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Hungarian defender that can play at both right-back and centre-back. Formerly of North Shields and Consett, Simon also represents the England Universities team. Simon made 32 appearances for the Colliers last season.
By Brian Bennett
Mason Hardy came off the bench to fire Ashington to their first league victory of the season against Stocksbridge Park Steels at the Eco Power Stadium on Saturday.
Charlie Exley had opened the scoring for the Colliers early in the contest but ten minutes later, Luke Rawson equalised from the penalty spot. Just before the hour mark, Hardy struck what proved to be the decisive goal which saw the Wansbeck side return home with all three points.
Whilst the super sub took the plaudits, Ashington will look back on an opening quarter hour where they could have cruised into a commanding lead.
They got the opener in the eighth minute when Kyle Errington found Oli Thompson down the right. The newcomer swung the ball across to the far post where it was met perfectly by Exley who squeezed a firm header between ‘keeper Henry Hampshaw and the post.
Two minutes later a delightful ball over the top of the home defence by Craig Spooner put Wilson Kneeshaw clean through down the middle with only Hampshaw to beat but the striker was thwarted by the stopper who blocked his effort.
Then Exley’s pass put Kneeshaw in the clear down the left but on this occasion, the forward clipped his shot around Hampshaw but wide of the far post.
Ashington – and Kneeshaw – were to rue those golden opportunities as the home side levelled in the 17th minute – from the spot.
Ify Ofoegbu raided down the left and when he advanced into the area, was sent sprawling by a tackle from Nathan Buddle with Rawson sending ‘keeper Karl Dryden the wrong way from the resultant penalty.
Three minutes later, Thompson was denied what would have been a superlative goal on his debut.
After picking the ball up from just outside his own penalty area, he made a surging run deep into the Stocksbridge half, cut across from left to right then unleashed a stinging effort which was fisted away to safety by Hampshaw.
The incident deservedly drew warm applause from the crowd in appreciation for both the run by Thompson and the save by Hampshaw.
Stocksbridge got stronger as the half wore on and on the half hour, Ofoegbu took the ball past the advancing Dryden but shot across the face of the goal then the stopper repelled a drive from Jack Tinker.
The sun came out for the start of the second period – and the visiting rearguard had to withstand a bit of heat from the home side.
In the 49th minute, Watson was through on the left and placed his shot wide of Dryden only to see the ball strike the inside of the post then the striker went past the ‘keeper on the right hand side of the box but lifted his shot over the bar from a tight angle.
Ashington had been sloppy from the resumption but in the 58th minute – and against the run of play – they regained the lead with an excellent strike by Hardy.
Spooner provided the assist for the youngster who nonchalantly clipped the ball with the outside of his left foot wide of the advancing Hampshaw and just inside the post.
Ben Sampson had a stinging goalbound effort deflected for a corner then at the other end, Watson saw a low drive pushed away by Dryden.
In the closing stages Dryden held a shot on the turn by Rawson and twice in stoppage time, raids down the left by the home side were halted by superb tackles from Kyle Errington and Hardy.
1 vs 2 
By Brian Bennett
Ashington were beaten by a route one goal scored by Ossett’s Kelan Swales on Tuesday night in their Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division clash at Woodhorn Lane.
In front of a crowd of 553, the Colliers – who trailed as early as the 12th minute – threw everything at their West Yorkshire opponents especially in a one sided second period but ended with no reward for their efforts.
Ashington – kicking towards the Welfare end with the sun in their eyes – were quickly out of the traps and made inroads inside the opening minute.
Scott Heslop and Dan Maguire manufactured a swift one-two but the former was denied by a defensive block.
Ossett’s first chance arrived in the sixth minute when home ‘keeper Karl Dryden parried out a shot by Rafa Ferreira but from the rebound, Derry Robson’s effort sailed over.
Play immediately switched to the other end, with Ashington coming so close to breaking the deadlock.
Fine work by Maguire saw him cross left footed into the area where Cameron Gascoigne’s header smacked against the angle of post and crossbar and was cleared to safety.
Five minutes later, only excellent defending by Ossett kept the score line blank.
Ben Sampson, Maguire and Heslop combined inside the area and when the latter slipped the ball across, Gascoigne’s effort was blocked then the follow up by Heslop was also snuffed out.
Incredibly, the visitors opened the scoring from the resultant goal kick launched by ‘keeper Joe Green.
