By Brian Bennett

Adam Johnson came off the bench to score the winner as Ashington were forced to dig deep before recording a 2-1 victory over Penrith at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

After having a penalty saved, Robbie Dale opened the scoring for the Colliers just prior to half time but the hard working Cumbrians equalised through Luke Hunter. Striker Johnson then fired home what proved to be the clincher with just under quarter of an hour remaining.

Following rain in the morning, excellent work on the pitch by a group of volunteers resulted in the game getting the go ahead.

Home fans were left frustrated as their side missed chances but the main stumbling block for Ashington’s failure to put the game to bed even by half time, was an outstanding display between the posts by Penrith’s Aaran Taylor who not only kept the Wansbeck side at bay but who single handedly walked away with the man of the match award.

For parts of the game it was edgy and nervy but the Colliers cracked the code and returned to winning ways for the first time since mid November.

It was staggering that it took the Colliers until the dying embers of the first period to break the deadlock – as it had looked to be merely a matter of time.

They began their dominance as early as the third minute when a clever flick by Dan Maguire put Dean Briggs through but after cutting inside, his heavy touch allowed Taylor the opportunity to pounce and snuff out the danger.

Lee Mason had a goal ruled out for offside then Briggs found Craig Spooner who fired wide of Taylor’s left hand post.

After Mason had shot off target from eight yards, great work on the right by Maguire – where he wriggled one way then the other – saw him find Briggs but the midfielder drove his effort wide of the far upright.

The Colliers continued to knock on the door and when Briggs seized onto a back pass, he tried to round Taylor but the ‘keeper whipped the ball off his toes.

Just past the half hour mark, Ben Sampson and Maguire combined with the latter laying the ball across for Robbie Dale who was upended by Luke Brown as he cut back inside.

Referee David Carr pointed to the spot but Dale’s penalty was blocked by Taylor.

A great crossfield pass by Dale found Briggs on the right flank who pulled the ball inside but Sampson’s right footer was repelled by Taylor and from the resultant corner, a header by Darren Lough was cleared off the line.

The pressure continued to mount as the hard grafting Maguire slipped a pass through for Mason. He took the ball around Taylor but his shot was cleared from the danger zone by Robbie Hebson.

However when the ball was recycled, Taylor produced a miraculous save from a header by Mason. Already moving to his right, the stopper somehow swayed to his left to tip the ball onto the bar with a defender clearing the rebound for a corner.

However the breakthrough finally arrived three minutes before the interval and was a piece of magic by Dale.

Spooner’s run into the box saw him lay the ball off to Dale who coolly jinked past a defender which put him clear before he rolled a shot wide of Taylor and inside the corner.

Ashington were quick out of the blocks after the interval. Maguire and Spooner linked together to set up Sampson whose centre flashed across the face of the goal.

Then Mason and Briggs both had efforts; the first was saved by Taylor and the follow up blocked by a defender.

Despite all of Ashington’s dominance as they pushed for a second goal, Penrith served notice that they could hit on the break and Jonny Murray was not far off target with a shot from the right.

Taylor denied Spooner then Dale, after spotting the ‘keeper off his line, tried an audacious effort from 45 yards which dropped just over the bar.

However in the 73^rd minute, the Cumbrians levelled.

Murray crossed from the right where Hunter lashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Ashington manager Ian Skinner introduced Johnson for Briggs – and five minutes later, it was the substitute who came up trumps.

He cut inside from the touchline and turned then unleashed a low left footer from 20 yards which crept just inside the upright.

And with three minutes of the 90 remaining, Johnson could have put the game firmly beyond the visitors when he latched onto a through pass from sub Karl Ross.

Johnson bore down on goal but his goalbound effort was tipped away – by that man Taylor.

By Brian Bennett

Ben Harmison’s penalty miss shortly before half time proved to be a major turning point as Ashington lost their home clash against neighbours Whitley Bay at Woodhorn Lane on Boxing Day.

