Season: 2021-22
7 vs 1 
Bishop Auckland vs Ashington
By Brian Bennett
Ashington went nap against Bishop Auckland at the Voneus Broadband Stadium – on a day when they created a hatful of chances and incredibly should have put the game to bed inside the opening quarter of the game!
Players don’t miss opportunities on purpose – but in Ashington’s case, their failure to convert a fair percentage during the first half, almost came back to haunt them in the second period when they were 3-0 ahead.
After leading in recent games, Ian Skinner’s side have gone on to lose and Colliers supporters must have had thoughts of deja vu when the Two Blues pulled the game back to 3-2 with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
However two crucial strikes in as many minutes from substitute Liam Doyle and skipper Dean Briggs not only knocked the stuffing out of the home outfit but gave the Wansbeck side valuable breathing space.
Ashington – looking to bounce back after being dumped out of the Buildbase FA Vase by Newcastle Benfield the previous week – made a great start by taking the lead in the third minute courtesy of Paul Robinson – only they ought to have already been in front!
There were only 58 seconds on the clock when Briggs went through but lifted his effort over the bar with only ‘keeper Niall Frampton to beat.
However, Briggs turned creator shortly afterwards when he burst down the right and pulled the ball square for Robinson who skipped past a defender then side footed wide of Frampton.
The procession of chances continued when play switched to the other end as twice within a minute, Josh Gilchrist and Lewis Murphy both fired wide gilt edged chances.
Back came Ashington and Robinson linked well with Jordan Summerly but when the latter crossed, Brandon Slater completely missed his kick in front of goal.
It was all Ashington and after Ben Sampson’s pass had released Briggs, the visiting midfielder waltzed through but dragged his shot wide.
In the next minute from a Karl Ross free kick, Ben Harmison headed the ball back for Slater whose acrobatic overhead kick smacked against the post, ran along the line and was cleared.
In the 18th minute. Briggs found David Luke who had a shot blocked by Frampton and when Bishops retaliated, Murphy had an effort held by the diving Karl Dryden following a right wing cross.
The glut of opportunities continued as Danny Anderson shaved the post with a drive from the edge of the area – before Briggs doubled the lead in the 25th minute as Ashington went route one.
A long ball out of defence by Tom Bramley found Briggs in space in the inside left channel and the skipper went through and coolly slotted right footed inside the bottom corner.
Matty Waters had a shot fielded by Dryden and Gilchrist smashed a drive just wide of the upright before on the stroke of half time, a shot from Ashington’s Anderson thudded against the bar.
The pattern continued after the interval with Robinson swinging over two corners. From the first, Briggs had a shot blocked by Ross Gardner then Bramley headed wide.
For the start of the second half, Zannick Aziakonou replaced Anderson and seven minutes in, the substitute made it 3-0.
Robinson rolled a corner for Aziakonou whose low right footer from 18 yards crept inside the post wide of Frampton.
However within three minutes Bishops struck back when Waters ghosted in at the near post to head in a corner by Lewis Suddick then the latter saw a low free-kick from 20 yards turned around by Dryden’s fingertips.
The final 20 minutes was also action packed. A snapshot from Suddick flashed just wide with Dryden rooted to the spot but in the 76th minute, Gilchrist got a second for the home side, whipping a low drive from 12 yards under Dryden’s body.
Bishops thought they had levelled when Luke Chapman netted but the effort was ruled out for offside before quickfire goals from Doyle and Briggs made the game safe for the Colliers.
Doyle – looking lively and showing plenty of endeavour – latched onto a pass from Briggs to steer the ball wide of Frampton and just inside the corner from seven yards.
But Briggs stole the show with a super solo effort in the next minute after receiving from Luke. The midfielder burst through from inside his own half, shrugged aside two defenders and then slotted wide of Frampton.
The Colliers had made hard work of the victory – but in the last minute of the 90, they could have made it six.
Ross struck the post from a cross by substitute Luke Salmon and from the rebound, Briggs side stepped Frampton and fired goalwards where his shot was handled on the line.
The assistant raised his flag – but the referee over-ruled him turning down shouts for a penalty.
2 vs 5 0 vs 1 
Newcastle Benfield vs Ashington
By Brian Bennett
It was akin to a story which could have been associated in the fictitious ‘Roy of the Rovers’ comic strip series as Newcastle Benfield came back against all the odds to claim a second FA competition victory this season over Ashington.
Five weeks ago, the Colliers were 2-1 up against the Lions in their FA Cup clash at Woodhorn Lane before eventually losing the tie 4-3.
