By Brian Bennett

North Ferriby skipper Niall Tilsley scored a stoppage time winner for his side which left Ashington to reflect on a week of double heartache.

The Colliers – cruelly knocked out on penalties in their semi final tie of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup against Morpeth Town – were cruising 2-0 after an hour against play off hopefuls North Ferriby when a massive turning point arrived in the contest.

Ben Williams brought down Lewis Donnison just outside the penalty area and as the offence denied a clear and obvious goal scoring opportunity, the home defender was sent off by referee Glen Hart.

Less than five minutes later, ‘keeper Ryan Catterick dived to his right to palm away a shot from Luke Hogg and from the resultant corner, Dennison netted from close range after a scramble.

The Villagers drew level in the 80^th minute when substitute Dan Hernandez headed home from a corner by Dom Roma.

Ashington’s Josh Gilchrist then latched onto a through ball from Gary Ormston but after cutting back inside, scuffed his shot which was held by ‘keeper Ben Bottomley.

It was to be the final opportunity for the ten men and in the second of seven minutes to be added on, Tilsley fired wide of Catterick and inside the corner following a throw in on the left to wrap up what was a complete comeback by the visitors.

There was little to excite the crowd from the start of the game with a 25 yarder by Hogg the only effort in the opening quarter hour.

However Ashington took the lead in the 18^th minute after a slick interchange down the right.

Skipper Karl Ross found Andrew Cartwright who played the ball through for Gilchrist. The striker took a good first touch before calmy firing past Bottomley.

Ferriby replied with Jack Johnson heading wide at the far post after a deep left wing cross then after another period without any goalmouth action, Gilchrist neatly slipped a defender but saw his right footer finger-tipped away by Bottomley.

The action swung to the other end where Catterick slipped as he cleared from just inside the penalty area. The ball fell to Alex Flett who from 40 yards lobbed it towards the unguarded net where Catterick scampering back, clawed the ball away. Ferriby thought they had scored the equaliser and all eyes focussed on the assistant referee  but he didn’t flag for a goal and play continued.

In the closing stages of the period, Ashington pieced together a lovely move. It started with a deft flick by Gilchrist in midfield and involved Bailey Geliher, Ben Sampson and Cartwright but the latter’s cross was driven straight into Bottomley’s midriff.

Four minutes into the second half, Ashington doubled their advantage. Sampson spread the ball out wide for Ross and when he stood the ball up to the far post, Gilchrist headed inside the far corner.

Ashington looked more than comfortable as they held their 2-0 lead – then came the red card for Williams which changed the whole complexion of the game.

By Brian Bennett

A strong second half performance by Ashington saw them complete a particularly good week as they backed up a 2-1 win against Bishop Auckland in midweek with a 4-1 victory over Brighouse Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

It’s been an incredible turnaround by the Colliers who even a month ago, were included among the teams at the foot of the table but one defeat in eight has seen them climb into a mid-table spot.

However, once again they were forced to come from behind before deservedly securing all three points with Josh Gilchrist who scored a timely double taking his tally for the season to ten.

Buoyed by the result over Bishop Auckland, home supporters were expecting the Colliers to come out of the traps with a real spring in their step – but they were disappointed as what developed was reminiscent of a dull and lethargic end of season encounter.

The visitors took the lead in the 11^th minute.

Akeel Francis dispossessed Harrison Clark near the touchline, cut inside and rifled a right footer inside the far post leaving ‘keeper Ryan Catterick helpless.

Seven minutes later, Craig Spooner spurned a marvellous chance to level. Ryan Wombwell supplied a cross from the right but Spooner got his angles all wrong and headed well wide.

Then all of a sudden, the game came alive in the final ten minutes of the half with the home side in the ascendency.

Spooner had a left foot shot held by ‘keeper Shea Callister and shortly afterwards it was the stopper who denied Bailey Geliher as well as the follow up effort from Gilchrist.

However in the 43^rd minute, Clark atoned for his earlier error when he got the equaliser.

A free kick on the left by Gilchrist was blocked and when Gilchrist recycled the ball into the danger zone, Clark delicately clipped it home from six yards.

The Colliers had a chance to forge in front right on the stroke of half time when Spooner set up Gilchrist but the striker fired over.

After the break, Ashington continued where they had left off and upped the tempo and seven minutes in, they went ahead – from the spot.

Ryan Wombwell was upended inside the area by Niah Payne and Gilchrist stepped forward to smash the ball into the roof of the net, sending Callister the wrong way in the process.

Five minutes later, Ashington added a third following a well worked move. Gilchrist got to the by-line and crossed and although Ben Sampson missed out, the ball ran for skipper Karl Ross who blasted in the third from a tight angle.

In a rare raid, Payne fired wide for the visitors whose troubles were compounded in the 78^th minute.

Skipper Joshua Grant was sent off after a foul on substitute Wilson Kneeshaw on the half way line then the nearside assistant spoke to referee Tyler Dutton which resulted in one of the staff in the Brighouse technical area also being shown the red card.

Then in the 90^th minute, the Colliers stretched their lead further. Wombwell slipped the ball through to Kneeshaw who cut the ball back perfectly for the onrushing Gilchrist who steered it into the net from close range.

