By Brian Bennett

There was a feeling of déjà vu for Ashington at The dwmedia Stadium on Tuesday night when high flying North Shields took all three points courtesy of a strike by Chris McDonald midway through the first half.

The result saw the Robins return to second top of the Ebac Northern League’s first division whilst the Colliers went down to their second narrow defeat inside four days.

However as at Sunderland Ryhope CW on Saturday, the Wansbeck outfit deserved to take some reward from the contest for their overall performance over the 90 minutes.

But again as on Wearside, for all their patient build up play and well constructed moves, it was the final third which ultimately proved to be their downfall.

Ashington skipper Ben Harmison was a late withdrawal due to work commitments so manager Ian Skinner brought Thomas Kalthoeber in at centre back for his first full start of the season whilst former Shields player Craig Spooner was handed the captains armband.

In front of another bumper attendance of 666, the visitors – who are still battling on three fronts with the League, Buildbase FA Vase and Techflow Northumberland Senior Cup – got off to a sensational start as they took the lead after only 70 seconds through their in-form and hotshot striker Dan Wilson.
Wilson got possession and – allowed time by the home side – struck a wonder goal from 20 yards with his left foot which arced wide of home ‘keeper Karl Dryden and just inside the upright.

Ashington’s first effort came on 14 minutes following neat work down the left involving Bobby Taylor and Dean Briggs which ended with the latter lashing the ball over from distance.

Four minutes later, the Colliers drew level with a gloriously constructed goal. Briggs switched play from right to left with a sublime pass which found the overlapping Jordan Summerly who advanced to the by line before pulling the ball across for Lewis Suddick who fired in from close range to record his second goal in as many matches.

However, a significant turning point arrived in the 22nd minute. Briggs again switched the play on this occasion to the right and when Craig Spooner returned the ball into his path, a curler by Briggs was superbly pushed away by ‘keeper Oliver Marshall.

Play switched immediately with the visitors being awarded a free kick and when the ball found McDonald on the left, the full back’s low right foot shot crept past an unsighted Dryden and just inside the post.

The Colliers, after being guilty of careless passing early in the game, improved considerably and had a lot of possession. On the half hour Suddick tried his luck with a 25 yarder which was held at the second attempt by Marshall.

Two minutes later, only the woodwork prevented Shields from extending their lead. A corner on the right swung in by Cartwright fell to Gary Ormston whose effort struck the post and rebounded to safety.

Ashington continued to press for an equaliser before half time and after Marshall had held an effort from Adam Johnson, Ben Sampson and Spooner combined to set up Taylor but he blazed his shot well over.
Incredibly, the second half was devoid of a notable chance until the 73rd minute when the Shieldsmen broke but Wilson clipped wide. Seconds later, at the other end, Marshall fielded an effort from Johnson.

Then with 12 minutes left on the clock, David Robinson seized onto a back pass from Curtis Coppen which lacked pace but the midfielder was denied by a great block by Dryden.

Home boss Ian Skinner made three substitutions and in the final stages, sent Coppen up front. And in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Ashington had shouts for a penalty turned aside by referee Lewis Reynolds after Coppen went to ground under challenge inside the area.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington left it late – before they kick started the New Year with a win against basement side Penrith at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday.

Trailing early on to a Jamie Armstrong penalty, the Wansbeck outfit eventually equalised on the hour through Jordan Lashley but it was not until the dying embers of the game that the home side wrapped up the points with goals from Adam Johnson and Dean Briggs.

The match – played out on a heavy pitch at Woodhorn Lane – was only one of three which went ahead in the first division of the Ebac Northern League and the victory saw the Colliers leapfrog over Newton Aycliffe to claim sixth place in the table.

Both sides (Ashington and Penrith) had been inactive for three weeks over the festive period but there was no sign of lethargy as they went toe to toe with each other in a contest which never dropped in tempo throughout.

