By Brian Bennett  |  Photos: Ian Brodie

Ashington turned in a woeful performance against Heaton Stannington on Saturday which culminated in them losing their unbeaten tag in the first division of the Ebac Northern League.

Following their exit from the Emirates FA Cup at King’s Lynn, the Colliers had had to pull out all of the stops to rescue a point in a 3-3 draw against Newcastle Benfield in midweek and for all they had a lot of possession on Saturday, they simply could not find a way through a well organised visitors defence.

Consequently Ian Skinner’s side failed to score for the first time in the league this season – on a day when they again set a new league attendance at Woodhorn Lane. Saturday’s crowd of 618 came only four days after they had attracted 602 against Benfield.

The pivotal moment of the game came in the 28^th minute.

A weaving run inside the area by Dean Briggs, where he shrugged off two challenges, came to an end when he was upended by Jordan Watson and referee Scott Henry awarded a penalty.

Home skipper Ben Harmison – who had scored with his last three spot kicks – again stepped forward but saw his effort parried out by ‘keeper Greg Purvis diving to his left.

The rebound fell into the path of Briggs whose drive thudded against the post – and when The Stan countered at pace down the left flank, Ashington were caught out at the back.

Daniel Stephenson crossed perfectly to the unmarked Konner Lamb who slotted the ball wide of ‘keeper Karl Dryden from six yards.

Incredibly the whole phase of play – which was wrapped up inside sixty seconds -provided the only highlights of an otherwise dreadful and abject first period.

Apart from an early half volley by Dan Maguire went well over; a 25 yarder by Yannick Aziakonou which went the wrong side of the post and a header by Heaton’s Joe Shepherd which was gobbled up by ‘keeper Karl Dryden following a free kick, the game was totally devoid of goalmouth action.

The second half faired only marginally better.

Four minutes in, the visitors survived after a goalmouth scramble after an in-swinging corner on the left by Andrew Cartwright then on 52 minutes, Craig Spooner – one of a trio of substitutes introduced by the home side at the break – fired a left footer just over.

Ashington tried to find a way through but were rebuffed by a resolute Heaton Stannington side who sat in and defended well.

Lee Mason had an opportunity but his effort was weak then from another corner by Cartwright, Briggs cut inside but shot over.

With ten minutes remaining, a long ball by sub Ryan McKinnon was glanced on by Harmison – now playing upfront – but the drive from Briggs was powder puff and easily dealt with by Purvis.

Another sub Adam Johnson saw a back header drift wide and in the closing stages Spooner had an effort from the edge of the area deflected behind before a free-kick by Liam Smith in the fourth minute of stoppage time went straight down Purvis’s throat.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s unbeaten record in the Ebac Northern League was under threat on Tuesday night against Newcastle Benfield – until they fought back to gain a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw under the lights at Woodhorn Lane.

Following their exit in the Emirates FA Cup after a 3-1 defeat at King’s Lynn on Saturday, the Colliers returned to action in front of a crowd of 602 – their biggest home league attendance of the season – hoping to get points on the board as they are lagging behind with their fixtures.

Only Newcastle Benfield had written their own script – and silenced the home supporters as they went into a 2-0 lead by the midway point of the first half through Dennis Knight and Ben Dibb-Fuller.

Ashington drew level with Nicholas Green putting the ball into his own net before the interval then skipper Ben Harmison scored from a penalty.

When Knight got his second five minutes later, the Colliers were chasing the game again and after dominating proceedings they equalised through Luke Salmon.

After being 2-0 down then 3-2 behind, the point could prove vital come the end of the season – yet for all their possession, the Wansbeck side turned in a poor performance.

They were caught cold in the fourth minute when Layton Watts whipped in a free kick from the right which was met by Knight whose instinctive right footer went inside the bottom corner.

Dan Maguire wriggled through to fire wide of ‘keeper Andrew Grainger’s right hand post then Dean Briggs cut inside a couple of players but saw his effort deflected for a corner by a defender.

Archie Leonard had a chance but drove past ‘keeper Adrian Janusz’s near post then at the other end, Briggs found Karl Ross whose effort was deflected and from the follow up, Mason’s shot was also blocked.

The visitors were looking dangerous on the counter attack and in the 23^rd minute, a superlative strike from Dibb-Fuller not only fired them into a two goal lead but rocked the home crowd.

From an Ashington corner on the left which was taken by Grainger, the Lions broke at pace with Dibb-Fuller running from the inside right channel to the left before firing a thunderous left footer wide of Janusz and into the far corner.

When Benfield’s long serving ‘keeper Grainger saved brilliantly diving to his left to deny Briggs, it looked as if it was going to be one of those nights – but sixty seconds later, in the 34^th minute, the Colliers got back into the game when Andrew Cartwright’s cross was deflected into his own net by Nicholas Green.

