Season: 2023-24

Cleethorpes Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Football managers often use the cliché ‘you don’t always get what you deserve.’

On Saturday the expression was so apt to sum up Ashington’s afternoon as Cleethorpes pulled off a smash and grab raid when they scored with their only chance of the game to take all three points at the Myenergi Stadium.

As a result, Will Annan’s goal early in the second half sent the Colliers to their fifth league defeat of the season.

It was a bitter pill for the Wansbeck side to swallow which left them bewildered as they did everything but score during a contest which was played in gentle rain throughout.

Indeed they could have nudged ahead as early as the fifth minute.

The quick thinking Craig Spooner played a free-kick down the channel for Scott Heslop whose shot on the turn went past home ‘keeper James McKeown and was heading towards the net until the ball was cleared off the line by retrieving defender Jordan Cooke.

Spooner fired well over but after that, the only other semblance of a chance came as the half edged towards its conclusion.

Jordan Summerly and Declan Bisset combined to set up Spooner but he shanked his effort wide.

However, in the 52nd minute, it was The Owls who pounced to take the lead – after Ashington had lost possession.

Annan advanced before curling a superb right footer from outside the area wide of ‘keeper Karl Dryden and inside the far corner of the net.

In the final quarter hour, Ashington bombarded the home goal – but could not find a way through.

A chipped pass by Kyle Errington saw Heslop direct a header straight into McKeown’s midriff; a free-kick by Spooner rattled the bar then a cross shot by Matty Dopson clipped the outside of the post.

With time running out, Ben Sampson and substitute Max Emmerson both unleashed right foot thunderbolts which were goalbound but were blocked and pushed out respectively by McKeown.

vs

Ashington vs Newcastle University

By Brian Bennett

The scoreline suggests a 5-1 romp and easy win for Ashington over Newcastle University in their Newcastle Flooring Senior Cup first round clash on Tuesday night – only it doesn’t paint a true picture.

Indeed it was only after a late show with three goals inside the final quarter hour – two from substitute Scott Heslop and one from Wilson Kneeshaw – that the Colliers booked their place in the quarter finals.

The plucky students arrived at Woodhorn Lane after an eye catching 6-4 victory over Kendal Town in the Isuzu FA Vase on Saturday but they were rocked back on their heels as the Wansbeck side took the lead only 70 seconds into the contest.

Following work on the right, Wilson Kneeshaw crossed the ball into the centre of the goal where Declan Bisset had the easy task of side footing the ball home from close range.

Five minutes later, Ashington pieced together a great move which ended with Mason Hardy’s shot taking a deflection and going behind for a corner.

Just past the quarter hour mark, the University had a golden chance to restore parity – from the penalty spot.

Tolu Osiyemi cut inside the area where he was upended by Charlie Exley and referee Zak Kettle pointed to the spot.

Ben Miller stepped up and struck a powerful kick which saw home ‘keeper Ross Coombe dive low to his right and get a fingertip onto the ball before it cannoned off the post and was cleared to safety.

Minutes before the break, in what was a low key affair, Ashington had a great opportunity to double their lead. Kneeshaw stepped over Exley’s low cross from the left but Hardy fired over.

Then as the half entered the first few seconds of time added on, Coombe preserved Ashington’s lead.

The Students went direct and from ‘keeper Max Richardson’s clearance, Miller’s pass released ex Collier Jack Butler who was in on goal but saw his effort superbly blocked by the stopper.

Ten minutes after the interval, Ashington added a second when Bisset found a bit of space and unleashed a right foot thunderbolt from 25 yards which took a deflection before the ball crashed inside the top corner.

Hardy had a header cleared off the line following good work down the left flank between Exley and Kneeshaw then at the other end, a shot from James Matthews whistled just wide.

Ashington failed to heed the warning and midway through the half, the University halved the deficit with a terrific strike.

Joel Burgess claimed the assist with an incisive ball which cut through the home defence and Christopher Pearson – who had only been on the field two minutes as a substitute – made no mistake as his whipped cross shot from the right gave Coombe no chance as it rocketed inside the upright.

Ashington then introduced Scott Heslop – and it was the striker whose quickfire double put the tie beyond the students.

In the 73rd minute, Damen Mullen swung over a corner from the right to the far post where Heslop powered home a header.

