By Brian Bennett

Ashington came back down to earth with an almighty bump as high flying Bradford Park Avenue turned on the style at the Horsfall Stadium.

After being ecstatic – and rightly so – following their own superb 4-1 win over Lincoln United in midweek – the Colliers never laid a glove on Saturday’s opponents who cruised to victory and as a result went back to the top of the NPL East Division.

Bradford manager Craig Elliott had watched the Wansbeck outfit destroy Lincoln and the boss obviously did his homework as from kick off it was wave after wave of home pressure with Ashington struggling to get out of their own half.

Unusually there were five goals disallowed during the afternoon – four for Bradford – the first coming after only 70 seconds when Robbie Fox was flagged offside.

It was a tough slog for Marc Ellison’s side and consequently it came as no surprise when ‘The Green Army’ went in front in the 17th minute. Jake Thompson cut inside from the left and drove a low right footer wide of Matty Alexander and inside the far post.

Paddy Almond produced a great tackle in the area to thwart Fox but the hosts will not score an easier goal this season than the one which saw them double their advantage just past the half way mark.

They won a corner on the left and when Thompson floated the ball over, the unmarked Scott Duxbury glanced in at the near post.

Outclassed in all departments, the uphill struggle became even greater in the 40th minute when Ashington lost possession in their own penalty area and were punished to the full.

Luke Parkin unselfishly squared the ball to Ben Andreucci who hammered home for 3-0 and minutes later, it could have been worse after a shot by Thompson came back off the base of the post.
The Colliers did show signs of improvement after the break and pulled one back in the 71st minute, with a back-flick from Noah Cunningham after a cross by Oliver Thompson.

Alexander denied substitute Louis Chorlton and Dan Groves cleared a shot from the follow up off the line but to complete a miserable day for the Colliers, Thompson scored his second in the 90th minute with a shot from the edge of the area.

Chorlton then missed a sitter which would have made it five in the dying seconds.

By Brian Bennett

Teenage striker Noah Cunningham scored a hat trick and claimed an assist as Ashington recorded a fantastic 4-1 victory over an in-form Lincoln United side at Ashby Avenue on Tuesday night.

Cunningham tortured the home side throughout who quite simply could not handle him and the 19 year old deservedly took the Player of the match award.

The Colliers went into the contest with an abysmal record having taken only one point from their last 18 but after making a positive start to the game, they moved into a two goal lead and dominated the first period.

Although Lincoln halved the deficit early in the second half through skipper Elliott Dye, two quick fire goals from Cunningham and Josh Gilchrist put the Colliers into a commanding position and they duly went on to wrap up a much needed three points.

Manager Marc Ellison said after Saturday’s defeat against Silsden that he had yet to see a complete performance from his side – but he certainly got that as Ashington completely upset the form book.

Both ‘keepers were tested in the opening stages. Ashington’s Adrian Janusz pushed aside an effort from Rio Molyneaux then when play switched, Harvey Lawson denied Jack Gibson.

However the Wansbeck side went ahead in the tenth minute. Dan Groves slotted the ball through for Cunningham who whipped a right footer across ‘keeper Harvey Lawson and inside the far post.

A shot by Gilchrist was blocked before Cunningham doubled his sides’ lead. A long ball out of  defence by Ryan Donaldson was chased by Cunningham and when defender Kane Wilkes tried to clear, he only succeeded in playing the ball against Cunningham who went through and side footed wide of Lawson.

There was an unusual incident on the stroke of half time when a clearance by Janusz cannoned off Molyneaux and drifted narrowly wide of the upright.

In the 49th minute, another searching pass from Donaldson put Cunningham in but the forward chipped the ball over the advancing Lawson from ten yards and onto the roof of the net.

Two minutes later the hosts reduced the arrears following a free-kick on the left. The ball was played to the far post and after a shot by Haydn Harvard was blocked, Dye hammered home the rebound.

Ashington’s reply was emphatic with two goals inside five minutes from Gilchrist and Cunningham.

Oli Thompson played the ball through for Cunningham who completed his hat-trick rifling home wide of Lawson.

On the hour, Lawson’s attempted clearance rebounded off Cunningham and the striker – with his back to goal – unselfishly laid the ball off to Gilchrist who hammered home the fourth.

On a night where Ashington were simply a delight to watch, Cunningham could have added to his tally but was denied on two occasions by Lawson.

The win was only Ashington’s second of the campaign and was not enough to lift them out of the relegation zone but they should take great heart after this showing.

By Brian Bennett

One point from a possible 12 has plunged Ashington into the bottom four of the NPL East Division and they are facing an early season battle to climb away from the clutches of the relegation trap door.

Saturday’s clash against fellow strugglers Grimsby Borough at the Bradley Football Development Centre was regarded to be a ‘must win’ rather than a ‘must not lose’ encounter for the Wansbeck outfit but ultimately, the contest was over by half time as the hosts had moved into a 3-0 lead.