On Saturday the Wansbeck side led 2-0 and were cruising just after the hour mark before they inexplicably capitulated.
Despite being reduced to nine men when two of their players were sin binned for ten minute periods for separate incidents, Benfield’s talismanic striker Paul Brayson reduced the deficit – and the home side seized the initiative. The Sam Smiths Park outfit then equalised through Sam Walton before completing the turnaround when Lewis Scorgie netted what proved to be the winner.
Consequently Ashington – and their supporters – were left numb with manager Ian Skinner saying afterwards that he was “speechless” following the events which unfolded.
It may have been a five goal thriller – but it was also the proverbial game of two halves as Ashington had a strong wind on their backs in the first half and the hosts had the same after the break.
Yet it had all been positive from the visitors who dominated the opening half from the first whistle.
Inside the first minute, Tom Bramley, Paul Robinson and Jordan Summerly linked but the latter delivered a weak cross which was cut out.
Shortly afterwards, Ashington forced a corner on the left and from Danny Anderson’s delivery, Ben Harmison guided a header narrowly over.
Benfield’s only threat had stemmed from a misplaced header by Summerly which gave Brayson possession but the striker scuffed his shot and ‘keeper Karl Dryden gathered with ease.
Back came the Colliers with Robinson having a shot collected by Andrew Grainger at the second attempt then the ‘keeper fisting out an effort from Dean Briggs.
Again on the break, former Collier Jake Turnbull cut inside from the left and saw his fierce shot held by Dryden.
Within seconds, play switched to the other end and a swift one-two between Ben Sampson and Briggs released the former into the area but he was blocked out by Grainger.
On the half hour, Bramley headed over but two minutes later, Benfield’s Brayson missed a golden opportunity to put his side ahead after the home side had been awarded a penalty for a harsh handball offence.
Brayson stepped forward but blasted the spot kick high over the bar.
Five minutes later, Ashington swept into the lead through Robinson.
Karl Ross picked up a loose pass in midfield and found Ryan McGorrigan who in turn passed to Robinson who slotted the ball wide of Grainger.
Benfield had a spell before the break where Cameron Gascoigne had a shot blocked by Bramley before a rasping effort from Aiden Haley struck the top of the crossbar and went over.
The home side began the second half on the front foot. Haley found Gascoigne whose attempt at the near post was scrambled away by Dryden.
The start of what was to be a frenetic and eventful period right through to the final whistle, began in the 53rd minute when Ritchie Slaughter was sent to the sin bin for dissent and within a minute, the Lions surrounded referee Ryan Kendall after he had pointed to the spot for a second time in the contest – on this occasion to award the Colliers a penalty for a foul on Briggs.
McGorrigan made no mistake sending Grainger the wrong way.
Two minutes later, home skipper Mark Turnbull joined Slaughter in the sin bin again for dissent before two key turning points arrived on the hour.
The first came when Harmison played the ball into Briggs who went around Grainger but saw his shot cleared off the line by Scorgie then a cross by Robinson just eluded McGorrigan.
Still down to nine men, Benfield found a way back into the contest in the 61st minute when Brayson was left unattended inside the area and drove a sweet half volley wide of Dryden and into the back of the net.
Summerly, Briggs and Anderson joined forces in a nice move but it ended with Anderson hitting his shot straight at Grainger.
Back to a full compliment of players, Benfield left Ashington – who had lost their shape – shell shocked as they scored twice in five minutes to edge in front.
The equaliser came in the 72nd minute when Brayson pulled the ball back from the right. It was touched forward by a home player to Sam Walton who from almost on the line slotted in.
The all important winner arrived after Dryden had pushed over a 25 yarder by Slaughter.
Gascoigne’s corner drifted over Dryden and when the ball was played back in, Scorgie headed into the roof of the net.
McGorrigan then squared the ball for Briggs whose shot was grasped by Grainger and at the other end, substitute Jake Thompson broke free down the right but was denied by Dryden.
In the closing stages, Ashington pushed Harmison up front and he almost forced a leveller but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.
In the 90th minute, Haley was sent to the sin bin – but ten-man Benfield saw the game through without any late scares.
3 vs 2 Ashington vs Whickham
By Brian Bennett
Max Cowburn scored twice in the opening quarter hour against his former club as a rampant and clinical Ashington side effectively had this Ebac Northern League first division match against Whickham sewn up by half time.
After a poor display – especially in the final third – and 3-1 defeat against Redcar Athletic in midweek, Ashington’s finishing was top drawer and Cowburn’s double plus other goals from skipper Karl Ross and David Luke saw the Colliers cruise into a 4-0 lead by the interval.
