Season: 2022-23

Guisborough Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington pulled off a tremendous 1-0 victory on Saturday against Guisborough Town at the King George V Stadium after a stunning strike in the closing stages from Andrew Cartwright.

For the defender, it was his second goal of the season – the other coming in a 4-1 win over Whickham at the beginning of November – and sealed a well deserved success for the Wansbeck outfit on Teesside.

The game was billed as a top of the table clash – fourth placed Ashington against their in-form hosts who sit directly below them – but their was little to enthuse about in a first half which only produced one chance for each side.

Even then, the encounter had already crossed the half way point in the period when the home sides’ Cole Kiernan cut inside and unleashed a goalbound left footer which was brilliantly pushed away by visiting ‘keeper Karl Dryden diving to his right.

The Colliers handed a debut to Lewis Green and it was the former Consett midfielder who came within inches of providing an assist in the 34th minute.

Inside the penalty area and near to the by-line, the newcomer played in a low ball from the left which flashed across the face of the goal with Ben Harmison narrowly failing to connect at the far post.

That was that for the opening period, a dour scrap between the two sides – and opportunities wise, the second half fared little better.

However Ashington certainly upped their game and called the tune from the restart, making inroads and hemming Guisborough inside their own half.

Inside the first few minutes, Cartwright – who was to play a starring role – combined with Lewis Suddick on two occasions.

For the first, Suddick’s effort was cleared then when the midfielder got possession again, he flashed a ball across the six yards box when only a touch was required.

Then ten minutes in, Ryan McKinnon – who was outstanding throughout at the heart of the defence – glanced an in-swinging corner from Cartwright wide.

In a rare break, Michael McGee fired wide for Guisborough but two minutes later Dean Briggs – who had replaced the injured Dan Maguire in the first half – floated over a free-kick from the left which was headed on by sub Adam Johnson and the home side were happy to clear for a corner.

Then in the 84th minute came the piece of quality which resulted in the winner.

Cartwright and Briggs exchanged a one-two and when Briggs rolled the ball into space, Cartwright unleashed a thunderbolt right footer from the edge of the box which screamed past home stopper Will Cowey and into the net.

vs
vs

Pickering Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s mini run of three consecutive victories came to a halt on Saturday as Keelan Grist slotted home a late winner for lowly Pickering Town at Mill Lane.

The Colliers made an impressive start and it looked to be only a matter of time before they would open the scoring.

Indeed the game was only 15 seconds old when Ashington threatened for the first time.

Dean Briggs found Lewis Suddick on the right but his low whipped ball went across the face of the home goal and when Paul Robinson recycled it from the left, ‘keeper Quinaceo Hunt intercepted.

The Wansbeck side were finding joy down the right flank and when Lee Mason and Suddick found Craig Spooner, the full back also delivered a cross that only required a touch.

On the quarter hour, skipper Darren Lough broke up a Pickering attack inside his own half and after work by Briggs and Robbie Dale, the defender fired wide.

However after being forced to reshuffle following an injury to Lough with Dale moving into the back four and substitute Yannick Aziakonou going into midfield, the best opportunity fell to Suddick.

Briggs slotted a lovely ball through but the midfielder took an extra touch which allowed Hunt to intervene.

In a rare sorte at the other end, Grist had a weak shot gathered by ‘keeper Karl Dryden.

Another centre, on this occasion by Dale went across the face before Ashington were left reeling in the 33rd minute as the Pikes took the lead.

After being awarded a free kick on the left touch line for handball, the ball was headed back across where Max McGuckin made no mistake with a right footer.

The home side – now with something to hold onto – certainly upped their energy levels and work rate, contesting every ball and defending very well.

Just prior to the interval, Suddick latched onto a through pass and pushed the ball wide of Hunt but a defender got back to clear his shot off the line.

Ashington continued to dominate after the break – with a strange incident on the hour when Dale was sent sprawling. The Colliers thought the foul occurred just inside the box and when the referee gave a long blow on his whistle, they believed he was going to point to the spot.

However he awarded the Colliers a free kick inches outside the area with Dale’s effort being blocked.

Ashington deservedly drew level in the 77th minute – with Luke Salmon making  a sensational impact, as he scored four minutes after being introduced.

Suddick floated over a corner from the right where Salmon’s bullet-like header from eight yards thudded into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Ryan McKinnon headed across but Suddick spurned a glorious chance then good work on the right by sub Adam Johnson saw him roll the ball into Spooner only for him to blaze over.

Then quite incredibly in the 85th minute, Ashington were punished for a piece of sloppy defending and when the ball was pulled back, Grist lashed home.

vs
vs

Crook Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

He’s only gone and done it again!

For the second time this month, striker Adam Johnson came off the bench to hit a precious winner for Ashington.

Johnson had netted to clinch the points in the home game against Penrith – and on Saturday, he struck again as the Colliers completed a seasons double over Crook Town with the narrowest of victories at the Sir Tom Cowie Millfield ground.

After a dip in form where they picked up one point from 12, Ian Skinner’s side have gone about their business in a softly, softly fashion to get back on track and their latest and deserved success – in a game played at an unrelenting pace throughout – was their third maximum on the bounce.