The Colliers made inroads in the ninth minute when the ball came in from the right flank and Penrith ‘keeper Aaran Taylor made a double save from a header Paul Robinson and the follow up by Ben Sampson.

In their next raid, Johnson fired over but the home crowd were silenced in the 13^th minute when against the run of play, Charlie Birch surged into the Ashington area and went tumbling under a combined challenge from Liam Doyle and Yannick Aziakonou.

Referee Chris Joyce immediately pointed for a penalty and Armstrong sent Karl Dryden the wrong way with a coolly taken spot kick to the ‘keeper’s right,

Ashington exerted pressure and had a quarter hour spell of dominance. Sampson blasted over; an in-swinging corner from Lashley clipped the base of the post whilst Craig Spooner and Lashley snatched at further opportunities.

Penrith defended well and in the final third of the period, it was Dryden who prevented the Cumbrians from extending their lead.

In one break, Matthew Story was through until a superb retrieving tackle by Aziakonou inside the area averted the danger.

Shortly before the interval, Max Brown wriggled clear but was denied by the sprawling Dryden then the stopper parried another effort from the centre forward who missed a sitter somehow putting the rebound wide.

After the break, Robinson cut in from the flank and his shot hit the upright with Lashley having a shot blocked.

It was a day of frustration for the home side but they kept up the pressure and were patient – and eventually drew level with a brilliantly worked goal.

Not for the first time in the match, Jordan Summerly and Robinson linked superbly down the left and the latter sent over a precision cross which was headed home at the far post by Lashley.

The game then developed into a cat and mouse affair with Ashington going all out in search of a winner whilst their opponents posed a threat on the break.

However, several key aspects emerged in the final 20 minutes.

On a stamina sapping pitch, home manager Ian Skinner introduced fresh legs at different stages sending on Briggs, Bobby Taylor and Danny Anderson withdrawing Aziakonou, Lashley and Doyle whilst in the 75^th minute, Penrith were reduced in number when Matthew Moynan – booked in the first half – upended Johnson and was sent off for a second yellow card offence.

Briggs fashioned an opportunity as he cut inside but lashed over and with the ten men defending resolutely, it looked as if the visitors were going to hold out for a point,

But five minutes from time, Johnson unlocked the door with a piece of sheer brilliance. He received the ball into his feet, spun sharply then whipped a low drive across Taylor and inside the far corner.

In the last minute of the 90, Ashington must have thought they had sealed the result when on a swift counter, substitute Taylor had a shot blocked and Briggs made no mistake blasting home the rebound to make it 3-1.

In time added on, a curling free kick by Birch thudded against the post but Ashington’s riposte saw Curtis Coppen play a great ball forward where Robinson and Summerly featured again before the ball was eventually blocked on the goal-line.

By Brian Bennett

Danny Anderson’s first goal for two years earned Ashington a deserved share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw against league leaders Consett at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday.

It was exciting. It was pulsating and it was captivating – and in perfect weather conditions, it was also on a day where Woodhorn Lane smashed the Ebac Northern League’s record attendance for the season to date with a superb crowd of 735 who certainly got value for money.

The Colliers went into the contest on the back of a 5-0 defeat against Thornaby the previous Saturday. But as was highlighted during the week by new skipper Ben Harmison, Ian Skinner’s side have a canny knack of bouncing back in their next outing.

And bounce back they did with aplomb. After going ahead just shy of the half hour mark with a brilliant goal by Craig Spooner, the Wansbeck outfit had to show all of their fighting qualities. Consett drew level through James Metcalfe, edged in front through an own goal and after a leveller from Luke Salmon, when ex Collier Dale Pearson made it 3-2 to the Durham side with ten minutes remaining it appeared that Ashington were going to be on the end of a hard luck story.

But the Colliers – who left every ounce of energy on the pitch – simply refused to give up and when Anderson tucked the ball into the net with four minutes of normal time remaining, it sent the home contingent into raptures.