Consequently it was an unhappy afternoon for Whickham’s assistant manager and former Ashington boss Steve Bowey who was returning to the ground for the first time since resigning over two and a half years ago.
But if it was all gloom and doom for Bowey, it was the exact opposite for Cowburn who got Ashington off to a flying start with two sumptuous goals.
The first came in the eighth minute. Danny Anderson won a header in midfield and found Cowburn who spotted James Anderson off his line and from fully 35 yards, clipped the ball over the ‘keeper’s head and into the back of the net.
Ironically, only sixty seconds earlier, midfield schemer Paul Robinson had tried the same trick from even greater distance with an effort from inside the centre circle which drifted wide.
Five minutes after his opener, Cowburn produced another unerring finish. On this occasion, Anderson threaded a great first time pass through the eye of a needle which bisected the Whickham defence. Cowburn latched onto it and coolly slotted the ball past the ‘keeper and in off the far post from ten yards.
In the 24th minute, Ashington pieced together another scintillating move which culminated in the third goal from Karl Ross.
Jordan Summerly and Robinson combined with the latter playing the ball through the inside left channel for Ross. The home skipper beat the offside trap, advanced into the area and steered his shot wide of the advancing Anderson with the ball clipping both posts before nestling in the back of the net.
Inside a five minutes spell, Ashington were caught out on two occasions with Whickham substitute Mark Fitzpatrick having both opportunities. With the first he was initially in acres of space but was closed down very quickly and blocked out then with his second opening, the former Dunston UTS striker sliced wide.
Ashington’s riposte was to add a fourth through David Luke with seconds of the half remaining.
Robinson was again the provider but Luke skilfully dragged the ball back to bamboozle a defender which put the midfielder through and he buried his shot inside the far post.
Early in the second half, Ryan McGorrigan cut inside from the right but curled wide then Ben Sampson set up two chances for Cowburn but he was snuffed out by Ben Milburn.
Just past the hour mark, the crowd gave a warm round of applause to ‘keeper Karl Dryden who for the first time in the game, was tested as he made a brilliant save at his near post to thwart Michael Hoganson.
Equally four minutes later when Sampson fed McGorrigan, the striker looked a certain scorer but was denied by the instinctive reactions of Anderson.
Ten minutes from time, ex Ashington forward Zak Atkinson headed wide from a free kick from substitute Alex Francis and in stoppage time when Whickham broke, a shot from Fitzpatrick was parried to his right by Dryden.
Sandwiched in-between, substitute Brandon Slater beat a defender and went through the middle but his shot was pouched by Anderson.
4 vs 0 
11 vs 0 Ashington vs Redcar Athletic
By Brian Bennett
Ebac Northern League first division newcomers Redcar Athletic marked their first ever visit to Ashington with a 3-1 victory at The dwmedia Stadium – on a night of sheer frustration for home supporters.
The sides went into the break all square after a competitive first half which was shaded by the visitors but in the second period, although Ashington had a lot of the ball, they infuriated their fans – as they had done in the first 45 minutes – with moves breaking down on a regular basis.
Yet early doors, it could have been so different had Ben Sampson – restored to the midfield – put away a gilt edged opportunity.
Luke Salmon initiated the move down the left and slotted a pass through to Ryan McGorrigan whose left footer was parried out by ‘keeper James Dawson. The ball rebounded into the path of Sampson but the number seven side footed wide with an open goal at his mercy.
Three minutes later, the visitors took the lead. Salmon conceded a free kick on the right and when Matthew Bell floated the ball into the danger zone, Redcar skipper Jordan Rivis planted a firm header beyond ‘keeper Karl Dryden and into the net.
Ashington’s play had been sloppy and their passing careless but after captain Karl Ross had tried his luck from distance with an effort which was fielded by Dawson, the home side got back on terms in the 24th minute through centre back Ben Harmison.
Awarded a free kick on the right, Max Cowburn sent the ball into the area where Harmison headed it from eight yards over a cluster of players and into the roof of the net.
Before the half hour mark, Redcar’s Bell – whose delivery from set pieces was causing problems – was forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury.
In the 32nd minute, the Colliers came so close to edging in front. Sampson cut inside and found Cowburn whose first time shot from the edge of the area struck the inside of the post and cannoned away to safety.
Shortly afterwards, following a corner, Dominic Agnew missed a glorious opportunity heading wide at the far post from a cross by skipper Ross then Agnew and Sampson combined down the right flank to release Cowburn who put a great ball in which flashed across the face of the Redcar goal.
