Season: 2022-23

Ashington vs Ashton United

By Brian Bennett

Ashington marched into the next stage of the Emirates FA Cup on Tuesday night after turning in a magnificent performance to brush aside Ashton United in their first qualifying round replay.

The Colliers had deservedly brought the side from Greater Manchester back up to Wansbeck following a goal-less draw on Saturday – and Ian Skinner’s outfit were exceptional, winning 3-0 in front of a terrific crowd of 671 who backed them all the way.

Dan Maguire set the home side on their way with a goal in the first half which lit the blue touch paper and when Craig Spooner and substitute Adam Johnson added strikes in the second period there was no way back for Ashton – who play two leagues higher in the Northern Premier League, Premier Division.

The prize for the Colliers is a home tie against Bradford Park Avenue from the National League North on Saturday week (September 17).

But what an evening to remember in NE63 – and on a night where the Wansbeck side wore their brand new away kit of Green shirts and White shorts for the first time – in front of their home supporters – as a tribute to one of Ashington’s favourite sons Jackie Charlton, a World Cup winner with England in 1966 who was also a member of the Leeds United side who lifted the FA Cup six years later.

They talk about the romance of the FA Cup and how it has a special place in the hearts of players, management and supporters as it holds a bit of magic – and that’s exactly what Woodhorn Lane experienced on Tuesday night.

There were mixed fortunes for Skinner before kick-off. The inspirational Robbie Dale picked up a knock in Saturday’s contest which saw him ruled out whilst Dean Briggs – who missed out in the first match due to injury – came through a late fitness test.

Ashington had the first chance in the ninth minute when Ben Sampson – handed a role in midfield – won a header and when Maguire laid the ball off, Lee Mason spotted ‘keeper Luke Taylor off his line and tried an audacious lob from 45 yards which drifted wide.

On the quarter hour, the Colliers broke quickly from an Ashton corner with Jordan Summerly finding Briggs who tried to curl the ball around Taylor but Briggs didn’t get enough purchase on the ball and the stopper held with ease.

The visitors were posing threats from set plays with Matthew Reagan and Niall Battersby both heading off target from pin point deliveries from in-swinging corners by Cole Lonsdale.

There was a scare for Ashington in the 21st minute, when referee Sam Ross pointed to the spot for an Ashton penalty after Darren Lough had caught Benjamin Hardcastle – but after consulting with his assistant Gary Hargrave, the man in the middle changed his decision to a free-kick a matter of inches outside the area.

However four minutes later, Maguire opened the scoring. Briggs played the ball into the area and the striker nonchalantly skipped past one defender. He then delayed his shot as he side-stepped past another before firing low past Taylor and into the corner.

Woodhorn Lane was bouncing and minutes later Maguire pulled down a cross from Cartwright and after teeing himself up, volleyed just over.

Yannick Aziakonou made a superb interception diverting a goalbound shot before Maguire – who was an outstanding performer in the first half – cut inside from the right and produced an outrageous piece of skill as he twisted and turned but saw his left footer cannon back into play after thudding against the base of the post with Taylor rooted to the spot.

Ten minutes into the second period, Spooner had the home supporters on their feet again as he scored Ashington’s second. The midfielder let fly with a blistering right footer from just inside the box which flew into the roof of the net past a startled Taylor.

Saturday’s contest had been a drab affair but this game had turned into a rip roaring contest.

With just over 20 minutes to play, Cartwright made a timely clearance from a shot by Hardcastle before the Colliers added a third in the 82nd minute, with another quality finish.

Substitute Adam Johnson broke from the half way line and was pursued by an Ashton defender.

But after advancing towards the edge of the box, Johnson unleashed a venomous left footer which rocketed inside the upright.

In the next minute, Thomas Kalthoeber made a vital interception after a cross from the right then with time running out, Summerly went on a surging run but after a swift one-two with Spooner, blazed over the bar.

The final whistle went and Skinner must have been delighted – not only with the result – but after his side left every drop of energy out on the pitch to deservedly move into the next round.

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Ashton United vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington rose to the tough challenge of facing Ashton United in the Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round on Saturday – and came away from their visit to Hurst Cross in Greater Manchester with a deserved replay following a blank score line.

Indeed, whilst the Colliers were delighted with the result, they could so easily have emerged as winners after being the better side – and having chances – in the second half.

Overall manager Ian Skinner was pleased with his players who all put in excellent performances in a contest where the limited amount of chances – with the exception of one – fell Ashington’s way.

The opening 20 minutes produced little in the way of a threat on either goal.