The Colliers, playing in their Jackie Charlton tribute strip to support ‘shelters no home kit campaign’ to raise awareness of homelessness were the better side in the first period and were already ahead thanks to a well taken goal by Lee Mason when Dean Briggs – on his return after being sidelined for two and a half months through injury – burst into the area only to be sent sprawling as he went past two Whitley defenders.

Referee Kieran Graham – who had an excellent match on his first appearance in charge at Ashington – had no hesitation in pointing to the spot but skipper Harmison skied his left footed effort well over the bar.

After Karl Ross had got in the way of a thunderous and goalbound drive from ex Collier Ben Richardson, Craig Spooner went close to doubling the lead when he dug the ball out of his feet only to clip just over.

Then within eight minutes at the start of the second period, the Seahorses turned the game completely on its head.

They fashioned a chance in the opening seconds of the resumption and when Andrei-Vasile Ardelean crossed low into the danger zone, Lewis Orrell side footed the ball home from close range.

Mason put an effort wide after receiving from Spooner then in the 53^rd minute, a cross from the right by Bailey Geliher hung up in the wind which caused problems for home ‘keeper Kyle Hayes who flapped at it and when the ball came back off the bar, Luke Porritt had the easy task of tapping home.

Even then a revitalised Whitley side had further chances with Orrell curling a shot wide and the Wansbeck outfit also surviving after a goalmouth melee when a cross from the left resulted in an effort by the same player being blocked.

Ashington – kicking into the teeth of the wind – struggled to string any passes together but as they nevertheless went in search of an equaliser, a snapshot by Dan Maguire flashed agonisingly wide; substitute Ben Sampson fired over from distance; a free-kick by Robbie Dale was not far off target and in the last minute of the 90, sub Damen Mullen skied over following a short corner on the right.

The clash – between second from top Whitley against the third placed Colliers – never reached any great heights with the players having to contend with a heavy pitch as well as a strong westerly wind which produced the proverbial game of two halves.

After a cautious start, the match was six minutes old before the first sniff of a chance arrived when Dale found Briggs whose audacious lob from 30 yards cleared the bar.

Seconds later, Elliott Day, Porritt and Orrell combined but the move came to a halt when Jordan Summerly made an excellent tackle inside the area.

Play switched again with Briggs putting Mason through for a one-on-one with keeper Dan Lister and although the striker unleashed a powerful effort, Lister saved superbly tipping the ball over the bar.

The Colliers took the lead in the 12^th minute.

Briggs made a great forceful run through the centre before playing the ball through to Mason who took his time then buried a shot wide of Lister.

Midway through the period, Day had a left footer clawed away by Hayes then Ashington pieced together a superb move which involved Dale and Mason before the over lapping Spooner had a cross headed behind for a corner.

Six minutes before the break came the penalty award but Harmison was unable to give his side a two goal cushion.

Ashington were caught cold by Whitley’s fast start to the second period – and as a result, went down to their second home defeat of the season at Woodhorn Lane.

Before kick-off, there was a minute’s applause in memory of lifelong Ashington supporter Neil Thomas, who passed away recently.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington extended their winning sequence to five matches on Saturday – but only after Ben Harmison had smashed home a dramatic stoppage time penalty against West Allotment Celtic at Woodhorn Lane.

Following torrential and incessant rain in the days leading up to the contest, groundsman Scott Robson had worked wonders to get the pitch in pristine condition.

However, the game itself lacked quality. In Ashington’s case it was a flat performance – but manager Ian Skinner had already forewarned supporters that his side were going to find it difficult to recreate early season displays due to the change in the condition of pitches.

Yet coasting at 2-0 just before the half way mark in the first period, Ashington did things the hard way. After Allotment substitute Liam Beeston had reduced the arrears from the penalty spot, it was all square five minutes later, as Scott McCarthy swept the ball home.

But after a foul by ‘keeper Dan Gladstone on Dan Maguire in the dying seconds, Harmison’s emphatic penalty sent the Ashington fans home happy.