Sub Ben Sampson then played a lovely ball through for Heslop who drifted wide before firing across Richardson and inside the bottom corner.

Three minutes from time the Colliers went nap when a shot by sub Craig Spooner was pushed out by Richardson and Kneeshaw slotted home the rebound.

The score line flattered Ashington but incredibly they could have added a sixth only sixty seconds later.

Heslop had a chance to complete his hat-trick when he latched onto a through pass from Sampson but scuffed his shot which ran through to Richardson.

vs

Ashington vs Dunston

By Brian Bennett

Three crackling goals – two from Paul Van-Zandvliet on his home debut and a trademark free kick from Craig Spooner – secured Ashington their first home win of the season in a match which was full of incident against Dunston UTS on Saturday.

In total, the contest lasted 102 minutes and supporters witnessed another first at Woodhorn Lane as referee Scott Henry dished out no fewer than 12 yellow cards – six to each side – as well as two reds.

For the second game in a row, the Colliers finished the clash with nine men after Simon Yakab and skipper Nathan Buddle were both sent off in the 64th minute – the former for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity whilst Buddle – already on a yellow – got his marching orders for dissent.

Nevertheless, Ashington were full value for their success. In what was a good game of football and never a feisty or dirty encounter as the card count suggests, they were 3-1 ahead before the red mist descended then defended manfully for the remainder of the game and showed more than a hint of a threat on the break.

A Wansbeck side that went into the game on the back of four consecutive defeats as well as failing to score in all those encounters came out of the traps looking sharp and immediately put pressure onto the Dunston defence.

Buddle lashed over; Spooner had a drive held by ‘keeper Dan Staples; Ben Sampson chipped over from 35 yards and Oli Thompson played Jordan Summerly in but he was foiled by a superb tackle by Jack Walker.

However the pressure paid off in the ninth minute. Jakab found Matty Dopson who played the ball through for Van-Zandvliet and the midfielder fired home right footed from just inside the area.

Dunston grew into the contest and on the break – after Ashington had lost possession – a shot from David Robinson was taken at the foot of the post by home ‘keeper Karl Dryden.

Thompson had a shot blocked just past the half hour mark following a corner on the left by Spooner then Jakab fired over after being set up by Summerly.

Dunston drew level in the 36th minute. Sado Djalo passed inside to Robinson who advanced down the right flank and when he crossed, Jordan Lamb hammered the ball home at the far post.

Within a minute, the visitors had a chance to go ahead when Djalo was through but his effort was superbly blocked by Dryden then when play switched to the other end, Spooner had a 20 yarder pushed away by Staples to his right.

At the beginning of the second half, Ashington took the game to their visitors as they had done in the first – and they scored two spectacular goals from Spooner and Van-Zandvliet in a little over five minutes.

The first in the 48th minute was created by a ball played by Darren Lough which saw Scott Heslop charge towards the area before he was upended.

Spooner took the resultant free-kick 20 yards out and curled the ball expertly around the defensive wall and into the roof of the net.

Heslop headed narrowly over from a Spooner corner before Sampson teed the ball up for Van-Zandvliet who scored a screamer from distance arcing his effort into the top corner which left Staples helpless.

Then came the double sending off as Yakab saw red for impeding Lamb midway inside the Ashington half and within seconds he was followed to the dressing room by Buddle.

Midway through the period, Dryden made a crucial save diving to his right to divert a free-kick by Luke Carr and the same player had a golden opportunity but fired wide of the upright.

In the 82nd minute, a header from Dunston substitute Jack Maskell struck the post then in an Ashington raid, Staples pushed out an effort from Ross and Kneeshaw netted but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Home supporters were already drained and exhausted when the board went up to indicate a minimum of ten added minutes – but the only scare Ashington had to survive saw Dryden push around a right footer from sub Liam Thear.

vs

Newton Aycliffe vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington moved a place nearer the foot of the Northern Premier League’s East Division after a 2-0 defeat against Newton Aycliffe at Moore Lane on Tuesday night.

The result saw the home side – who were on the bottom of the table before kick off – leapfrog over the Colliers who consequently slipped to fourth bottom.

It was a night to forget for the Wansbeck outfit as apart from the reverse, they were forced to play the final 35 minutes with nine men.

Already trailing by a two goals deficit, the red mist descended in stoppage time in the first half and early in the second period when Charlie Exley and Karl Ross both received their marching orders.