In the seventh minute, Craig Spooner was penalised for a foul but the free kick from 25 yards, taken by home skipper Michael Brewster was blocked.

Ashington’s first sniff came on the quarter hour when Jordan Summerly played the ball over the top to Dan Maguire who forced a corner.

Although Ashton had more possession, it was the Wansbeck outfit who looked the more likely to break the deadlock.

Maguire, Lee Mason and Paul Robinson combined from a throw in which ended with the latter firing over.

Then five minutes later, Ben Sampson glided past three defenders and found Spooner who also cleared the bar.

In the closing stages of the first half, the Colliers came closer.

When home ‘keeper Gregory Hartley fisted a shot by Spooner up into the air, the ball fell to Robinson whose effort was cleared off the line by Matty Regan.

Two minutes from the break, Ashington had shouts for a penalty turned down.

Thomas Kalthoeber supplied the pass which released Maguire and the centre forward appeared to have his shirt tugged back just before he was about to shoot but the referee remained unmoved.

What was to be the best opportunity of the game arrived in the 50th minute.

Robinson’s pass bisected the home defence and released Maguire but the striker had a heavy first touch and lobbed just over the bar from the edge of the area as Hartley advanced.

On the hour, Spooner drove wide then in the middle of what was a good spell from the visitors, Maguire curled an effort wide.

Minutes later, Robbie Dale produced a surging run from inside his own half and fed Mason but the forward blazed over.

In the closing stages, a shot by Ashton substitute James Baillie was deflected wide but the game ended with Ashington having another chance.

Substitute Luke Salmon crossed for Spooner but his shot was partially blocked by Hartley and cleared to safety.

The two sides meet in the replay at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday (September 6) where kick off is 7.45pm.

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Carlisle City vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington lost their 100 per cent league tag but remain unbeaten in the first division of the Ebac Northern League after Brandon Longcake hit by a late equaliser for Carlisle City on Tuesday night.

The game was in stark contrast to Saturday’s ten goal thriller at Ashington when the Colliers crashed out of the Isuzu FA Vase to Billingham Town, with only a few chances throughout.

Indeed after five goals were scored inside the opening quarter hour last Saturday, it was the 14th minute before the first opportunity materialised at The Three Rivers Health & Safety Consultancy Stadium when Luke Salmon, arriving at the back post, headed wide a cross from the right by Thomas Kalthoeber.

With both defences resilient, it was the half hour mark when the next chance arrived and was a prelude to what was to follow as Lee Mason had a shot blocked with Paul Robinson being thwarted from the rebound by home ‘keeper Stephen Townsley.

But after a defender had made a timely interception to prevent a certain opener from Mason, Ashington edged in front two minutes before the break.

Dean Briggs floated a free kick into the penalty area and after Mason had seen another effort charged down, Robinson made no mistake as he hammered the loose ball inside the bottom corner.

The limited chances in the first period had all fallen to Ashington – and in the first minute after the interval, another came their way.

Skipper Briggs was put clean through in the inside left channel but he took a heavy touch which allowed the advancing Townsley to close him down and block the effort.

City fashioned a couple of opportunities which were on target with Robbie Ivison finding Jordan Holt whose shot was turned around by Dryden then Longcake – after wriggling inside the penalty area – drove wide.

It just wasn’t going to be Mason’s night as ten minutes into the half, he was denied a fourth time. Robinson and Salmon combined down the left and when the latter crossed, Mason got a good connection on the ball but was again foiled by a defender.

Dryden gathered a shot from Holt at the foot of the post before the home side drew level five minutes from time when a cross from the right was steered wide of Dryden by Longcake.

After defending well but conceding so late, it was frustrating for the Wansbeck side – but on the balance of play, the Cumbrians deserved a point.

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Ashington vs Billingham Town

By Brian Bennett

Billingham Town shattered Ashington’s dreams of a hoped-for extended run in this season’s Isuzu FA Vase on Saturday when they hit the Colliers for six at Woodhorn Lane.

Bang went the 100 per cent record; bang went the impressive number of games where they had conceded only a handful of goals so far this term and bang went one cup competition with the Wansbeck side turning in their worst showing of the season.

On the other hand, the Teessiders deserved their success in what was a crazy game which see-sawed from literally start to finish.

There was mayhem as five goals were scored in an action-packed first 13 minutes.

Ashington took the lead on four minutes. Darren Lough found Luke Salmon down the left and when he crossed into the middle, Lee Mason was left unmarked to prod the ball home.

