By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s run of five games without defeat came to an end at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday when they went down 2-0 against Liversedge.

A headed goal by Joe Walton in time added on at the end of the first half put the visitors ahead before Alex Wollerton wrapped the points up for his side with a strike in the closing stages.

Consequently it was a disappointing day for the Colliers who had been looking to continue where they left off the previous week against North Ferriby which culminated in a stunning 5-0 victory.

Karl Ross came through a late fitness test on an ankle injury and took his place in a side which showed one change from their last outing with new signing Gary Ormston handed his debut in place of the suspended Ben Sampson.

Ian Skinner’s outfit started really well and within the first 20 seconds, strung together a promising attack which feature Dan Maguire, Wilson Kneeshaw and Connor Thomson but the latter’s cross was cleared.

Alfie Raw had the first shot for the visitors which was held by ‘keeper Karl Dryden to his right before Craig Spooner and Kneeshaw combined to set up Thomson, whose effort was pouched by Liversedge stopper Jordan Porter.

Chances had been at a premium – then in the closing stages of the period, the game livened up.

In the 35^th minute, a ball by Ormston found Thomson who wriggled inside but his shot was tame and held by Porter whose handling was impeccable throughout.

Seconds later, a mistake by Dryden saw him gift the ball straight to Nicholas Walker. The number ten advanced but saw his attempted chip half stopped by the ‘keeper with Si Jakab clearing off the line.

With half time approaching, a great run down the right flank by Thomson saw him play the ball into Kneeshaw who swivelled only to see his effort rattle against the bar.

It proved to be a massive turning point.

The board displayed a minimum of three minutes of time to be added on and in the fifth minute after forcing a throw in on the left followed by a corner, Walton directed a header goalwards. Jakab cleared but the assistant flagged to indicate that the ball had crossed the line.

Three minutes into the second period, a long searching pass by Ormston went over the top of a defender to Thomson whose cross into the danger area was cleared.

In the 54^th minute, Jakab found Spooner who drove the ball into the area and after Oli Thompson had glanced it on, Kneeshaw netted but the score was disallowed for offside.

Ashington huffed and puffed as they continued to chase a game which became stretched and the visitors – who looked a much improved outfit – ought to have had the game sewn up but missed chances galore on the counter.

Walton went around the advancing Dryden but saw his shot brilliantly cleared of the line by Ben Williams.

Lewis Wilkinson headed over; Walton shanked an effort wide and substitute Liam Hardy shot wide then over before six minutes from the end of the 90, a cross from the right led to a scramble with Wollerton poking the ball home for Liversedge’s second.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington steamrolled past an in-form Carlton Town side to record a brilliant 4-0 victory at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday – when the key word of the afternoon was pace!

The Colliers have come up against varying styles in the Northern Premier League’s East Division – but they made it three wins and a draw from their last four matches after dominating this encounter from start to finish in front of another excellent crowd of over 500.

Early in the contest, Connor Thomson and Dan Maguire were on target for Ian Skinner’s side then in similar fashion, substitute Oli Thompson and Connor Thomson added strikes after the break.

It was also a game which although never feisty saw referee Sam Parnaby brandish eleven yellow cards which included six – plus one red – for the away side.

Before kick-off the players, officials and supporters observed an impeccable minutes silence for Armistice Day.

On a gluepot of a pitch, the Wansbeck outfit had assurance in defence; energy in abundance in midfield and pace upfront – and starting on the front foot they exerted their authority on matters with two quickfire goals.

In the fourth minute, Jordan Summerly hit a shot straight at ‘keeper Felix Annan but seconds later, Maguire’s pass through the middle released Thomson and the striker burst forward before firing a right footer into the net.

Ashington doubled their lead when Ben Sampson played the ball out wide and when it was crossed low into the box, Thomson glanced it on for the unmarked Maguire to side foot home.

The Colliers continued to press, looking a threat every time they ventured forward and a through pass by Thomson for Wilson Kneeshaw just had too much pace on it which allowed Annan to clear.

Midway through the half, another great move – again on the right – cut Carlton open as Spooner jinked inside and worked a swift one-two with Thomson before the former clipped his effort narrowly wide of the far post.

However, Ashington were presented with an unwanted new challenge during the first period when they were hit by a spate of injuries.

Just past the quarter hour mark, they lost defender Darren Lough who was replaced by Cam Gascoigne then within the space of a couple of minutes Summerly and Gascoigne were also forced off.