The first chance of a game – billed as a six pointer – arrived in the 11th minute when Jake Petitjean headed over a cross from the left.

When play switched to the other end, Dan Maguire twisted and turned outside the area before his left footer was saved at the second attempt by Aycliffe ‘keeper Daniel Cameron then a good move by the Colliers ended with a shot by Oli Thompson also held by the home stopper.

Jack Raper had a drive deflected narrowly wide but on the half hour, Ashington ‘keeper Karl Dryden – making his 350th appearance – denied Petitjean with a sprawling save in front of goal.

However two minutes later, the home side broke the deadlock as Petitjean latched onto a through ball to stab wide of the advancing Dryden with the outside of his foot.

A swift one-two between Wilson Kneeshaw and Paul Van-Zandvliet looked promising until a cross from the latter was intercepted.

In the 39th minute Davis was thwarted by the brilliance of Dryden.

The striker met a cross flush on the volley and his effort was goalbound until Dryden dived to his left to palm it around for a corner.

A shot by Van-Zandvliet was saved at the foot of the post by Cameron but sixty seconds later, Aycliffe doubled their advantage when Liam Adamson played the ball into Davis who fired wide of Dryden.

In the third minute of time added on, Exley – already on a yellow – committed a foul on the touchline which saw him sent off for the second time in four days following his dismissal at Dunston at the weekend.

Early doors after the interval, Heslop went close with a free kick from 25 yards before Ross went for an early bath after he too picked up a second yellow as he contested the ball with a home player.

On the hour, Petitjean’s shot crashed off the woodwork then in the closing stages substitute Craig Spooner’s free kick from 22 yards thudded against the bar.

Ashington’s nine men had battled superbly – but they were to get no consolation effort as Spooner’s shot in stoppage time rolled the wrong side of the post.

vs

Dunston vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s involvement in the FA Trophy for almost 40 years was brief – as they tumbled out at the first hurdle against Dunston UTS on Saturday.

The game was effectively over by half time as two goals in quick succession from Sado Djalo – after an opener from Jordan Lamb – had put the home side into a commanding position.

Although the Colliers showed endeavour until the final whistle, their day was compounded when they had substitute Charlie Exley sent off ten minutes from time.

On a scorching hot day, Ashington boss Ian Skinner handed a debut to midfielder Paul Van-Zandvliet – signed from North Shields – whilst Scott Heslop made his return to the side after suspension.

The Wansbeck side were first to threaten. In the fourth minute Van-Zandvliet found Heslop who played a one-two with Wilson Kneeshaw but Jude Swailes made a timely interception.

The game was developing into a good contest – but in the 11th minute, the visitors ought to have gone in front.

Van-Zandvliet released the overlapping Jordan Summerly and when he cut the ball back, Kneeshaw directed a first time effort straight at ‘keeper Dan Staples who palmed the ball away.

It proved to be a massive turning point.

Minutes later Jack Elliott beat the offside trap but was thwarted by Ashington’s keeper Karl Dryden.

However despite the Colliers playing some excellent football and being the better outfit in the opening 25 minutes, they went a goal behind against the run of play.

Jonathon Chrisp played a pass across the box to the unmarked Lamb who quickly got the ball under control before lashing it high into the net wide of Dryden.

The visiting stopper kept out an effort from Djalo before another turning point arrived in the 34th minute.

After Summerly’s corner was blocked, Damen Mullen returned the ball to the full back who cut inside and let fly with a rasping effort which was tipped over by Staples.

Then within the space of eight minutes, the Colliers were staring down the barrel of making an exit from the competition.

In the 40th, a shot from David Robinson cannoned off an Ashington player but straight into the path of Djalo who slotted home wide of Dryden.

Within sixty seconds, the goal scorer was again denied by Dryden then in the first minute of additional time a fizzing drive by Luke Carr went narrowly over.

Seconds before the half time whistle, Dunston made it three after Ashington had lost possession.

Elliott raided down the left and when Dryden advanced, Elliott dinked the ball across for Djalo who had the simple task of tapping home.

It was basically game over but after the interval, the Colliers pieced together a superb move which ended with a stinging drive by Darren Lough going just wide with Staples rooted to the spot and then quarter of an hour later, another slick attack saw substitute Craig Spooner fire narrowly off target.

