By Brian Bennett

First half goals from Ryan McGorrigan and Dean Briggs were enough to steer Ashington to a second home victory of the season in their Ebac Northern League first division encounter against Northallerton Town on Saturday.

When ‘Allerton substitute Michael Rae halved the deficit with 20 minutes remaining it could have sent pulses racing in the Ashington camp especially after the Colliers had lost successive matches at The dwmedia Stadium recently despite holding a 2-1 lead. But the Wansbeck side negotiated the final quarter of the contest – plus five minutes of additional time – without too much concern.

The fact that Ian Skinner’s side had to protect the slender advantage was two fold. They were either wayward in their shooting or were thwarted by Northallerton’s debutant ‘keeper Charlie Lamb who was outstanding.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action early doors with both sides feeling each other out and the first opportunity came on the quarter hour mark when Lamb made his mark, touching away a curler from Max Emmerson.

The stopper clutched a 25 yarder from Briggs but had no chance in the 22nd minute when McGorrigan netted his third goal of the season.

Central defender Dominic Agnew – brought in on a month’s loan from South Shields -initiated the move with a cross field pass and it was Karl Ross who slipped the ball through for McGorrigan who, on the turn, clipped his effort wide of Lamb and inside the post.

On the half hour, Agnew made a great tackle to halt Lewis Rees then Curtis Coppen headed wide from an in-swinging corner by Bobby Taylor.

However in stoppage time, Ashington got their second following patient build up play. The ball was played out to Ross who crossed for Briggs to plant a powerful header home.

McGorrigan had the ball in the back of the net again early in the second period but was flagged offside then ‘keeper Karl Dryden intercepted a cross from Nathaniel Skidmore with Curtis Coppen completing the clearance.

Ashington upped the ante with Lamb twice denying McGorrigan then Taylor but in the 69th minute and out of the blue, a cross shot from the left by Rae crept just inside the far post.

In the next minute, McGorrigan touched the ball past Lamb but the ‘keeper somehow got a foot to the ball to deny him then Emmerson and Jordan Summerly linked to set up Briggs who directed a drive from the edge of the box straight down Lamb’s throat.

Northallerton posed a threat on the counter and in the 76th minute Nathan Stephenson fired narrowly over from distance.

Ashington continued in their search for a third and after Briggs had gone close, McGorrigan and Taylor had efforts which were repelled by Lamb before the final whistle brought three welcome points.

By Brian Bennett

A master stroke by Ashington manager Ian Skinner paid dividends on Tuesday night as his side – trailing by a single goal at the interval – rallied and went on to collect a deserved share of the spoils from a pulsating Ebac Northern League first division clash against neighbours Whitley Bay at The dwmedia Stadium.

The Colliers were clearly second best in a first period where the Seahorses dominated and a huge plus for the home outfit was the fact that they were only 1-0 down at the turnaround.

Skinner made a bold double substitution at half time – and Ashington’s second half showing in comparison to their first, was like chalk and cheese.

Yet from the first whistle of the opening half, it could have been so different as Skinner’s men started the game well. After only 22 seconds, Jordan Summerly raided down the left and found Dean Briggs but his effort rippled the side netting.

Whitley hit back with Matty Weirs finding Jamie Dunn who fired wide from 25 yards.

Then in the tenth minute Whitley’s ex Ashington ‘keeper Chris Bannon kept the score sheet blank.

A weaving run by Briggs saw the home skipper roll the ball across for Bobby Taylor whose effort was blocked by Bannon.
Whitley got on top and after a superb tackle by Curtis Coppen on Jason Chanayire just outside the area denied the Bay forward, Richard Coulson had a good opening but blasted over.

Ashington were guilty of giving the ball away on numerous occasions whilst Whitley continued to control matters and they went ahead in the 21st minute with a fine finish from Adam Shanks.

Again the move – which was slick – came down the left and when Shanks got possession, he unleashed a power drive from the edge of the area which flew into the net giving ‘keeper Karl Dryden no chance.

Two minutes later, a cross by the impressive Dunn cannoned off Summerly and over the bar for a corner then a long ball out of defence found Chanayire who was thwarted by Dryden.

