By Brian Bennett

Alexander Duhameau’s goal for Sherwood Colliery ten minutes into the second half saw Ashington tumble to their second home defeat of the season in the Northern Premier League East Division on Saturday.

The result was one issue – but the thing which irked home supporters was the overall performance.

Not only was it Ashington’s worst showing of the campaign – it was their poorest display for many years.

Conditions were perfect at kick off but it was a day when nothing went right for the Colliers and was topped off when ‘keeper Ross Coombe was sent off for a second yellow card after the final whistle.

The first half was a tedious affair with little in the way of goalmouth action.

The first opportunity came in the 12th minute following a move down the left and when the ball was crossed, Harry Bircumshaw’s goalbound volley was tipped away by Coombe.

Ashington struggled to make any inroads whilst Sherwood defended well – so much so that the home side were restricted to a couple of efforts from distance.
The second half promised so much. Surely after an opening 45 minutes of lethargic action including a distinct lack of quality, things could only get better.

Marginally they did.

Craig Spooner had a shot deflected wide of the post before Duhameau’s low left footer into the far corner put the visitors in front,

In the 77th minute, Paddy Almond was penalised for a foul on Duhameau and the striker had the opportunity to double the lead from the penalty spot but saw his effort magnificently saved by Coombe diving to his right.

Yet whilst home supporters vented their general frustration, Ashington could and should have got back on terms in the dying embers of the contest.

Four minutes into time added on, Craig Spooner was the provider of a superb cross from the right but Michael Ndiweni headed wide of the upright.

And that was as good as it got ……

By Brian Bennett

Two goals in the final five minutes of normal time by Grimsby Borough’s Scott Fenwick and Tom Jamieson saw Ashington slip up and be forced to settle for a 2-2 draw in their Northern Premier League East Division clash at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

The visitors did contribute to what was an exciting second period – but the Colliers will reflect on two points being dropped which cost them a third win on the bounce.

The first half was slow to get going but it was the home side that made inroads and on three occasions inside the opening quarter hour, Andrew Johnson, Wilson Kneeshaw and Jay Errington got crosses into the box which were blocked.

Then on the half hour, Jack Camarda – who was in the thick of the action – found Craig Spooner whose effort from 25 yards was pushed out by ‘keeper Liam Higton.

Three minutes later, it was Spooner again who from a similar distance saw his shot gathered at the second attempt by Higton.

During the first 45 minutes, Ashington had a tendency to overplay especially near the Grimsby box and on one occasion the ball eventually found Cyril Giraud but his shot was taken by Higton.

However six minutes before the interval, the best opportunity fell to ‘The Wilderness Boys’ when Scott Fenwick charged clean through with only ‘keeper Ross Coombe to beat but Paddy Almond made up ground to thwart the striker with a great tackle.

A superb low ball by Jaedyn Chibanga went across the face of the Ashington goal before in the first minute of time added on, the Colliers went ahead.

Kneeshaw charged through the middle before laying a pass out wide to Errington who advanced then smashed home left footed into the far corner.

Early doors in the second period, Reece York drove wide and Luis Adlard fired over then the visitors had the ball in the back of the net but the goal was disallowed for a foul.

In the 55th minute, Kneeshaw slotted the ball through for Giraud who was through on goal but saw his shot blocked by Higton then minutes later, after a slalom run by Johnson, Giraud was blocked out.

Jamieson struck the bar for the visitors following a corner on the left and when York unleashed a 25 yarder, Coombe dived to his right to finger tip the ball around for a corner.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Ashington doubled their lead through Johnson.

Kneeshaw again claimed the assist when he crossed from the right and after Johnson’s initial effort had been blocked by Higton, he followed up to make no mistake.

If Ashington thought that was the decisive blow, they were in for a shock as Grimsby produced a late, late show to claim a point.

Jake Brown struck the bar then in the 85th minute after a cross from the left, Fenwick lobbed over Coombe to reduce the arrears.

Four minutes later after a free kick, Jamieson levelled for the visitors.

By Brian Bennett

Jay Errington’s goal midway through the second half cemented back to back wins for Ashington in their Northern Premier League East Division clash at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

They say a week is a long time in football. Turning the clock back seven days, the Colliers travelled to Leeds and pulled off a superb 2-1 victory over Garforth Town. The result lifted them several places from the bottom of the table.