There was plenty of endeavour in the first period and Ashington should have got their noses in front long before Johnson scored in the latter stages of the half.

In the seventh minute, Paul Robinson – on his return to the side – found Dan Maguire and when he played the ball through to Lee Mason, the striker snatched at the opportunity and lashed over from six yards.

The 13th minute proved to be unlucky for defensive lynchpin Darren Lough.

A shot by Robinson was headed behind by home skipper Dan Mitton and from the flag corner on the right, ‘keeper Ronan Makepeace made a spectacular reflex save from Mason and from the rebound, Lough’s header smacked against the bar and was cleared.

It was the 20th minute when Crook had their first real chance. Craig Moody fired the ball in low and Ashington ‘keeper Karl Dryden was forced to tip it around at the foot of the post.

Ashington almost unlocked the door on the half hour. The prominent and influential Robinson found the over lapping Jordan Summerly down the left flank but the full back’s low cross was intercepted in the nick of time by Makepeace.

Two minutes later, the woodwork also denied Craig Spooner after the full back struck a rasping left footer from distance which came back off the bar.

But in the 37th minute, Johnson – who had replaced the injured Maguire – put Ashington ahead with a clinical finish.

Mason’s pass sent the substitute through in the inside left channel and after driving forward, Johnson struck a left foot drive through the legs of the advancing Makepeace with the ball nestling inside the far post.

The link up play down the left between Robinson and Summerly had been a feature and before half time the pair combined again with Summerly’s cross being cut out for a corner.

Early in the second period, it was Johnson who seized onto a back pass and pulled the ball across but Mason’s connection was weak and Makepeace got back to smother.

On the hour, Dryden blocked a shot from Ben Garrity before the visitors had further chances to put the game to bed.
Two minutes after coming on, Dean Briggs had an effort saved by Makepeace and the lively Johnson latched onto a pass from Briggs but the home ‘keeper got a vital touch as the forward took the ball past him.

Robbie Dale then played a lovely ball out wide to Lewis Suddick but the substitute was also off target and the final opportunity fell in time added on when subs Karl Ross and Liam Smith combined with the latter having a shot which was deflected over the bar.

vs
vs

Heaton Stannington vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington are out of this season’s Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup after they went down 3-1 against Heaton Stannington in their quarter final tie at Grounsell Park on Wednesday night.

The Colliers dominated for large periods of what was a rip roaring cup tie played at a furious pace throughout but were made to pay the penalty for a sloppy opening quarter hour as the home side scored twice in ten minutes through Konner Lamb and Jordan Lashley.

In the second half, the Wansbeck side continued to pile on the pressure but a combination of resolute defending by the hosts coupled with Ashington’s poor quality in the final third saw them exit the competition.

And just to rub salt into sore wounds, the home side put the game beyond doubt two minutes from the end of normal time with a third goal by substitute James Proctor.

The two sides have now met on three occasions this season; Heaton Stannington winning twice; the other match drawn – but watched by a crowd of 285, this was the best of the trio.

The game got off to a sensational start as Konner Lamb gave his side the lead in the fifth minute following a slick move.

The Stan played out despite Ashington’s high press and when the ball was played up front, it was flicked through for Lamb who cut inside onto his right foot and curled a sumptuous right footer from the edge of the box which gave ‘keeper Kyle Hayes no chance as it thundered into the far corner.

Ashington hit back forcing successive corners on the left and from the latter, Dean Briggs had an effort cleared off the line.

In the tenth minute, Karl Ross slotted the ball through for Craig Spooner but his shot was saved by ‘keeper Greg Purvis and Dan Maguire was off target from the rebound.

Heaton stunned their visitors when they added a second on the quarter hour.

Andrew Cartwright lost possession inside his own half and after a shot was deflected across the box, ex Ashington striker Jordan Lashley slotted home.

And only the sharp reflexes of Hayes prevented a third in the 24th minute.

Daniel Stephenson took a left footed free-kick which was tipped onto the post and behind for a corner by the ‘keeper.

Ashington continued to press but Briggs lashed an effort over and Spooner drove a foot wide of the upright following a cross by Ben Sampson.

However they got a lifeline five minutes before the interval when Briggs advanced into the area before he was sent sprawling by a tackle from a defender.

Referee Darren Williams awarded a penalty and Damen Mullen emphatically despatched the spot kick into the top corner of the net.

It was a half which the Colliers didn’t want to end – but after the break they nevertheless picked up where they left off, totally dominating the ball but lacking a cutting edge up top.

Indeed inside the first couple of minutes, Cartwright found Sampson and when he crossed, Briggs had a shot blocked then Maguire had an effort superbly turned around by Purvis.

But that was as good as it got for the Colliers and although they continually knocked on the door, the home outfit showed great determination and resilience to keep it firmly shut.

Then in the 88th minute, Hayes made a spectacular save as he dived full length to his right to keep out a free kick from Nicholas Cassidy but substitute Proctor pounced to slot home the rebound.