Ashington were struggling to piece anything together but in a rare raid, Briggs had a cross cut out at the near post by visitors skipper Craig McFarlane.

Ross stroked wide of Bannon’s right hand post but as half time approached, only a great save from Dryden kept out a certain second from Shanks.

Before the start of the second half, Skinner withdrew Ben Sampson and Bobby Taylor introducing Max Emmerson and Brandon Slater. The boss also changed formation and Ashington were superb for the first 20 minutes – although the Colliers still had to be alert with Whitley dangerous on the counter attack.

Five minutes in, Coulson had a shot charged down by Harmison – who had switched from striker to centre back – then a shot by Shanks was turned around by Dryden.

Tom Bramley was relishing in his new role out on the right of the defence and in the 55th minute after a Briggs shot had been deflected, Bramley – spurting down the flank – saw his low cross narrowly missed in front of goal by Slater.

But within sixty seconds, Ashington’s relentless pressure saw them get back on terms as Briggs slotted the ball through for Ross who tucked his shot past Bannon.

The last quarter of the game was end to end. Dryden held a shot from Coulson then former Seahorses midfielder Paul Robinson found Summerly down the left but when he crossed, Danny Anderson fired over.

Even in the closing stages, both sides went for the jugular. At one end, Chanayire glanced wide then at the other Ashington forced successive corners and from the second, Whitley were happy to clear following a scramble.

Then in stoppage time, Robinson threaded a pass through for Briggs but he was denied as McFarlane made a brilliant interception to put the ball behind for a corner.

The home supporters in a crowd of 552, did their best to roar their side on – but in the end a draw was a fair result.

By Brian Bennett

It was all a little bit déjà vu for Ashington supporters at The dwmedia Stadium on Saturday.

Only last week, the Colliers were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup 4-3 by Newcastle Benfield after holding a 2-1 lead with ten minutes to go.

On Saturday, the Wansbeck side wrestled back the initiative with a piece of magic from Dean Briggs putting them back in front against Sunderland Ryhope CW – only to then concede two goals in the closing stages and consequently throw away their unbeaten home tag after only their second Ebac Northern League first division outing of the new season at Woodhorn Lane.

In truth, and just like against Benfield, the visitors were worthy winners – only manager Ian Skinner must be pulling his hair out as Ashington’s inability to see out matches when they are ahead – especially late on – is proving to be their achilles heel.

The two sides went into the contest on the back of totally diverse results in midweek. Ashington were buoyant after a 2-0 victory at Guisborough whilst CW were knocked out of the FA Cup by Goole after conceding late in extra time of their replay.

Going ahead in the early stages of games has been a feature in all bar one of Ashington’s matches so far and on Saturday they did it again – in the ninth minute.

Ryan McGorrigan was fouled 20 yards out and Max Cowburn expertly curled the resultant free kick around the wall and inside ‘keeper James Winter’s left hand post.

Five minutes later, the lead could have been doubled after Briggs cleverly dropped his shoulder to advance into the area but saw his right footer blocked by the ‘keeper then in another sorte up front, McGorrigan pulled the ball down and stroked wide of the upright.

The visitors got the upper hand as Ashington’s game became disjointed and the Colliers were relieved to hear the half time whistle after a frantic final ten minutes.

Following a well worked corner routine on the left by Ryhope, McGorrigan cleared off the line then minutes later, the home centre forward repeated the feat – on this occasion at the opposite post from another Ellis in-swinging delivery.

In the dying embers, the visitors missed a glorious opportunity to draw level. Brad Hird raided down the right flank and crossed into the middle but James Ellis skied the ball over from six yards.

Then after home stopper Adam McHugh had somehow denied Hird, Karl Ross won plaudits in the Ashington camp after getting back to block Ellis when he seemed a certain scorer.

The early action after the break saw Briggs play a one-two with Paul Robinson from a free kick but blast wide of Winter’s left hand post.

At the other end, the visitors fired a warning when McHugh did well to clutch from Ellis – but the pressure continued to mount. McHugh held from Hird whilst Bailey Judson lashed just over from the edge of the box.

And it came as no surprise when in the 64th minute, Ellis headed across McHugh from a cross by Hird for the equaliser.