Rewind to the start and Allotment should have been a goal to the good after only six minutes.

A long punt up field by Gladstone squirmed through the home rearguard and left Lucas Lower-Matondo with a glaring one-on-one opportunity.

However, the striker clipped a left foot shot wide of advancing ‘keeper Karl Dryden and past the post.

It was a stoke of luck for the Wansbeck side who then banked up a two goals advantage inside six minutes.

On the quarter hour, Harmison was tripped and pushed in the area by ex Collier Luke Parkinson – who was making his 300th appearance for the visitors – as the home skipper looked to get on the end of a cross by Jordan Summerly.

Referee Tyler Dutton awarded a penalty and Harmison confidently stroked it into the net, sending Gladstone the wrong way.

What was to be the best move of the match arrived in the 21st minute. A cross from Smith was headed superbly by Harmison which laid the ball on a plate for Karl Ross and the midfielder ought to have scored but saw his side footed effort saved by the legs of Gladstone,

However from the rebound, Harmison set up Liam Smith who lashed the ball home left footed from the edge of the area.

A tough dour battle then ensued until things all changed from the 63rd minute when McCarthy had a shot taken down by Dryden.

Three minutes later, the striker made a run of 30 yards until he was fouled in the box by Andrew Cartwright and substitute Beeston tucked home the resultant penalty just inside the post.

Five minutes later, West Allotment levelled when the ball was knocked over from the right and McCarthy hooked it home on the volley from eight yards.

In the third minute of time added on sub Yannick Aziakonou had a tame shot fielded by Gladstone following a free kick and it looked as if it would be the final chance.

But when Maguire pounced on a through ball by Harmison and attempted to round Gladstone, the ‘keeper upended him and for the third time in the contest, referee Dutton pointed to the spot.

Harmison made no mistake, blasting the penalty home as Gladstone moved in the opposite direction – much to the delight of the home supporters in another bumper attendance of over 500.

By Brian Bennett

On a November day where fireworks displays were being held in the evening, Ashington Football Club produced a unique ‘one of their own’ during the afternoon at Woodhorn Lane which certainly went off with a bang!

In what had been billed as a top of the table six pointer, the Colliers – already leading by a super Lee Mason strike after the first 45 minutes – lit the blue touch paper immediately after the interval as Ian Skinner’s side completely demolished league leaders Bishop Auckland 5-0 with a commanding and ruthless performance in front of a crowd of 621.

In a whole hearted display of non stop action, they crammed three goals inside a five minutes period – the latter a sensational lob from 35 yards by Ben Sampson – which clearly left the visitors shell shocked.

The outstanding result made it three consecutive wins in eight days following on from victories over Thornaby and Whickham. Yet from the outset, it looked as if the Colliers were facing their severest challenge of the campaign so far.

The Two Blues – fresh from a 3-1 win over Northallerton in midweek – were quick out of the blocks and after Marcus Giles had got the better of Ryan McKinnon on the left, the defender recovered well to make a superb tackle inside the box to avert the danger.

Then in the seventh minute Dane Burlace found Louis Johnson in space but after bearing down on goal, the striker was denied by an excellent save by home ‘keeper Karl Dryden who spread himself well to block.

Without doubt, Bishops had been the more composed side, spraying the ball around confidently but in the 25^th minute, Ashington had their first opportunity after good approach work by Karl Ross. The midfielder found Dan Maguire whose right footed effort was fisted out by ‘keeper Nick Liversedge.

Then on the half hour, James Fairley tried a shot from distance which went narrowly wide of Dryden’s upright.

However, sixty seconds later, the Colliers went in front with a spectacular strike from Mason.

Sampson picked out Ben Harmison with a diagonal pass and when the home skipper headed the ball across, it fell invitingly into the path of Mason who smashed a sizzling half volley from 20 yards wide of Liversedge and just inside the post.

Ashington began the second period much brighter.