Barely sixty seconds later, Christopher Wallace rattled the crossbar with a shot from 25 yards but in their next move, Ashington lost possession and Luke Spalding fired into the top corner past ‘keeper Karl Dryden.

Four minutes later, skipper Ben Riding headed in from six yards from a Robbie Bird corner on the left but in the next minute, Dean Briggs played the ball into the danger zone where Mason’s back flick beat ‘keeper Jordan Harkess and found the net.

However, as the crowd tried to get their breath back, the 13th minute proved to be unlucky for the home side as Spalding curled a delightful left foot effort around Dryden and inside the far post to put his side 3-2 ahead.

Robbie Dale had a shot blocked and from the follow up, Mason was denied his hat-trick when his effort struck the bar.

Karl Ross and Briggs had chances before Ashington got themselves into a defensive tangle with Bird being denied by Dryden who saved with his legs.

In the 38th minute, Dale played the ball to Briggs who from the edge of the area, calmly passed the ball inside the bottom corner for the equaliser at 3-3.

And there was still more to come. Five minutes later Dale played a swift one-two with debutant Liam Smith before firing the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Then in stoppage time, Dale and Mason combined with Dale’s shot being blocked by Harkess.

Two minutes into the second period, an audacious lob from fully 35 yards by Briggs was held under the bar by Harkess and when play switched, Luke Salmon made a vital interception to stop a cross from Jack Pounder.

However, in the 56th minute it was 4-4 when Pounder headed home following a throw in on the right.

The Teessiders got their noses in front again in the 74th minute when Dryden pushed out a shot but from the rebound, Ben Heeley found the net firing home from an acute angle.

However four minutes later, a significant turning point arrived when substitute Adam Johnson and Briggs both had shots kept out following a cross from Dale.

As Ashington continued to push for a leveller, Johnson struck the ball wide from a Salmon back header.

But in the 88th minute, Billingham sealed their victory on the break when Pounder drove across Dryden on the half volley.

In stoppage time, Dale found Craig Spooner whose right footer thudded against the bar -before the final whistle saw the Colliers exit the competition at the first hurdle.

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Tow Law Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

A late penalty by Robbie Dale secured Ashington’s place in the first qualifying round of this season’s Emirates FA Cup for the first time in eight years.

Dale duly converted in the 83rd minute to book the Colliers their spot after what was a tricky contest against Tow Law at the Ironworks ground.

A difficult wind made conditions difficult and apart from two brilliant strikes – one for either side – Craig Spooner for Ashington and Ethan Bewley for the hosts, the cup tie was certainly not one which will remain in the minds of supporters for too long.

Chances were sparse – yet in a game which was a drab affair, two of the three goals were shrouded in controversy.

The Lawyers went into the clash after a tumultuous effort had seen them knock out Tadcaster Albion in the last round following a replay – and they could have taken the lead as early as the eighth minute when a header by Bewley was cleared off the line by Jordan Summerly.

But four minutes later, the visitors took the lead with yet another stunning strike by Spooner.

Following a corner, Darren Lough played the ball into the path of the midfielder who unleashed an unstoppable right footer from the edge of the area which left home ‘keeper Tom Orton helpless.

Within sixty seconds, Bewley struck over then from an Andrew Cartwright flag kick at the other end, Dean Briggs fired wide.

Tow Law drew level in the 35th minute. Ashington claimed that striker Adam Johnson was fouled just outside the home penalty area but play continued and when Bewley got possession, he let fly with a rasping effort from 20 yards which gave goalkeeper Karl Dryden no chance.

The first chance of the second period surfaced midway through the period when a long range effort from Spooner flashed just wide of Orton’s right hand post.

Then in the 75th minute, Ashington pieced together the best move of the entire match.

Summerly and substitute Paul Robinson worked the ball down the left in a swift one-two exchange and when the former crossed, Briggs placed his effort narrowly wide on the volley.

With seven minutes remaining, the Colliers broke down the right and when Cartwright went to ground inside the area, the assist flagged to indicate a penalty and referee Evan Culling pointed to the spot.

Tow Law disputed the decision but when the dust settled, it was an ice-cool Dale who stepped forward and scored, sending Orton the wrong way.

Two minutes form the end of normal time, Ashington had a great chance to put the game to bed when Summerly again supplied a cross from the left but Briggs’s effort crashed against the bar and was cleared to safety. 

It was back in the 2014-15 season when Ashington last reached the first qualifying round of the FA Cup. They drew 2-2 against Scarborough Athletic at home before losing the replay 1-0.

Photographs: Rachel McDonald and Keith Saint20 August 2022 - Tow Law Town FC v. Ashington AFC

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