The ball found Swales on the left whose left footer beat Dryden at his near post before nestling in the back of the net.
Ashington hit back following a free kick by Darren Lough. His pass was laid off by Heslop to Jordan Summerly and when the full back slipped the ball into the path of Craig Spooner, he lifted his shot over the bar.
Heslop directed a shot straight at ‘keeper Green then Sampson curled a right footer which went narrowly wide.
Ossett were lightening quick on the break and in the 35th minute, centre half and skipper Harry Coates missed a glorious chance with a header from a free kick.
As the half drew to a close, the pacy Swales was thwarted by a superb tackle from Ashington skipper Nathan Buddle then the visiting forward had a shot pushed out by Dryden.
Ashington camped inside the Ossett half throughout the second period but just couldn’t find a way through.
Early doors, Spooner drove wide but it was Green who preserved his sides’ lead with two excellent saves inside the space of ten minutes.
On the hour, the home side engineered a brilliant move down the right involving Sampson and Maguire and it ended with Spooner’s low effort being turned around by Green.
Then after approach play by Maguire on the right, a shot on the turn by Heslop was saved by Green.
The Colliers introduced Wilson Kneeshaw for Gascoigne and four minutes later, the substitute ventured forward but fired over.
Still Ashington continued to knock on the door but they were thwarted by a determined rearguard.
A low cross by Heslop was poked wide by Kneeshaw then with five minutes of the 90 remaining, great work by Summerly saw him pull the ball back but Kneeshaw’s effort was somehow blocked by Green for a corner.
The game entered into seven minutes of stoppage time and a shot by Lough was straight down Green’s throat before in the dying seconds, a rasping right foot drive from 25 yards by Maguire fizzed agonisingly just past Green’s upright.
0 vs 1 
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By Brian Bennett
Ashington’s winless record against Stockton Town continued on Saturday when Kev Hayes scored the winner for the Anchors seven minutes into stoppage time to send his side into the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.
It was heartbreaking for the Colliers who turned in their best display – and led through Jordan Summerly early in the second period – on the all weather pitch at the Map Group UK Stadium.
The home side levelled through skipper Adam Nicholson and after Ashington’s sub Scott Heslop had been sent off towards the end of normal time, the Wansbeck side were dealt a cruel blow when Hayes blasted in the clincher deep into time added on.
It was a game which ebbed and flowed and one where the Colliers started off on the front foot. Inside two minutes, a cross from the left by new signing Dylan Archer was returned into the middle by Cameron Gascoigne but Summerly’s strike was parried away by ‘keeper Callum Roberts.
Stockton’s first effort was an effort from distance by Cameron Painter which drifted wide but it was quickly followed by a move downfield by Ashington and after Dan Maguire’s shot was blocked, Kyle Errington placed a header wide.
The home side were a threat from set plays with the tall Nicholson winning everything in the air and after Darren Lough had charged down a shot by former Collier Lewis King, a header by Nicholson was blocked from the resultant corner.
The best opening arrived in the 26th minute when the home side built neatly down the left but from the cross, Painter missed a great chance, sending his header wide from six yards.
Within the space of a couple of minutes, Maguire was denied by Roberts at one end then at the other, a shot from Michael Sweet stung the palms of Dryden.
In the final action of the first half, Ben Sampson found Archer whose deflected effort was turned over by Roberts.
Six minutes into the second half, Ashington went ahead when an in-swinging corner from the right by Summerly went through a few legs and inside the far post.
Shortly afterwards, Maguire had a shot from 22 yards which went over then on the hour, Nicholson set up King whose effort was pushed out by Dryden.
The visiting ‘keeper excelled again three minutes later denying Michael Fowler then midway through the period, a header from Sweet thudded against the post.
Play immediately switched and Archer had an opening but his effort was pushed over by Roberts which was followed by Heslop hitting a low shot narrowly wide.
In the 70th minute, another in-swinging flag kick by Summerly caused problems for the home defence but Yannick Aziakonou headed wide.
Three minutes later, the Anchors equalised when a corner from the left was met by Nicholson whose effort was judged to have crossed the line.
Home sub Michael Roberts placed a glorious chance into the side netting but Ashington’s response saw Heslop – who had made an impact after coming on at half time – curl a shot which was pushed wide by Roberts.
In Ashington’s next move, Wilson Kneeshaw found Lough and from his cross Heslop hit the side netting.