Five minutes into the second half, Ben Sampson swung the ball into the danger zone where Grainger fouled Darren Lough and referee Matthew Harris immediately pointed to the spot.

Harmison stepped forward and sent Grainger the wrong way to equalise.

Knight was thwarted by an excellent save by Janusz – but in the 56^th minute, the Benfield centre forward was put clear and he made no mistake, coolly slotting wide of the home stopper.

Dibb-Fuller had a goal ruled out for offside then Salmon and Cartwright were both denied by Grainger.

Ashington continued to push forward and ten minutes from time fashioned an equaliser. The ball was played into the feet of Maguire who held it up then laid it off for Salmon who slotted home.

Three minutes from the end of normal time, Harmison headed on a free kick by substitute Ryan McKinnon to Maguire who netted but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside.

Benfield – whose work rate was phenomenal throughout – brought on Joe Robson as an 86^th minute substitute but as the game entered into almost eight minutes of time added on, the defender was red carded for a foul on Salmon.

Nevertheless, the frantic pace of the game continued right the way to the final whistle but the only opportunity saw sub Adam Johnson fire wide.

Before kick-off, players, officials and supporters stood for a minutes applause as a tribute to Claire Wealleans who sadly lost her brave battle against an illness.

By Brian Bennett

Skipper Ben Harmison scored a late penalty for Ashington against Tow Law Town on Saturday to preserve the Colliers’ 100 per cent home record in the Ebac Northern League this season.

The Wansbeck side deservedly took all three points but had to do it the hard way after trailing to a goal on the half hour by Andrei-Vasile Ardelean. As half time approached Luke Salmon popped up to score his second goal of the campaign to equalise then eight minutes from time Harmison calmly slotted home from the spot.

It was an important win for Ian Skinner’s side who were playing their first league game for a fortnight and only their third in over five weeks due to their glorious run in the Emirates FA Cup – but both sides had to contend with a difficult swirling wind.

The Colliers knocked Tow Law off the FA Cup trail back in August in what was a tough encounter and on Saturday, the home side once again had to dig deep against a hard working Lawyers side whose main threat came on the counter attack.

Indeed their was nothing worthy of note in the opening quarter hour and the first chance came when work down the left by Daniel Marriott set up Luke Page but the midfielder drove the ball wide of ‘keeper Karl Dryden’s right hand post.

Ashington began to boss the game and after Paul Robinson had gone close with a right footer from 22 yards, the home outfit pieced together a flowing move.

Andrew Cartwright, Darren Lough, Paul Robinson and Luke Salmon were all involved in the construction but from a cross by the latter, Harmison headed wide at the far post.

Ashington continued to probe and pin the visitors inside their own half and consequently when the Lawyers broke to take the lead on the half hour, the goal came completely against the run of play.

The ball was played through and Ardelean broke from just inside the Ashington half, rounded Dryden and side footed in.

But after an ambitious effort from all of 30 yards by Briggs had sailed over, the Colliers drew level five minutes before the break.

Yannick Aziakonou took the ball past a defender on the right then whipped over an inviting cross where Luke Salmon – steaming in at the far post – bulleted a header into the net.

Early in the second period, Jamie Hanson crossed from the left but Harmison’s shot was superbly parried by ‘keeper Thomas Orton.

However, five minutes later, the ‘keeper excelled himself even further when he finger tipped a 20 yarder from Ben Sampson – which was destined for the top corner – over the bar then he grasped a low effort from distance by Aziakonou.

Ashington continued to press but in the 63^rd minute they were almost caught out when Ardelean’s shot came back off the foot of the post.

Similarly in the 79^th minute, substitute Liam Smith tracked back superbly to thwart Ethan Bewley when the forward had a clear opening.

But with eight minutes of the 90 remaining, Briggs swung a free kick into the area which was handled by a Tow Law defender.

Referee Matthew Davidson immediately pointed to the spot and Harmison sent Orton the wrong way with the penalty.

Minutes later, Smith played the ball through to Sampson but after cutting inside, the number eight fired wide.

By Brian Bennett

Two late goals from substitute Ben Harmison saw Ashington preserve their 100 per cent record and stay top of the Ebac Northern League’s first division after victory over Sunderland RCA at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

Both sides went into the clash fresh from 5-0 wins at the weekend – the Colliers taking the scalp of Crook Town and RCA with an away success at Penrith.

And it was the Wearsiders who threatened to put a spoke in Ashington’s unblemished record as they took an early lead through striker Mark Davison.

For the remainder of the half, the game developed into a one sided contest, as Ian Skinner’s side relentlessly poured forward – and the pattern for the second 45 minutes was identical.

RCA were well organised and they defended stubbornly and manfully – and it had begun to look as if visitors would repel anything which the home side threw at them –

and more so after ‘keeper Keaton Marrs had made a magnificent save from Robbie Dale just short of the half way point in the second period.