On a pitch looking in pristine condition, it was the visitors who threatened first. Within a minute, they were awarded a free kick 20 yards out and a curling effort from Luke Carr flashed wide of home ‘keeper Adam McHugh’s left hand post.

Then in the seventh minute a ball down the channel sent Pearson through but a superb block tackle by Curtis Coppen resulted in a corner from which Calvin Smith headed over.

Two minutes later, Ashington created their first opening. The adventurous Salmon advanced towards the penalty area and when he squared the ball across, Max Cowburn’s right footer was tipped away by Kyle Hayes.

Hayes was called into the action later when he clutched a free kick from Cowburn from just outside the area then midway through the period, Karl Ross found Salmon on the right and when the midfielder cut inside, his shot was shovelled away by Hayes.

Ashington continued to press. A throw in by Ben Sampson ran kindly for Ross in the area but his missed his kick at the vital second which allowed Consett to clear.

But after knocking on the door, the Colliers eventually broke the deadlock.

On 26 minutes, Jordan Summerly ventured forward and after playing the ball to Adam Johnson, the debutant set up Cowburn whose effort hit the top of the crossbar and went over.

And two minutes later, Johnson was involved in the construction of the opener. He laid the ball off for Cowburn whose precision first time cross was magnificently headed inside the far corner by Spooner from six yards.

The Ashington crowd went wild but after Coppen had produced another brilliant tackle in the box to halt Colin Larkin, they were silenced ten minutes later when James Metcalfe equalised.

A header by Arjun Purewal came back off the post and McHugh made an outstanding save to deny the Consett skipper from the rebound, pushing the ball around for a corner on the left.

When the ball came into the box, Ashington had opportunities to clear and they were punished as Metcalfe drove inside the post from the edge of the area.

It prompted an instant response. An Anderson corner on the left was headed wide at the far post by Coppen then Salmon – who was initially blocked – picked up the rebound but stabbed just wide.

The final action saw Ross play the ball through for Spooner but a defender got back to thwart him.

Ashington were caught cold at the start of the second half as within two minutes, the Steelmen took a 2-1 lead.

Consett broke quickly down the right and when Jake Orrell played the ball across the six yards box, it was deflected into his own net by Coppen.

Ashington’s response was positive. Hayes held an effort from Spooner; Cowburn had a 22 yards free-kick tipped over by the visiting ‘keeper and from the resulting corner, a header from Harmison was touched wide.

Still they took the game to the leaders and after Cowburn had shanked an effort well wide, got the equaliser on the hour through Salmon.

A corner on the right by Ross was retrieved by Harmison who hooked into the danger zone for Salmon to net with a spectacular bicycle kick.

However in the next minute, the Colliers were almost caught out when Orrell exploited space but drove wide from 22 yards.

The intensity of the game was breathtaking with the action non stop as both sides went for the jugular.

And on the 65 minutes mark, Johnson – who certainly impressed on his first appearance following his move from neighbours Blyth Town – had a great opportunity when he was released through the middle with a one on one.

He bore down on goal but his low drive was tipped away by Hayes, who showed lightening reactions to tip the ball away with Johnson looking to poke home the rebound.

Salmon fired just over following a one-two with Johnson before the visitors went into a 3-2 lead.

Substitute Darren Holden – who had replaced Larkin for the start of the second half –crossed to the far post and Pearson steered home.

Skinner threw on late substitutions including Yannick Aziakonou and seconds after his introduction, he was involved as he switched the ball out wide left to Salmon and when he crossed, Anderson tucked home at the far post.

Still the relentless action continued right until the end. Johnson tried an audacious 40 yarder after a clearance from Hayes fell to him with the ‘keeper outside of the area but his effort was weak then when play switched to the other end, Consett had a penalty shout turned down by referee Darren Williams.

Then came the final whistle – and afterwards players, officials and supporters could reflect on a game which wasn’t only a credit to the league but to football in general

Before kick-off, an impeccable minutes silence was observed for Armistice Day.