The win sees The Stan move into the semi finals where they will face the winners of the North Shields v Blyth Spartans clash on home soil.

vs

Seaham Red Star vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Lee Mason despatched a disputed penalty shortly before half time which gave Ashington their first win over Seaham Red Star at the Independent Utility Advice Arena for six seasons.

The Colliers have always found Seaham a tough place to go and on Saturday, it was just the same with little to separate the sides in testing conditions.

Indeed the first period – where the Wansbeck side kicked into the teeth of a strong wind – contained only two key incidents.

On the quarter hour, Robbie Dale found the overlapping Jordan Summerly down the left. His cross was recycled by Dean Briggs and when he played the ball in low for Mason, the striker’s shot on the turn was smartly saved by home ‘keeper Andrew Jennison.

Then what led to the decisive goal came in the 42nd minute when Dale slipped Maguire through the middle. The forward was clipped in the area and referee Charlie Ford pointed to the spot.

Seaham contested the award but when the dust finally settled, Mason clinically tucked the ball home sending Jennison the wrong way.

The second half faired little better with plenty of endeavour and effort in what was a competitive match but with few chances on goal.

On the hour, Ashington skipper Ben Harmison met a cross by Dale but his header clipped the post and was cleared.

Seaham’s best opportunity came midway through when Bradley Chisholm met a free kick from the right and powered a header which was superbly tipped around the upright by visitors ‘keeper Karl Dryden.

vs
vs

Ashington vs Penrith

By Brian Bennett

Adam Johnson came off the bench to score the winner as Ashington were forced to dig deep before recording a 2-1 victory over Penrith at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

After having a penalty saved, Robbie Dale opened the scoring for the Colliers just prior to half time but the hard working Cumbrians equalised through Luke Hunter. Striker Johnson then fired home what proved to be the clincher with just under quarter of an hour remaining.

Following rain in the morning, excellent work on the pitch by a group of volunteers resulted in the game getting the go ahead.

Home fans were left frustrated as their side missed chances but the main stumbling block for Ashington’s failure to put the game to bed even by half time, was an outstanding display between the posts by Penrith’s Aaran Taylor who not only kept the Wansbeck side at bay but who single handedly walked away with the man of the match award.

For parts of the game it was edgy and nervy but the Colliers cracked the code and returned to winning ways for the first time since mid November.

It was staggering that it took the Colliers until the dying embers of the first period to break the deadlock – as it had looked to be merely a matter of time.

They began their dominance as early as the third minute when a clever flick by Dan Maguire put Dean Briggs through but after cutting inside, his heavy touch allowed Taylor the opportunity to pounce and snuff out the danger.

Lee Mason had a goal ruled out for offside then Briggs found Craig Spooner who fired wide of Taylor’s left hand post.

After Mason had shot off target from eight yards, great work on the right by Maguire – where he wriggled one way then the other – saw him find Briggs but the midfielder drove his effort wide of the far upright.

The Colliers continued to knock on the door and when Briggs seized onto a back pass, he tried to round Taylor but the ‘keeper whipped the ball off his toes.

Just past the half hour mark, Ben Sampson and Maguire combined with the latter laying the ball across for Robbie Dale who was upended by Luke Brown as he cut back inside.

Referee David Carr pointed to the spot but Dale’s penalty was blocked by Taylor.

A great crossfield pass by Dale found Briggs on the right flank who pulled the ball inside but Sampson’s right footer was repelled by Taylor and from the resultant corner, a header by Darren Lough was cleared off the line.

The pressure continued to mount as the hard grafting Maguire slipped a pass through for Mason. He took the ball around Taylor but his shot was cleared from the danger zone by Robbie Hebson.

However when the ball was recycled, Taylor produced a miraculous save from a header by Mason. Already moving to his right, the stopper somehow swayed to his left to tip the ball onto the bar with a defender clearing the rebound for a corner.

However the breakthrough finally arrived three minutes before the interval and was a piece of magic by Dale.

Spooner’s run into the box saw him lay the ball off to Dale who coolly jinked past a defender which put him clear before he rolled a shot wide of Taylor and inside the corner.

Ashington were quick out of the blocks after the interval. Maguire and Spooner linked together to set up Sampson whose centre flashed across the face of the goal.

Then Mason and Briggs both had efforts; the first was saved by Taylor and the follow up blocked by a defender.

Despite all of Ashington’s dominance as they pushed for a second goal, Penrith served notice that they could hit on the break and Jonny Murray was not far off target with a shot from the right.

Taylor denied Spooner then Dale, after spotting the ‘keeper off his line, tried an audacious effort from 45 yards which dropped just over the bar.

However in the 73rd minute, the Cumbrians levelled.

Murray crossed from the right where Hunter lashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Ashington manager Ian Skinner introduced Johnson for Briggs – and five minutes later, it was the substitute who came up trumps.

He cut inside from the touchline and turned then unleashed a low left footer from 20 yards which crept just inside the upright.

And with three minutes of the 90 remaining, Johnson could have put the game firmly beyond the visitors when he latched onto a through pass from sub Karl Ross.

Johnson bore down on goal but his goalbound effort was tipped away – by that man Taylor.

vs