However, it was manager Ian Skinner who provided the key which unlocked the door. He introduced Harmison on 68 minutes and the Ashington skipper came up with a timely double in the final stages, equalising with ten minutes remaining then scoring the winner in the third minute of time added on.

But back to the first half where the visitors took a shock lead in the eighth minute.

Davison headed in from six yards but much of the credit should go to RCA skipper Kieran Charlton who supplied a superb cross from the left.

Ashington began to probe with Marrs taking a shot from Craig Spooner at the second attempt; Paul Robinson playing a one-two with Lee Mason but seeing his shot deflected for a corner and Dale trying his luck from 35 yards with an effort which flew wide.

A good move by the home side ended with Jordan Lavery blocking a goalbound strike from Spooner then another shot by Dale was not far away.

Andrew Cartwright struck a free kick straight down Marrs’s throat but in the 32^nd minute, the full back showed great awareness and his lob from 50 yards flashed inches wide of the upright with Marrs beaten.

Briggs headed wide from a Cartwright corner but in a rare raid, the last chance of the period fell to the visitors with Dominic Moan lobbing just over.

The second half began with Dan Maguire finding Spooner who fired wide with a first time effort.

And the pattern continued as Ashington created chance after chance. Robinson and Jordan Summerly combined down the flank and when the left back delivered a first time cross on the half volley, both Mason and Briggs had shots blocked.

Briggs headed wide before a corner by Cartwright saw RCA clear after a scramble.

In the 65^th minute, Dale received the ball from Maguire and cut inside but looked on as his left footer – arrowing towards the top corner – was brilliantly pushed away to his right by Marrs.

Maguire sliced wide then Harmison fired off target after a cross by Summerly.

RCA continued to defend in numbers and it always looked as if it would take something special to break them down.

And sure enough in the 80^th minute, Harmison produced something out of the ordinary to level.

Dale found Maguire down the right and when the forward crossed into the danger zone, a clever back flick by Harmison beat Marrs and went into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Briggs found Spooner whose shot was held by Marrs – but in the 93^rd minute, a touch of class on the left wing by Dale saw his cross into the box headed gleefully home by Harmison for a deserved winner.

By Brian Bennett

Dean Briggs scored a hat-trick as Ashington produced a five star performance to brush Crook Town aside at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

On a sweltering hot day in Wansbeck – where referee Matthew Morton paused the game in the middle of both halves for the players to take much needed drinks onboard – the Colliers turned up their own form of heat on their Durham visitors.

Crook began the game in positive fashion but once Ashington scored the opener then added a quickfire second from the penalty spot, the result was never in doubt.

Indeed only a superb display by the visitors ‘keeper and skipper Ronan Makepeace kept the score line down to five.

As a result, Ian Skinner’s side maintained their 100 per cent record to go back to the top of the first division of the Ebac Northern League with four wins out of four and took their goals tally up to 16.

Crook had the first opportunity in the ninth minute. A run down the left by Ewan Forster saw him unleash a shot which was saved by the legs of home ‘keeper Kyle Hayes.

But Ashington hit back with gusto and on the quarter hour, Lee Mason found Craig Spooner whose 30 yarder – arrowing towards the top corner – was tipped away by Makepeace then from a short corner, Dan Maguire whipped the ball across the face of the goal.

Ashington continued to pour forward and after another effort from Spooner was held by Makepeace, the stopper was called into action shortly afterwards to deny Briggs.

Steven Johnson went close with a free-kick before Ashington – who had been knocking on the door – made their pressure count.

Andrew Cartwright had a shot repelled by Makepeace; Briggs cut inside and curled a right footer just wide but in the 35^th minute, superb work by Cartwright saw him roll a pass inside to Briggs and the midfielder whipped his effort across Makepeace with the ball going in off the post.

Within a minute, Paul Robinson had a great chance to double the lead only to fluff his lines – but Ashington’s second was just around the corner.

Matthew Harrison handled a shot from Robinson and referee Morton immediately pointed to the spot.

Robbie Dale stepped up and although Makepeace went the right way, Dale’s penalty was perfectly executed.

Before half time, Briggs headed just wide but eight minutes into the second half, Mason made it 3-0.

Jordan Summerly found Maguire whose shot was blocked by Makepeace. The stopper also saved the follow up effort from Mason but when the striker got a second bite at the cherry, Mason made no mistake lifting the ball home with his right foot.

Mason had an effort touched over by Makepeace then Briggs ran across the box but saw his shot held by the custodian.

However, in the 78^th minute, Adam Johnson swooped onto a clearance from Makepeace and when the substitute rolled the ball across the face of the goal, Briggs slotted home.

Ashington went nap in the third minute of time added on. Johnson provided a great cross from the right where Briggs – arriving unmarked at the far post – smashed the ball home on the volley.

Photographs: Ian Brodie