down the right, his cross shot fizzed wide.

At the other end, Cameron Gascoigne had a chance but Finn Wallbank got back to stave off the danger.

On the quarter hour, Ashington were caught out again and when Moore made a beeline for goal, only a terrific tackle by Buddle thwarted him.

Another opportunity came Gascoigne’s way midway through the half but after moving inside, he curled his effort over the bar.

On the half hour, Moore escaped the back line and was clear on goal but his effort was superbly blocked by ‘keeper Ross Coombe with his legs.

The Reds broke the deadlock in the 35^th minute when a low snap shot from 25 yards by Reilly crept inside Coombe’s right hand post.

Then two minutes before the interval, the visitors doubled their lead when Reilly pounced on an error and fired the ball into the far corner across Coombe.

Seconds before half time following a short corner on the right, a chipped effort from Karl Ross was cleared off the line by Aidan Roxburgh.

The only highlight in the second period came in the 57^th minute when Reilly completed his hat-trick with a cool finish after capitalising on another mistake in the home rearguard.