By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s miserable run continued on Tuesday night as they crashed to a fourth consecutive league defeat.

The Colliers went down 2-1 against Pontefract Collieries at Woodhorn Lane and had it not been for an outstanding display between the posts by ‘keeper Matty Alexander, the West Yorkshire outfit would have won the contest by a much bigger margin.

Noah Cunningham gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half but the visitors turned the game around with two goals inside a minute from substitute Elliott Walker and Ben Middleton.

Cunningham was involved in the first incident of the game in the third minute when he went in with a late challenge on Pontefract ‘keeper Harry Christy and was yellow carded by referee Liam Batie.

Minutes later, the visitors came close to the opener following a cross from the right.

Alex Pavan’s effort struck the post and the follow up by Joe Lumsden was held by Alexander.

On the quarter hour, midfielder Jack Gibson had Ashington’s first shot with a 25 yarder which lacked power and was easily collected by Christy.

Pontefract were the better side and their skipper Jack Greenhough was causing problems with his long throw ins but midway through the period, Ashington profited from a calamitous mistake in the visitors defence to go in front.

Under pressure from Cunningham, Middleton attempted to head the ball back to Christy but he got too much height on it with the ball going over the ‘keeper and presenting Cunningham with a simple tap in.

However, this game changed dramatically in the 35th minute when the visitors scored twice.

Following a corner on the right, Walker – who had only been on the field four minutes as a substitute – struck a worldie with a thunderous right footer from 25 yards which crashed inside the upright giving Alexander no chance.

The game had barely restarted when Greenhough launched another long throw in towards the near post where Middleton nipped in to head home and then in time added on, Alexander made a great save diving to his right.

Ashington showed more desire after the break and in the 75th minute, substitute Jude Cogdon fired an effort wide.

But in the closing stages as Ashington chased the game, Pontefract had chances and after sub Marcel Stepniewski had curled a shot over, they were denied on three occasions from making the points completely safe by the brilliance of Alexander.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington climbed out of the bottom four after they secured their first league win of the season with a narrow 2-1 verdict over Garforth Town at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

By contrast, their Leeds-based opponents knew that victory would have seen them move into the play off places.

New signing Dan Groves was named amongst the substitutes as Marc Ellison’s side were eager to put the disappointment of Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat against Guisborough Town following a penalty shootout, firmly behind them.

And they did just that – not purely with the result – but also with a rip roaring start to the contest where they played some scintillating football and looked more like a side at the top of the table as opposed to the other end.

The Colliers got their reward too with a fantastic team goal in the fourth minute with defender Bryan Taylor notching his first goal for the club.

The full-back finished off an intricate move down the left to steer the ball inside ‘keeper Harry Flatters’s right hand post.

Looking brimful of confidence, Ashington continued to dominate and after a ball was played down the line by Taylor to Josh Gilchrist, the striker crossed where Noah Cunningham side footed wide.

The visitors grew into the game with Harris Eggleston looking lively down the flank and a cross by the winger was grasped at the second attempt by home ‘keeper Matty Alexander.

Centre forward Charlie Marshall then caused problems for the home back line and after he had fired over a good chance, it took an excellent tackle by Harry Powell inside the area to stop him.

Just as they had been at the start of the match, Ashington were quick out of the blocks after the break – but they squandered two good opportunities inside the opening minutes to add to their lead.

Noah Cunningham and skipper Karl Ross combined down the right but when the latter set the ball up nicely with a back flick into the path of Jack Gibson, the teenager failed to get a good connection and his effort was held by Flatters.

Then the Colliers pieced together another impressive move but it finished with Cunningham blazing the ball over from the edge of the area.

On the hour, there was a chance at both ends. Ashington broke quickly with Gilchrist finding Taylor down the left but his low cross was held by Flatters. Within seconds, play switched to the other end and Marshall had a clear opening but delayed his shot which allowed the home side to clear.

Garforth were on top and after Ashington had lost possession twice in the quick succession, Harry Colville curled an effort wide.

However in the 77th minute, the Wansbeck side doubled their lead.

Gilchrist cut inside the area where he was upended by Jamie Barkway and referee Nick Vincent pointed to the spot.

Substitute Scott Fenwick stepped up and slotted a perfect low penalty inside the post.

Ashington had the cushion they wanted but in the 86th minute, their advantage was halved when Garforth sub Max Tweddle netted with a low drive from the edge of the area.

It set up a grandstand and nerve-wracking finale and with five minutes of additional time, the home outfit had to dig deep as the Miners threw the kitchen sink at them.

However, the only effort which they produced came from Tweddle whose shot from 22 yards was clutched by Alexander.

