By Brian Bennett

Two late goals from substitute Ben Harmison saw Ashington preserve their 100 per cent record and stay top of the Ebac Northern League’s first division after victory over Sunderland RCA at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

Both sides went into the clash fresh from 5-0 wins at the weekend – the Colliers taking the scalp of Crook Town and RCA with an away success at Penrith.

And it was the Wearsiders who threatened to put a spoke in Ashington’s unblemished record as they took an early lead through striker Mark Davison.

For the remainder of the half, the game developed into a one sided contest, as Ian Skinner’s side relentlessly poured forward – and the pattern for the second 45 minutes was identical.

RCA were well organised and they defended stubbornly and manfully – and it had begun to look as if visitors would repel anything which the home side threw at them –

and more so after ‘keeper Keaton Marrs had made a magnificent save from Robbie Dale just short of the half way point in the second period.

However, it was manager Ian Skinner who provided the key which unlocked the door. He introduced Harmison on 68 minutes and the Ashington skipper came up with a timely double in the final stages, equalising with ten minutes remaining then scoring the winner in the third minute of time added on.

But back to the first half where the visitors took a shock lead in the eighth minute.

Davison headed in from six yards but much of the credit should go to RCA skipper Kieran Charlton who supplied a superb cross from the left.

Ashington began to probe with Marrs taking a shot from Craig Spooner at the second attempt; Paul Robinson playing a one-two with Lee Mason but seeing his shot deflected for a corner and Dale trying his luck from 35 yards with an effort which flew wide.

A good move by the home side ended with Jordan Lavery blocking a goalbound strike from Spooner then another shot by Dale was not far away.

Andrew Cartwright struck a free kick straight down Marrs’s throat but in the 32^nd minute, the full back showed great awareness and his lob from 50 yards flashed inches wide of the upright with Marrs beaten.

Briggs headed wide from a Cartwright corner but in a rare raid, the last chance of the period fell to the visitors with Dominic Moan lobbing just over.

The second half began with Dan Maguire finding Spooner who fired wide with a first time effort.

And the pattern continued as Ashington created chance after chance. Robinson and Jordan Summerly combined down the flank and when the left back delivered a first time cross on the half volley, both Mason and Briggs had shots blocked.

Briggs headed wide before a corner by Cartwright saw RCA clear after a scramble.

In the 65^th minute, Dale received the ball from Maguire and cut inside but looked on as his left footer – arrowing towards the top corner – was brilliantly pushed away to his right by Marrs.

Maguire sliced wide then Harmison fired off target after a cross by Summerly.

RCA continued to defend in numbers and it always looked as if it would take something special to break them down.

And sure enough in the 80^th minute, Harmison produced something out of the ordinary to level.

Dale found Maguire down the right and when the forward crossed into the danger zone, a clever back flick by Harmison beat Marrs and went into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Briggs found Spooner whose shot was held by Marrs – but in the 93^rd minute, a touch of class on the left wing by Dale saw his cross into the box headed gleefully home by Harmison for a deserved winner.

By Brian Bennett

Dean Briggs scored a hat-trick as Ashington produced a five star performance to brush Crook Town aside at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

On a sweltering hot day in Wansbeck – where referee Matthew Morton paused the game in the middle of both halves for the players to take much needed drinks onboard – the Colliers turned up their own form of heat on their Durham visitors.

Crook began the game in positive fashion but once Ashington scored the opener then added a quickfire second from the penalty spot, the result was never in doubt.

Indeed only a superb display by the visitors ‘keeper and skipper Ronan Makepeace kept the score line down to five.

As a result, Ian Skinner’s side maintained their 100 per cent record to go back to the top of the first division of the Ebac Northern League with four wins out of four and took their goals tally up to 16.

Crook had the first opportunity in the ninth minute. A run down the left by Ewan Forster saw him unleash a shot which was saved by the legs of home ‘keeper Kyle Hayes.