But for all their lack of fluidity, skipper Briggs put the Colliers back in front with 13 minutes left on the clock.

He picked the ball up on the left, cut inside a couple of challenges then unleashed a glorious right footer from the edge of the area which went in off the far post.

Five minutes later Briggs threatened again but was blocked out for a corner.

Then in the 85th minute, Ryhope got on terms for a second time after a cross from the left was diverted into his own net by Curtis Coppen.

And the situation went from bad to worse in the final minute of the 90 when the ball came over from the right and was sliced across the face of goal with substitute Karl Southern hammering in from on the line.

In stoppage time, following a free-kick, a header by Tom Bramley came back off the bar and was cleared ……then came the final whistle.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington won their first league game of the new season with a convincing result against West Auckland at the dwmedia Stadium on Tuesday night.

Managers are always hopeful that players will show a reaction to even the slightest bit of criticism thrown at them. So recap to Colliers boss Ian Skinner’s remarks after the 2-2 draw against Penrith on Saturday: “I thought we were by far the better side in the first half and they were better after the break purely on work rate. They (Penrith) outworked us for the second half. It wasn’t that we didn’t work hard enough – it was just Penrith’s desire and ‘want’ was a little bit better than us.”

Clearly Skinner’s lads got the message loud and clear. On Tuesday, they left every ounce of energy on the pitch in a performance which resulted in the players receiving a deserved standing ovation as they came off the field at both half time and after the final whistle.

Two expertly executed free kicks from Max Cowburn, coupled with goals from Ryan McGorrigan and Dean Briggs were included in an unbelievable first period which left the County Durham outfit shell shocked.

The last time Ashington won by a four goal margin in a contest between the sides was in the 2013-14 campaign – a 5-1 drubbing – yet there was no suggestion of what was to come with the visitors clearly the better side in the opening exchanges even if they failed to trouble Adam McHugh in the home goal.

Consequently they were rocked on their heels on the quarter hour after Briggs had been sent tumbling by James Harwood.

Dead ball specialist Max Cowburn stepped forward and curled a superb right footer from 25 yards wide of ‘keeper Decklan Greenwood with the ball going into the net off the post.

McHugh had to be at his best to push around a shot from distance by Jordan Lavery then an effort on the turn by Jordan Blinco from ten yards crashed narrowly wide.

Ashington’s riposte after 25 minutes, was to add a second.

McGorrigan took down a cross from the left by Luke Salmon then turned and fired inside the post from eight yards.

McHugh was called into action again just past the half hour mark repelling a shot from Blinco with Ben Sampson blocking the rebound from Anthony Bell.

The home contingent in a tremendous crowd of 337 had already been on their feet appreciative of the first two goals – and they standing again as Ashington made it four ahead of the break.

In the 34th minute, Briggs ventured forward until he was brought down 25 yards out.

Cowburn stepped up again and although the free kick on this occasion was further to the right – the end result was stunning with another unerring finish.

Then five minutes before half time, Salmon won the ball on the left and slipped it across for Briggs who waltzed through the West defence and stroked his shot wide of the advancing Greenwood.

Just past the quarter hour mark in the second period, McHugh had to be alert to turn around an effort by Adam Mitchell but two minutes later, Ashington almost scored what would have been a terrific fifth.

Ben Harmison – who was outstanding at the heart of the home defence – threaded a pass down the left flank to McGorrigan who in turn switched the play by spraying the ball out wide to Cowburn.

The winger delivered a first time cross from the right but the inrushing Salmon could not make a clean connection and the ball skimmed off his head and flashed wide.

West were still asking questions and after Arron Thompson had fired wide and Blinco had hooked over, the home crossbar was left rocking when a thunderous effort from Blinco smacked against the bar, bounced down on the line and was cleared.

Then in stoppage time, Briggs put substitute Paul Robinson clear but the midfielder clipped the ball wide of the advancing Greenwood and the far post.

Ashington: McHugh, Sampson, Summerly (Robinson 89 minutes), Anderson, Bramley, Harmison (Tate 85 minutes), Cowburn (Taylor 81 minutes), Ross, McGorrigan, Briggs, Salmon. Sub not used: Dryden.