Then a key turning point arrived in the 87th minute when Heslop contested a 50-50 ball with Painter in the centre circle and the referee showed the Ashington striker a red card.
Stockton came on strong against the ten men and Dryden – who had had an outstanding game – thwarted Nicholson.
But the home side raided again and when Hayes cut inside from the right and fired a left footer, it gave Dryden no chance at his near post to sink Ashington hearts.
2 vs 1 By Brian Bennett | Photography: Ian Brodie
There were jubilant scenes on an historic day at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday when two goals in second half stoppage time by Charlie Exley and Darren Lough saw Ashington stage an amazing comeback to force a deserved 4-4 draw against Brighouse Town on Saturday.
With 90 minutes gone on the clock, the Colliers were staring down the barrel of a 4-2 defeat and even when Exley reduced the arrears two minutes later to make it 4-3 it looked as if it was a case of too little too late.
But then in the 97th minute and after a desperate last ditch attack, Lough gleefully drilled home the leveller.
Going into the contest, the Colliers were bridging a gap of 55 years since they were last in the Northern Premier League and before kick-off players, officials and supporters held a minute’s applause in honour of Jackie Herron – captain of the Ashington team during the 1968-69 campaign – who sadly passed away only recently.
It was the Wansbeck side – who had to reckon without lynchpin defender Nathan Buddle through injury – that began the game the better of the two sides and in the seventh minute, Craig Spooner failed to get any real purchase on a left foot shot with visiting ‘keeper Harry Garman gathering the ball comfortably.
Five minutes later a cross from debutant Exley was headed back across goal by Gascoigne and Wilson Kneeshaw was ready to pounce until he was denied by Alexander Phillipson who produced a great tackle inside the six yards box.
Just past the quarter hour mark, Brighouse forced a corner on the left and it resulted in them taking the lead against the run of play.
The ball was recycled and when it was swung over into the danger zone, Samuel Drake ghosted in to nod down inside the post.
The home side drew level in the 24th minute with a trademark effort from Spooner.
Ashington were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out and the midfielder stepped up to curl a sumptuous right footer into the top corner out of reach of the despairing hands of Garman.
But Ashington’s achilles heel of the afternoon was their woeful defending – and within three minutes they were behind again.
A corner on the right was headed back across the face of the goal where Jayden Major swept the ball home into the roof of the net.
Ashington made inroads early doors after the interval with Gascoigne going close; Dan Maguire lashing over then Garman whipping the ball off Kneeshaw’s toes whilst at the other end, home stopper Karl Dryden made a fine save to thwart Mohammad Qasim.
In the 56th minute, Ashington got back on terms. Gascoigne found Spooner down the right flank and when he drove in a dangerous cross, Curtis Peters – under pressure from Kneeshaw – headed the ball into his own net.
However, the visitors went 4-2 in front – after two further errors inside an eight minutes period by the Colliers.
On 70 minutes, there was ping-pong inside the six yards box following a corner from the left which eventually resulted in Jamie Allsop blasting the ball in from close range.
Then an error by Kyle Errington saw substitute Myron Gibbons intercept the ball, drive forward and slot wide of Dryden.
The frantic finale started in the last minute of normal time when substitute Mason Hardy had a shot held by Garman which was followed by Dryden blocking an effort from Gibbons.
Ashington raided again down the right and when substitute Scott Heslop laid the ball off, Exley executed a fierce low left footer from 18 yards into the bottom corner.
When Garman held a shot under the bar from sub Max Emmerson, supporters thought it was Ashington’s final chance.
Sixty seconds later, the home crowd screamed for a penalty for a handling offence inside the area – but their shouts quickly turned to joy as Lough lashed home the equaliser.
* One own-goal scored by Curtis Peters (Brighouse Town).
4 vs 4 
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Striker who made an instant impact on his debut last August after joining from Northern Alliance side Newcastle Independent, scoring twice in a 4-0 FA Cup victory over North Shields. Wilson started his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Romanian League side ACS Poli Timisoara. He returned to England, playing for Darlington and Blyth Spartans, before moving to the USA where he joined United Soccer League side Sacramento Republic, scoring on his debut in a 4-0 win over Portland Timbers. After moving back to England he returned to Darlington, moving to Shildon and then onto Newcastle Independent. He scored 16 goals in 44 appearances for the Colliers last season.
Photo Gallery – By Ian Brodie
4 vs 0 