To add to Ashington’s woes, Exley was shown a straight red card in the 80th minute following a tackle on Chrisp and the game finished with Spooner hitting a shot which went straight down Staples’s throat.

vs

Bridlington Town AFC vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s disappointing start to the season continued on Saturday when they went down 2-0 away to Bridlington on the East coast.

This was their third league defeat of the campaign and once again it was a game where over the 90 minutes, they matched their opponents for endeavour and were certainly not outplayed but ultimately were undone twice within a 15 minutes spell in the second half.

Colliers boss Ian Skinner handed debuts to Simon Jakab and Declan Bisset whilst Jordan Summerly slotted in at left back on his return.

Max Emmerson was named on the bench but pulled up in the pre match warm up and was replaced by goalkeeper Max Coombe.

There was little to enthuse over in the opening ten minutes until a through ball saw the assistant raise his flag for offside against the home side. Everyone stopped except Glen Sani who continued with his run and netted wide of ‘keeper Karl Dryden.

Referee Matthew Wright then consulted with his assistant before disallowing the goal.

On the quarter hour, Lewis Dennison was clean through after getting the better of a tackle with Darren Lough but his powder puff effort was easily held by Dryden.

The game was switching from one end to the other but with defences on top and chances were consequently at a premium.

Ashington’s first shot of the game came two minutes later which saw Damen Mullen’s long range right footer palmed away by home ‘keeper James Hitchcock.

The best move of the match by either side came in the 33rd minute after Mullen and Summerly had combined down the left but when the latter cut the ball back, Karl Ross fired over the bar.

Then came the two crucial moments in the game as Bridlington took charge.

With only five minutes played in the second half, the Colliers were caught napping after the home side had forced a corner on the left.

Ashington allowed Cam Cunningham to play the corner short to Matty Dixon and when he whipped the ball over, substitute Benn Lewis headed in.

Worse was to follow as Sani beat the offside trap, went through and finished emphatically driving the ball into the top corner of the net past Dryden.

Ironically, the second goal led to Ashington having a prolonged spell of dominance. They were the better side but lacked a cutting edge up front or their final pass went astray.

And when substitute Ben Sampson had an effort cleared off the line with quarter of an hour remaining, the Colliers must have known then that it just wasn’t going to be their day.

vs

Ashington vs Consett

By Brian Bennett

Two clinical finishes at the beginning of each half by Wil Shaw and Scott Fenwick wrapped up victory for Consett against Ashington at Woodhorn Lane on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Colliers – fresh from picking up their first win of the season following a 2-1 result over Stocksbridge 48 hours earlier – had plenty of possession but gave a poor and uninspiring display in front of a crowd of just under 700.

The home side had the first chance of the game when Oli Thompson and Craig Spooner worked a swift one-two which ended with the former’s shot being turned away by ‘keeper James Anderson.

But in the ninth minute, the home side pressed the self destruct button and consequently found themselves a goal behind.

Playing out from the back, they were caught out as they lost possession. The ball found Shaw who burst inside the penalty area before making no mistake with a drive which screamed past ‘keeper Karl Dryden before nestling inside the corner of the net.

Ben Sampson blazed wide and a cross by Thompson was cleared by Calvin Smith in the nick of time with Charlie Exley ready to pounce but generally Ashington were causing their own problems and on occasions their passing was sub standard.

Wilson Kneeshaw and Dan Maguire combined to set up Sampson whose effort was deflected for a corner and in the dying minutes of the half, Maguire turned on a sixpence and directed a left footer which flashed narrowly over.

Early in the second period, Spooner had a shot blocked by former Collier Ryan McKinnon then at the other end Zak Atkinson released Jack Gibbons down the right but the number seven hit the side netting.

Then in the 56th minute the Steelmen added a second on the break when the ball was launched into the Ashington half. After beating Darren Lough in the air, Fenwick put himself through with a clear run on goal and applied a cool finish past the advancing Dryden.

Spooner threatened on a couple of occasions then Thompson and Karl Ross had efforts blocked by a Consett defence who defended manfully.

Inside the final ten minutes, Spooner provided a great cross from the left but substitute Mason Hardy headed well wide then play switched with Shaw driving wide of the far post.

With time running out, a shot by Thompson was snuffed out before Nathan Buddle’s pass found Hardy whose drive struck the outside of the post.

vs