By Brian Bennett

Over the years, there have been some epic contests between Ashington and Consett.

Sadly Saturday’s clash at Woodhorn Lane will not stay in the minds of both sets of supporters after a drab and painstaking affair finished all square at 1-1.

It was a hard watch and certainly not the way Ashington skipper Karl Ross – who was making his 200th appearance for the club and who had signed an extension to his contract until the end of next season – would had visualised.

However, rather bizarrely both sides will lay claim to it as being two points dropped. The Colliers who led on the hour, conceded a late equaliser whilst ‘The Steelmen’ missed out after having two opportunities in the dying minutes.

Home manager Nick Gray handed a debut to goalkeeper Ryan Catterick whilst Craig Spooner returned after missing three games through injury.

The first half was played out with little in the way of goalmouth action – as if both teams were frightened of making a mistake which could have proved costly and seen them go on and lose the game.

In the seventh minute Marc Ellison’s 20 yarder landed at the feet of Josh Gilchrist but the striker’s effort was blocked then Spooner fired over.

Consett ‘s first threat came midway through the period when Calvin Smith got onto the end of a cross from David Allasan but Catterick saved superbly with his foot even though the flag was raised for offside.

Both sides struggled to put anything constructive together until late in the half.

Ryan Wombwell met a deep cross by Gilchrist at the far post but when he headed the ball into the middle there was no-one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

However with seconds of the period remaining, Walker’s cross was deflected onto the bar and when the ball bounced out, Marc Costello looked a certain scorer until he somehow blazed his effort over the bar.

After the break, Smith swung over a corner which was met by ex Ashington defender Charlie Exley but he directed his header straight at Catterick.

On the hour, Ryan Donaldson was brought down inside the area by Consett skipper Ryan McKinnon – another ex Collier – and Gilchrist scored emphatically from the penalty to put Ashington ahead.

Ten minutes later, Brandon Holdsworth laid the ball off for Allasan but his shot was cleared off the line by Scott Lowery.

Holdsworth then went to ground under challenge by substitute Wilson Kneeshaw but the visiting striker was cautioned for simulation.

However five minutes later, when Holdsworth went down in the box again, Harrison Clark was penalised with a spot kick awarded and Smith’s finely executed penalty nestled inside the corner of the net.

Gilchrist had a great chance to put his side back in front when he burst through but he delayed his shot which was blocked.

However there could have been a dramatic finale to a game which had lacked in quality.

In the closing stages a sizzling right footer by Smith flashed just wide with Catterick rooted to the spot then in the fifth minute of time added on for stoppages, Exley headed wide from another corner by Smith.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington came back down to earth with a bump on Tuesday night when Newton Aycliffe won 4-0 after a powerful and convincing second half display at Woodhorn Lane.

The Colliers went into the contest on the back of a run of three unbeaten games but the visitors – on the periphery of the play off places in the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League – turned on the heat after the break and were full value for the three points.

The home side also had to see out the game with ten men after Ryan Donaldson saw red in the closing stages.

Two months ago, Aycliffe were stunned when the Wansbeck outfit won 3-2 at Moore Lane. Many Ashington supporters said at the time that the Durham outfit were the best side they had played so far this season – and the point was raised again after another impressive display by the County Durham outfit.

The Colliers – rocked by an injury to defender Ben Williams which ruled him out of the clash – were still in the game at half time after an opening period where chances were few and far between.

In the third minute, Josh Gilchrist threaded a pass through for Cieran Jackson but visitors ‘keeper Jim Pollard reacted swiftly and whipped the ball off the striker’s toes.

It was 12 minutes before the first shot of the game materialised when Joe Ferguson had an effort which was held by home stopper Dan Staples and a further quarter hour before the next when a drive by Liam Jarvie was directed straight at the custodian.

Two minutes later, Liam Adamson broke clear down the right but Ryan Wombwell got back to make an excellent tackle.

Ashington began the second period a lot brighter and in the 52nd minute, Harrison Clark slipped the ball to skipper Karl Ross who cut inside a defender but saw his shot held by Pollard.

Two minutes later, Aycliffe broke the deadlock. Following a corner on the right, skipper Ethan Wood fired in from the edge of the area with the ball squeezing between Staples and the post.

Recent newcomer Jackson had a shot taken by Pollard before the visitors doubled their lead just past the hour mark.

The goal stemmed from another corner which was played into the six yards box with Jake Petitjean netting from close range.

Five minutes later, it was 3-0. Aycliffe broke quickly on the counter from an Ashington corner with Adamson raiding down the right and when he squared the ball, Jarvie had the simple task of slotting it into the net.

The three goals in quarter of an hour left Ashington shell-shocked and it ought to have been four in the 75th minute. Following an intricate move across the park, the ball came over from the right but Petitjean headed wide.

Gilchrist had a shot which was taken by Pollard before substitute Dane Eltringham added a fourth with five minutes of the 90 remaining.

He picked up possession and unleashed a low drive from 25 yards which flew into the net.

Three minutes later, Ashington’s troubles were compounded when Ryan Donaldson was sent off after being shown two yellow cards in quick succession.