But Ashington hit back with gusto and on the quarter hour, Lee Mason found Craig Spooner whose 30 yarder – arrowing towards the top corner – was tipped away by Makepeace then from a short corner, Dan Maguire whipped the ball across the face of the goal.

Ashington continued to pour forward and after another effort from Spooner was held by Makepeace, the stopper was called into action shortly afterwards to deny Briggs.

Steven Johnson went close with a free-kick before Ashington – who had been knocking on the door – made their pressure count.

Andrew Cartwright had a shot repelled by Makepeace; Briggs cut inside and curled a right footer just wide but in the 35^th minute, superb work by Cartwright saw him roll a pass inside to Briggs and the midfielder whipped his effort across Makepeace with the ball going in off the post.

Within a minute, Paul Robinson had a great chance to double the lead only to fluff his lines – but Ashington’s second was just around the corner.

Matthew Harrison handled a shot from Robinson and referee Morton immediately pointed to the spot.

Robbie Dale stepped up and although Makepeace went the right way, Dale’s penalty was perfectly executed.

Before half time, Briggs headed just wide but eight minutes into the second half, Mason made it 3-0.

Jordan Summerly found Maguire whose shot was blocked by Makepeace. The stopper also saved the follow up effort from Mason but when the striker got a second bite at the cherry, Mason made no mistake lifting the ball home with his right foot.

Mason had an effort touched over by Makepeace then Briggs ran across the box but saw his shot held by the custodian.

However, in the 78^th minute, Adam Johnson swooped onto a clearance from Makepeace and when the substitute rolled the ball across the face of the goal, Briggs slotted home.

Ashington went nap in the third minute of time added on. Johnson provided a great cross from the right where Briggs – arriving unmarked at the far post – smashed the ball home on the volley.

Photographs: Ian Brodie

By Brian Bennett

Ashington had to grind out a result after a hard fought tussle against Northallerton Town in their Ebac Northern League first division match at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

Robbie Dale’s first goal in Ashington colours put the Colliers ahead but the North Yorkshire side drew level five minutes before the break through John Howard.

However, second half strikes from Karl Ross and Craig Spooner gave the Wansbeck outfit some much needed breathing space to see the game out.

Manager Ian Skinner had said after Saturday’s 6-0 hiding of Seaham Red Star that although it was a great start, supporters should not expect a similar scoreline with every match – and the boss’s comments were spot on after the visitors gave his side a far tougher test.

However, just like Saturday, Ashington dictated the pace and could have gone ahead as early as 70 seconds.

Lewis Suddick and Andrew Cartwright worked a short corner on the right and when the ball was played into the box, a vicious right foot volley by Dan Maguire was goalbound until it was brilliantly diverted away by ‘keeper Thomas Dawson.

The Colliers continued to pour forward and after Dean Briggs had been upended in the centre circle, they took the lead in the sixth minute when Dale and Maguire played a slick one-two before Dale stroked the ball inside the far corner.

Again Ashington totally dominated the opening half hour. Spooner hit the side netting then Maguire had a shot blocked.

But in the 18^th minute, the home crowd were screaming for a penalty after Cartwright went to ground on the right hand side of the area but referee Richard Rowe was unmoved.

Three minutes later Briggs had an effort turned around by Dawson at the foot of the post

then seconds later, Briggs looked destined to add a second as he skipped past two challenges but saw his shot blocked and the follow up by Ross was deflected wide.

Ashington kept knocking on the door and on the half hour it was Dawson who came to his sides rescue as he saved from Lee Mason.

The action continued unabated. Two minutes later, John Howard ran through unchallenged but his tame shot was easily gathered by home ‘keeper Karl Dryden.

Within seconds, Mason netted but was flagged offside then Maguire fired narrowly wide of the upright.

Ashington pieced together their best move of the match in the 37^th minute but it ended with Jordan Summerly skying the ball over then Yannick Aziakonou found Suddick who blazed wide.

The visitors had certainly come into the game and after Dryden had fielded a shot from Damian Giliga, they drew level after a neat move which ended with Howard’s left footed drive from the edge of the area beating Dryden inside his post.