The following day, the club announced the departure of joint head coaches Andy Coyles and Richie Hill and later confirmed that senior players Gary Ormston, Andrew Cartwright and Paul Robinson would be the interim management team.

Then against Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday night, Ashington had to grind it out against a well organised side but they kept a clean sheet for the first time this season with the victory propelling them up to a mid table spot.

It was far from being a vintage performance – but the result was all that mattered.

The first half contained very little in the way of goalmouth action.

The Wansbeck outfit struggled to make inroads and it was quarter of an hour before they threatened when Wilson Kneeshaw chased a long ball played over the top of the Bradford defence.

The striker cut inside but blazed over then five minutes later Jack Camarda struck a drive which was held by ‘keeper Craig Ellison.

Skipper Karl Ross set up the next opening but Michael Ndiweni’s effort landed on the roof of the net.

Ten minutes before the break, Bradford – who looked dangerous from set plays – called Ross Coombe into action with the stopper performing well to turn around an effort from Paddy Sykes.

Then on the stroke of half time, full back Kareem Hassan-Smith delivered an inviting ball from the right which went across the face of the home goal.

Seven minutes after the break, Kneeshaw’s pace took him through the middle and when he passed to Errington, the youngster cut back across but fired well off target.

However, it was the same two players who combined to break the deadlock.

Ross won a tackle in the midfield and sent Kneeshaw on another direct run at the Bradford defence.

The forward played a superb ball through for Errington who cool as a cucumber, waited for Ellison to advance before sliding the ball wide of the ‘keeper and inside the post.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Ashington replaced Ndiweni with Andrew Johnson and inside two minutes, the substitute passed to Craig Spooner whose right footer was taken at head height by Ellison.

Errington shot narrowly over but in the 89th minute, only a fantastic save by Coombe kept the hosts in front as the stopper dived to his left to deny substitute Kelan Swales.

By Brian Bennett

A quickfire double by Matty Tymon immediately after half time sent Ashington tumbling to a 2-1 defeat in their first home league game of the new season at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

The visitors had trailed to a goal by Paddy Almond shortly before the break but the Bishop Auckland striker caught the Colliers cold with his first – a wonder strike from 30 yards – finding the net only 48 seconds after the resumption.

Worse was to follow as the two blues took the lead in the 49th minute following an in-swinging corner on the right which saw Tymon score with a free header from six yards.

The Wansbeck side controlled the opening half and pieced together a flowing move inside the first minute which involved Matty Slocombe, Craig Spooner, Cam Gascoigne and Jordan Summerly before skipper Karl Ross’s cross from the left was easily taken by ‘keeper Ryan Catterick.

In the seventh minute, the pace of Wilson Kneeshaw saw him accelerate down the right and when he swung the ball over, it went across the face of the visitors’ goal.

Yet it was Bishops who arguably had the best opportunity on the half hour when the ball fell to Tymon 16 yards out but he hit a half volley wide of the upright.

Play switched to the other end with Gascoigne probing down the left flank but when he crossed, Catterick made a vital interception with Kneeshaw ready to pounce.

Two minutes later, Gascoigne went close after a one-two with Paul Van-Zandvliet, his effort drifting wide of the far post.

However in the 38th minute, Ashington edged ahead – through Paddy Almond.

Kneeshaw was fouled on the right and when Spooner swung over a dangerous looking free-kick, the ball was missed in the centre of the goal by Van-Zandvliet but ran to Almond who fired it home.

Incredibly after a first period where chances were in short supply, the opening quarter hour after the break contained plenty of goalmouth action.

Tymon was heavily involved in the action as he strike went in off the far post with Staples rooted to the spot then he put the visitors 2-1 ahead.

Sandwiched in-between, Catterick shovelled a free kick from 35 yards by Van-Zandvliet over the bar then on the hour, Ashington cleared off the line from a header following another corner on the right.

However, the segment also saw the Colliers forced into a change following an injury to full back Jordan Summerly.

In the closing stages, Kneeshaw had a goalbound drive blocked then in the dying seconds, a shot by Charlie Exley was clutched at the near post by Catterick.

A draw would have been a fair result on the night – with the two sides meeting again on Saturday in their Emirates FA Cup preliminary round clash. The game is being televised live by the BBC via iplayer, red button and online – and if this dress rehearsal is any yardstick to go by, supporters will be in for a real treat with another gripping 90 minutes in store when the game gets underway at 12.30pm.