It meant that with at least 55 minutes remaining, Ashington had used up their maximum allowance of being able to field three substitutes.

In first half stoppage time, Kneeshaw and Thomson could have added a third for the Colliers.

Substitute Matty Dopson raided down the left flank and when he found Kneeshaw on the edge of the area, the forward made space for himself but lashed his shot over the bar. Then Thomson found himself in the clear but he was denied by Annan who saved with his legs.

Pace came to the fore at the beginning of the second half as within the opening ten minutes, a dominant and irrepressible Ashington outfit cruised into a 4-0 lead.

In the 49th minute, skipper Karl Ross found Thompson on the right who ghosted past a defender then swept the ball wide of Annan and inside the far post.

The home sides fourth came after a run by Kneeshaw which started in his own half. He outstripped three defenders with his blistering pace before laying the ball into the path of Thomson who made no mistake.

Niall Hylton fired wide for the visitors who were reduced to ten men in the 79th minute when Alex Hardwick was red carded after an off-the-ball incident near the half way line.

In the closing stages, Thomson unleashed a drive which went narrowly over then the same player dragged a shot wide on the turn at the near post.

By Brian Bennett

A tweak in formation by the management team led to two quickfire second half goals from Craig Spooner and Wilson Kneeshaw which paved the way for Ashington to make it back to back wins in the Northern Premier League’s East Division as they defeated Pontefract Collieries by a 2-1 margin on Saturday.

On a day when supporters inside Woodhorn Lane paid tribute to the late Sir Bobby Charlton with a minutes applause before kick-off, the Colliers wore a change kit of red shirts, white shorts and black socks in honour of the Ashington-born legend that enjoyed a playing career with Manchester United which spanned 17 years.

The last time Ashington played Pontefract ten years ago at home in an FA Cup extra preliminary round tie, the Wansbeck side recorded a history-making 9-0 victory – but on Saturday, although the Colliers won, there was never going to be a repeat especially as the West Yorkshire based outfit sat in a play off place in the division.

And for the opening 20 minutes it was plain to see why they were in fourth place as they looked a well drilled outfit with their number seven, Louie Chorlton prominent down the right flank.

Yet in a half of few chances, it was the home side that had the majority.

In the third minute a ball down the left by Darren Lough over the top of the defender, released Kneeshaw but when he crossed, there was no-one in the middle.

Similarly Jordan Summerly found Oli Thompson – on his return to the side after injury – but he pulled the ball back too much and the opportunity went begging.

As the period progressed, both sides were guilty of giving away possession but significantly, Ian Skinner’s side grew into the contest.

Kneeshaw and Spooner missed out with half chances then at the other end, Frankie Sinfield cut inside and fired over.

Before half time, Thompson seized on a loose ball 25 yards out and attempted to lob ‘keeper Lloyd Allinson but didn’t get sufficient height on the effort.

However the best opening came only minutes from the break when Chorlton went through with only ‘keeper Karl Dryden to beat but shot straight at the home stopper.

Ashington then had to make an enforced change when skipper Nathan Buddle was forced off through injury and was replaced by Ben Williams.

At the start of the second period, Sinfield fired an early warning when he curled a shot just wide of the post before Ashington – after making one or two positional changes – took a stranglehold of the contest with Spooner and Kneeshaw both on target within a three minutes period either side of the hour mark.

For the opener, Thompson charged through the middle and played the ball out wide to Kneeshaw. The number 11 advanced down the right then cut inside before clipping a delightful short pass through for Spooner who took a touch and slotted wide of the ‘keeper.

Then a move which started out from the back with Dryden culminated in the second.

A long pass from Si Yakab saw Paul Van-Zandvliet win a header which was picked up by Kneeshaw. The striker played a one-two with Connor Thomson latching onto a clever back-flick from the latter then swept the ball right footed into the far corner.

The purple patch almost continued after great work by Kneeshaw saw him slip a pass through for Thomson who ran from his own half, weaved inside a defender only to see his effort smack against the outside of the post.

A goal then would surely have put the game to bed – but after Dryden had pushed out a free kick from 25 yards by Adam Haw, the visitors came with a late rally.

In the 90th minute, Haw finished with a superb half volley into the top corner from 12 yards after chesting the ball down following a corner on the right.

Seconds into the start of time added on, Pontefract substitute Bailey Thompson was clean through with only Dryden to beat but lifted his shot wide of the upright.

The final chance fell Ashington’s way. Thomson and Kneeshaw worked an opening for Spooner but his shot from 15 yards clipped against the post.