By Brian Bennett

It’s still early days. However after two defeats inside a week and with his side currently third bottom of the NPL East Division table, this certainly wasn’t the start to the season which Ashington manager Marc Ellison was hoping for.

In a weird opening 20 minutes, although the Colliers were second best, they will nevertheless reflect on chances which went begging.

In the fifth minute from a wind assisted free-kick driven in by Josh Gilchrist, Scott Lowery missed out with a header then a ball played down the right flank by Rory Powell found Ryan Wombwell and when he crossed, Tom McIntyre failed to get a decent connection at the far post.

Sandwiched in-between, Charlie Birdsall pounced on a miscommunication in the home defence but goalkeeper Matty Alexander came to the rescue, parrying his shot to safety.

Another great opening came Ashington’s way when Liam Henderson played the ball through for Gilchrist. The striker weaved past a couple of defenders inside the area and with supporters expecting the net to bulge, saw his shot blocked for a corner.

Just short of the halfway mark, the visitors went in front. Alexander initially bailed his side out making another good stop from Birdsall.

However from a short corner on the left, Ahmed Salam swung over a superb inviting cross to the far post which was headed in by Bridlington’s centre half Tom Allan.

Ashington responded to the setback as they grew into the game and after Seasiders ‘keeper Alex Baird had grasped a header by Henderson from a Jude Cogdon cross, the home side levelled as half time approached in the most dramatic style with a peach of a goal from skipper Karl Ross.

The midfielder neatly turned a defender then curled a sumptuous effort from 22 yards which arrowed just inside the angle of post and crossbar leaving Baird to grasp thin air.

Two minutes later, Baird pushed out a right footer from Henderson then at the other end, Allan headed wide from a Salam corner.

Bridlington were the better side after the break looking much sharper than their hosts but chances were non existent until Tweed cut inside and fired over.

Then midway through the turning point arrived when Lowery took a poor touch inside his own penalty area as he tried to play the ball out from a short goal kick and lost possession to Brid’s Ifeanyi “Destiny” Nnenanya. It put the substitute clean through one on one with Alexander and he made no mistake, rifling a right footer into the top corner.

In the 78th minute, Tweed scored a third for the visitors which sewed up their win.

Nnenanya turned provider as he pulled the ball back from the by line for Tweed to clip home at the near post.

Sub Toby Marriott had a shot deflected then in the final minute, Salam played a one-two but was foiled when he shot was repelled by Alexander.

By Brian Bennett

A goal in the last minute of added on time by Ben Ramsey denied Ashington victory from this NPL East Division clash which finished 1-1 at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

The Colliers – who had taken the lead just past the hour mark through substitute Liam Henderson – put in a tremendous shift against one of the favourites for the play offs but they were left deflated when Ramsey’s low effort crept in between ‘keeper Matty Alexander and his near post.

The result meant the Wansbeck side extended their unbeaten in the league with a third consecutive draw and following their disappointing showing when they exited the Emirates FA Cup against Thornaby on Saturday, it was a much improved performance by Marc Ellison’s outfit.

Defender Scott Lowery made his first start of the season whilst new signing Jude Cogdon was named amongst the substitutes.

In the early stages, Wil Shaw had a shot cleared off the line then Harvey Neary volleyed wide after connecting with a left wing cross.

Ashington’s first effort came in the 11th minute during a spell of pressure when ‘keeper Olly Marshall held a shot from Josh Gilchrist then visiting skipper Michael Pearson fired over from a Phil Turnbull free-kick.

Benji Shodeinde was denied by Marshall and when play switched, full-back Chris McDonald cut inside but chipped his effort narrowly over.

The final chance of the period came in the 33rd minute and was route one. A clearance by Alexander bounced over the top of a Dunston defender but Gilchrist directed his lob well over the bar.

After the break, the skilful Ramsay found David Robinson but the midfielder dragged his shot across goal then in the 53rd minute, an audacious quickly taken free-kick by Turnbull from fully 40 yards was tipped over by Alexander.

Ashington had introduced Jamie Holmes and Liam Henderson for the start of the second half and the substitutes combined superbly to put their side ahead in the 61st minute.

Holmes produced a clever turn near the by line and when he crossed low to the near post, Henderson got the vital touch with the assistant flagging to the referee that the ball had crossed the line.

Minutes later, Alexander flung himself to his left to push out a long range effort by McDonald before Tom Devitt had a header deflected behind for a corner.

Ashington had defended magnificently for large periods of the game but in the fifth minute of additional time, they were caught out by a snap-shot from Ramsey and forced to settle for a share of the spoils.