Marc Ellison’s side did show some improvement after the break but the damage had already been done.

The game got under way in glorious sunshine and for the opening quarter hour there was nothing to choose between the two sides.

But all that changed in the 17th minute after an under-hit pass by Ashington ‘keeper Matty Alexander was pounced on by Harvey Cribb.

The midfielder surged forward into the box but with Alexander out of position and an open goal in front of him, Cribb put his effort wide.

However, the referee blew to award a free-kick to Grimsby then consulted with his assistant as to whether the infringement had occurred inside or outside the area.

The man in the middle pointed to the spot and Kieron Ceesay sent Alexander the wrong way with a confidently struck penalty.

Incredibly, the incident was the first of only three noteworthy events in the opening period – the other two being further goals by the home side inside a five minutes period shortly before the interval.

In the 38th minute, a free-kick deep inside the Grimsby half was glanced on by Alex Graham to Josh Clarke who cut inside a defender and curled a right footer wide of Alexander and just inside the upright.

Things went from bad to worse for the Colliers when they conceded a crucial third.

A long punt upfield by home ‘keeper Heath Richardson was played on to Luke Ayris and his snap shot from the edge of the area found the net despite Alexander getting a hand to it.

For the start of the second half, Ashington manager Ellison shuffled the pack, introducing Harry Powell and Bryan Taylor for Noah Cunningham and Scott Lowery respectively.

And on 51 minutes, it was Powell who had the Colliers’ first shot of the game with an effort from 30 yards which went narrowly over.

Grimsby went straight to the other end and after Alexander had parried away an effort  by Ceesay, Cribb blazed over the rebound.

The Colliers had shouts for a penalty when Josh Gilchrist went to ground then two minutes later, a goal-bound right footer by Gilchrist brought a save out of Richardson with the stopper pushing the ball away to safety.

By Zoe Young

Ashington suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat away to West Auckland in an entertaining game that saw plenty of chances at both ends.

The hosts made a lightning-fast start, taking the lead after just 20 seconds before doubling their advantage only three minutes later.

Ashington responded quickly, with a deflected effort falling to Josh (Gilchrist), who slotted into the bottom-right corner to bring Ashington back into the game.

Matty (Alexander) was kept busy throughout the first half, producing several excellent saves to keep Ashington within touching distance. Bryan (Taylor) also came close after taking the ball from the half way line all the way to the box, but was unfortunately unable to finish.

After the break, Ashington continued to push for an equaliser. Josh went one-on-one but saw his effort saved, while Matty produced another outstanding double save at the other end.

Ashington finally got their reward in the 76th minute when Liam (Henderson) fired home from around 8–10 yards out to make it 2-2.

However, West Auckland found a late winner in the 88th minute, leaving Ashington empty-handed despite a strong fightback.

By Brian Bennett

A point on the road against the current leaders of the East Division of the NPL would generally be regarded as being a commendable result.

However on Saturday, the emotions in the Ashington dressing room following the 1-1 draw with Liversedge were of disappointment after the Colliers conceded late in the game.

The feelings of both Marc Ellison’s squad as well as their supporters were understandable too after they came so close to inflicting a first home defeat of the season on their hosts.

The first half was virtually a non-entity.

Kayle Price fired over for ‘The Sedge’ and Ben Atkinson shot wide but chances were at a premium.

Anthony Brown clipped his effort past the post but the best opportunity came shortly before the interval when Price had a shot cleared off the line by Dan Groves who was making his full debut.

Ashington were straight out of the blocks after the interval. Oli Thompson and skipper Karl Ross linked well to set up an opening for Jack Gibson only for his effort to be blocked.

Five minutes in, Brown fluffed his lines when he shot straight at ‘keeper Matty Alexander.

However it was the visitors who had the majority of the play. Midway through, Ryan Wombwell played the ball forward for Josh Gilchrist but the striker’s weak connection was collected by home stopper Kobe Mathers.

In the 72nd minute, the Colliers took the lead. Thompson swept a pass out left for Gilchrist and when his shot cannoned into the air off the legs of Mathers, Noah Cunningham bravely headed the ball goalwards with a defender in close attendance.

Another home player cleared but the assistant referee indicated that the ball had crossed the line and referee Hadley Warhurst awarded a goal.

However ten minutes later, the home side drew level. Harry Powell cleared when under pressure but only to Alfie Dean who in turn found substitute Lewis Barlow.

Barlow set the ball up for Ben Atkinson who rifled a right footer wide of Alexander from eight yards.

In added on time, Ashington had a chance to win it.

Breaking from a Liversedge corner, Powell charged forward before passing the ball through for Gilchrist but the striker’s touch let him down and the chance evaporated.