On the stroke of half time, Briggs and Summerly combined to set up Suddick whose shot was held by Dawson.

In the 56^th minute, Ashington regained the lead when Spooner slotted the ball through for Ross who finished neatly past Dawson.

Five minutes later, Northallerton served notice that they were not out of the contest as Michael Rae headed over from a free kick.

However, in the 70^th minute, Ashington extended their lead following a corner on the right.

The ball fell to Spooner who advanced then blasted a right footer into the net with Dawson rooted to the spot.

After that it was all about game management for Ashington – which saw them home to record back to back wins.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington began the new season in emphatic style as they went on a goal scoring spree against Seaham Red Star at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

Victory alone would have been a dream start for manager Ian Skinner – but the boss must have been purring at some of the football his side conjured up as they totally blew away the visitors, dominating the game from start to finish.

The final score was 6-0 but the Colliers could – and should – have recorded double figures without question.

Newcomers Lee Mason and Dan Maguire – the former who hit a brace – both opened their accounts whilst Lewis Suddick fired a double and although it was the opening day of the Ebac Northern League campaign, Craig Spooner surely put his name into the hat for a goal of the season contender after a stunning strike on the hour.

Ashington were all over Seaham from the first whistle. Inside 70 seconds, they ought to have gone in front when Maguire laid the ball off sideways to Dean Briggs. His shot was repelled by ‘keeper Andrew Jennison who also thwarted Suddick from the rebound.

In the fifth minute, more work by Maguire saw him again set up Briggs but the midfielder’s effort saved by Jennison.

However, four minutes later, Lee Mason broke the deadlock. Briggs and Karl Ross combined down the right and when Andrew Cartwright delivered a superb cross into the danger zone, Mason delicately side footed the ball from seven yards wide of Jennison and in off the post.

Spooner then played a one-two with Jordan Summerly and saw his right footer held by Jennison before the visitors had there first opportunity when Thomas Lawson swung the ball over from the right but Mark Robinson blazed over.

After that, it was bang, bang, bang from Skinner’s side with the pressure unrelenting.

Briggs fired just wide from 20 yards; Maguire moved across from right to left and when he slotted the ball through for Briggs, the number ten saw his shot deflected wide.

Briggs again went close from the edge of the box – but sixty seconds later, Suddick added Ashington’s second.

Briggs was the provider and Suddick remained cool as a cucumber as he neatly turned his marker close to the by line then whipped a low right footer past Jennison.

In the 35th minute, it was 3-0 with the same two Ashington players at the hub of the move. Briggs won possession and laid the ball off to the right for Suddick who made no mistake.

There was no respite for the visitors and after a free kick from distance by Suddick was held by Jennison, Maguire fired an effort narrowly over.

Ashington began the second period in identical fashion to the first and in the 49th minute, moved into a 4-0 lead.

The goal began with nonchalant but excellent work by Robbie Dale. Dale found Cartwright on the right flank who clipped the ball forward to put Maguire through and the centre forward lobbed over Jennison as the ‘keeper advanced.

Mason added the fifth in the 54th minute. Briggs floated a free kick from the left and Mason applied a clinical side foot finish after arriving at the back post.

Briggs must have thought he had scored after substitute Adam Johnson put him clear but the over worked Jennison saved with his legs.

However thirty seconds later, Spooner scored the goal of the game after Ashington had worked a short flag kick on the left. The midfielder let fly with a terrific right footer from the corner of the penalty area which screamed past Jennison and inside the stanchion.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Johnson cut inside from the right and his left foot effort was arrowing towards the top corner before Jennison tipped it over in brilliant fashion to deny him.

And the non-stop action from the Colliers continued until the final whistle.

Substitute Paul Robinson was foiled by Jennison who saved with his feet then sub Jordan Lashley rounded the stopper but his goalbound shot was cleared off the line by the retrieving Daryll Donnelly.

The last attack saw a great ball from Dale find Lashley but he was also denied by the Jennison.