With half time approaching, Stuart Browne and Issac Walker linked to set up a chance for substitute Owen Clarkson whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Ashington forced a corner and when Cowburn’s flag kick was only half cleared, the ball broke to McGorrigan but his half volley from the edge of the box was clutched by Dawson.
Salmon flashed a low drive wide then in the 56th minute, a right sided free kick by Rivis surprised everyone before it cannoned off the far post.
For all Ashington’s final pass was infuriating the home fans, they still kept plugging away and just prior to the midway point in the period, a breakaway attack saw a good interchange between McGorrigan and Cowburn but when the latter tried to find McGorrigan, his cross was cut out by the alert Dawson.
However, in the 70th minute, Ashington were stung when Redcar went in front for a second time when Walker squeezed his shot through the smallest of gaps between Dryden and the post.
In the final ten minutes as Ashington continued to press, a corner from Cowburn was headed back across but McGorrigan’s flick went straight into Dawson’s midriff.
Colliers manager Ian Skinner had changed personnel sending on substitutes Curtis Coppen and Brandon Slater and throwing Harmison up front and in the 85th minute, Harmison put the ball into the net from a Cowburn pass but the goal was disallowed for offside.
In the third minute of time added on – and with the final kick of the game – Redcar made it 3-1 when Connor Smith picked up a ricochet off an Ashington defender, broke through and rammed home.
1 vs 3 
West Allotment Celtic vs Ashington
By Brian Bennett
Stand-in skipper Karl Ross scored a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time to ensure Ashington a share of the spoils from a six goal thriller against West Allotment Celtic at a sun drenched East Palmersville Sports ground on Saturday.
Ross’s effort – in a game which see-sawed one way then the other – extended the Colliers’ unbeaten away run to four matches in the Ebac Northern League’s first division and although the visitors never reached any great heights in what was an average performance, it was nevertheless a point which they thoroughly deserved.
However, it was even more welcome with manager Ian Skinner only able to name three substitutes – including goalkeeper Adam McHugh – as he had to reckon without injured trio Max Emmerson, Bobby Taylor and Dean Briggs whilst Jordan Summerly and Curtis Coppen were unavailable.
Yannick Aziakonou returned to the starting line up in the centre of defence and made a superb tackle in the penalty area in the seventh minute to halt Guilherme Baltazar.
The game changed within the space of two minutes as Ashington ought to have gone in front but then found themselves a goal behind. In the 13th minute, a darting run by Brandon Slater, involving link up play with Ross and McGorrigan, gave the number seven a clear opening but his shot was held by goalkeeper Finn Hodgson.
Allotment countered and a through ball found Callum Larmouth who made no mistake, burying a left footer from eight yards inside Karl Dryden’s right hand post.
Midway through the period, a great ball down the right flank by Dominic Agnew found Slater but his cross was intercepted then a speculative effort from the left from all of 35 yards by Luke Salmon hit the frame of the goal with Hodgson well beaten.
In the 34th minute, Dryden had to be at his best to make a smart save diving to his left from Jacob Foster then right on the stroke of half time, a long diagonal ball by Tom Bramley found Slater but he blazed over.
Just short of the hour mark, Ashington got back on terms. Danny Anderson swung over a corner from the right and Bramley netted with a downward half volley from 12 yards.
Four minutes later, a great piece of skill by Ross saw him bamboozle two defenders and when he ventured into the box, he was brought down by Graham Williams. Ryan McGorrigan stepped up and sent Hodgson the wrong way from the spot to put the Colliers 2-1 up.
Dryden denied Baltazar then a shot on the turn from home substitute Dean Walker went just wide of the post.
But in another twist – and inside an eight minute period – Allotment turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead with their man of the moment Larmouth notching a hat-trick.
The centre forward had caused problems for the visiting rearguard and when the ball broke free to him, Larmouth hammered in the equaliser.
Then in the 86th minute, Anderson upended Baltazar in the area and Larmouth emphatically slotted home from the resultant penalty.
But there was still more action to come. In the fifth minute of time added on, Gilberto Chapim was sent off for a second yellow card then sixty seconds later, a drive by McGorrigan was blocked; substitute Max Cowburn touched the ball to Ross whose effort was flagged by the assistant to have crossed the line despite the efforts of the home defenders to keep it out.
3 vs 3 
8 vs 1 North Shields vs Ashington
By Gary Bell
There were two changes to the Ashington starting eleven for the midweek game away to North Shields from the side that defeated Northallerton on Saturday with Anderson in for Taylor and Harmison replacing Agnew who dropped down to the bench.