Darren Lough ventured forward and when he found Maguire, the forward passed wide to Harmison but his shot from a tight angle went behind.

Burlace then crossed from the right and the ball fell perfectly for Giles but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Andrew Cartwright.

Harmison gave his side more breathing space in the 58^th minute when he added a second.

A cross from Ross was headed on by Harmison to Mason who took a touch past Ben Errington before he was tripped by the defender inside the area.

Blyth-based referee Charlie Ford pointed to the spot and Harmison made no mistake, lashing home the resultant penalty.

From the midway point in the period, the Colliers went through a five minutes purple patch to go nap with goals from Maguire, Harmison and Sampson.

Sampson was the architect behind the first of the trio when he charged into the box and passed to Harmison who calmly flicked the ball to Maguire.

The striker cut inside from right to left then stroked home inside the far corner.

Minutes later, Ross won possession off a defender and cleverly slotted the ball through for substitute Adam Johnson. Johnson’s first touch took it past Liversedge with Harmison sliding in for goal number four,

But in the 72^nd minute, supporters were treated to a goal of sheer quality from Sampson.

The midfielder intercepted the ball just inside his own half then after driving forward,  looked up and from fully 35 yards, nonchalantly and audaciously chipped over the advanced Liversedge.

After sub Craig Spooner fired just over from the edge of the box, Dryden ensured a clean sheet for his side with two saves in the closing stages.

The stopper he dived to his right to push aside a free kick by Ciaran Banks then held a header from Weirs.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington survived an early scare before they wrapped up a comfortable 4-1 win over Whickham at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

The victory was deserved and followed hard on the heels of Saturday’s 2-0 result over Thornaby on Teesside.

Conditions were perfect for the contest – and the Colliers made a great start as they took the lead in the 12^th minute.

Good interchanging play between Liam Smith and Ben Sampson saw the latter lay the ball into the path of the overlapping Jordan Summerly.

The full back swung over a terrific inviting cross into the danger zone where skipper Ben Harmison placed a downward header into the net.

However, within 60 seconds, Whickham striker Kaleb Young went to ground inside the area under challenge from Karl Ross and referee Patrick Laws immediately pointed to the spot.

Jamie Dunn stepped forward to take the penalty but as home ‘keeper Karl Dryden dived to his right, the Whickham midfielder blasted the kick high over the bar.

Ashington made their visitors pay dearly for the miss as in the 27^th minute the home side added a second after being awarded a free kick 25 yards out.

Andrew Cartwright took it right footed and the ball took a wicked defection off a Whickham defender before it spun and crept just inside the far post leaving ‘keeper Nathan Harker stranded.

Chances were at a premium – but 20 seconds after the interval, the Colliers increased their lead even further.

The ball was knocked forward and after Harmison had challenged upfield, Whickham defender Garon Garside lobbed it over the advanced Harker and into his own net.

Ten minutes later, Harmison came close to adding a fourth.

Karl Ross made a fabulous run down the left flank and when he crossed to the far post, Harmison’s header was goalbound until Harker pushed the ball out in fine style.

Two minutes later when Sam Dibb-Fuller threatened to run inside the Ashington area, he was halted by a superb tackle by Ryan McKinnon.

Just past the hour mark, substitute David Below had a shot held by ‘keeper Karl Dryden before a slick move by the home side involving Harmison, Cartwright and Sampson ended with the latter poking the ball wide of the post.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Ashington manager Ian Skinner made a triple substitution throwing Danny Anderson, Luke Salmon and Adam Johnson into the fray and within two minutes, the latter – after receiving the ball from Ross – cut inside but lashed over.

With eight minutes left on the clock, visitors skipper Dale Burrell reduced the arrears with a superbly struck right footed free-kick from 25 yards then in the next minute, a cross from the right was headed wide by Jamie Dunn.

But in the third minute of time added on, Anderson played a pass through for Spooner who chipped the ball over the advancing Harker for Ashington’s fourth.