The Colliers started the game on the front foot and were unlucky on two minutes when a stinging goalbound effort from Karl Ross hit Ashington forward Ryan McGorrigan and deflected to safety. Sheilds went on an immediate reply with Dan Wilson breaking down the right and crossing into the box. Carl Dryden in the Ashington goal got a hand to it but the ball spilled from his grasp, but he quickly recovered to grab the ball to his chest at the second attempt.
Ashington’s plans were thrown into disarray in the fourth minute when Max Emmerson went down in pain in an off the ball incident and after lengthy treatment he limped from the field to be replaced by Davey Luke. The Ashington midfielder was called into action on nine minutes when a cross from the North Shields right was met by a powerful header by Dan Wilson in the area, but Luke managed to divert the effort with a header in the six-yard box. With the rebound falling to Jack Leonard on the edge of the box Danny Anderson did well to throw his body in front of his shot to block the effort to safety.
North Shields were in the ascendancy and Curtis Coppen had to be on his toes when a through ball sent Callum Smith clear down the right, but the Ashington defender managed to make a last-ditch tackle to divert the danger. Coppen then became an unlikely source of attack for the visitors when he picked up the ball on halfway and drove into the North Shields half hitting a swerving effort from 30 yards which went just the wrong side of the left upright. A minute later McGorrigan was sent in on goal with a through ball by Ross but his shot was pulled wide of the goal.
A sustained period of pressure then ensued with the home side taking control of proceedings. On 25 minutes Bramley, Coppen and Anderson all made good blocks from consecutive efforts on goal before Ben Harmison was able to hook the ball to safety. A penetrating run from Andrew Cartwright then saw the full back cut inside of Anderson and his cross into the box found Smith but his shot cleared the bar. A minute later however the home side’s pressure told when a neatly worked one-two down the left saw Jack Leonard and Cam Cunningham exchange passes before the latter lashed a shot from the edge of the box into bottom right corner.
The game fell into a lull until two free kicks in two minutes almost added goals at both ends. Ashington were awarded a free kick just into Shields territory on the left and Anderson delivered a pinpoint cross into the box where Harmison’s outstretched leg just sent the ball over the bar from close range. A minute later the home side were awarded a free kick which was whipped into the box by Cartwright, but Paul Van-Zandvliet saw his powerful header sail over the bar to safety.
The half time whistle sounded with North Shields good value for their 1-0 lead.
Ashington came out into the second half with renewed energy and on 48 minutes good work down the left by Jordan Summerly saw the ball played in to Dean Briggs on the edge of the area. He held off the centre half to turn and fire an effort towards goal and was unlucky to see it said just the wrong side of the post. A minute later Briggs looked to have been fouled when breaking into the area but the referee surprisingly waved play on.
Ashington were pressing high and restricting the home side’s attacking options and it wasn’t until 60 minutes were on the clock that Shields produced their first real effort of the half when Smith hit a long-range effort which Dryden collected comfortably in his midriff.
Ryan McGorrigan was unlucky shortly after when he latched onto a cross from the right to hit a left footed volley goalwards from a tight angle, but his effort was saved low down by keeper Greg Purvis.
In a rare Sheilds foray into the Ashington box the ball bounced around before Leonard hit a powerful shot which Bramley did well to get his body in front of to block to safety.
Halfway through the second half Dean Briggs picked up the ball on the edge of the opposition box and struck an effort towards goal. His shot took a slight deflection which spun it up into the air and Purvis had to quickly back-peddle to just get his fingertips to the effort to avoid it lobbing over him and into the net.
Ashington were pushing hard to get back on level terms. McGorrigan had an effort blocked by Chris McDonald when well placed and Ross saw a long-range shot go just wide. Dean Briggs saw a free kick from just outside the box fumbled by Purvis, but it was hooked clear, but Anderson picked up the loose ball before playing in a cross that McGorrigan was inches away from as he lunged for the ball.
With the game going into injury time the visitor’s efforts looked to have been in vain but with one final push a long ball from the back saw substitute Luke Salmon break clear of the home defence. As he powered into the box Purvis made a desperate lunge catching the feet of the attacking Ashington player. With the referee poised to blow for a penalty the ball fell to the feet of the onrushing McGorrigan who calmly slotted the ball into the empty net to bring the scores level.
There was barely time for the game to restart before the referee sounded the final whistle. With honours even both sides could be pleased with their evenings work.
1 vs 1