Season: 2024-25
Emley vs Ashington
By Brian Bennett
A goal on the quarter hour mark by Emley striker Belchior Rodrigues proved to be the defining moment on Saturday as Ashington lost out after a closely fought contest at the Fantastic Media Welfare ground.
For the second week in a row – the first a 3-2 defeat against North Ferriby – the narrow reverse came against a team sitting in a play-off position in the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League.
Following their cruel exit on penalties in the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup against Morpeth Town, Colliers boss Nick Gray said that in football ‘you don’t always get what you deserve.’
Since that night at Craik Park, the Wansbeck side have more than matched teams at the top of the table but unfortunately have a zero points return from both clashes.
On a beautiful sunny afternoon in West Yorkshire on Saturday, Ashington had the first chance. Josh Gilchrist found Ben Sampson but the midfielder couldn’t pick anybody out in the danger zone and the ball drifted behind for a goal kick.
Then came the all-important moment. Following a cross from the right, the ball was headed down by Nathan Curtis for Rodrigues who ran onto it and not closed down, struck a drive from the edge of the area which crashed into the back of the net.
Ashington’s response came two minutes later and was encouraging. Ryan Donaldson latched onto a pass from Gilchrist and cut back inside only to see his effort pushed around for a corner by home ‘keeper Declan Lambton.
In the 25th minute, it was visiting ‘keeper Ryan Catterick who kept the score at 1-0. Curtis dispossessed Scott Lowery on the half way line which put him clean through but after bearing down on goal, his shot was saved by Catterick.
Back came the Colliers with Gilchrist and Sam Fishburn featuring in a swift one-two which saw the former blocked then neat approach work led to a header by Gilchrist from a Jordan Summerly cross being clawed down by Lambton.
Five minutes before the interval, Donaldson, Sampson and Andrew Cartwright linked together and from a cross by the latter, a glancing header from six yards by Fishburn went wide of the far post.
For the start of the second half, Ashington brought on Jamie Holmes – signed on a dual registration with North Shields – for Gilchrist and within three minutes, Donaldson played a lovely through ball for the newcomer, but a defender got back to snuff out the danger.
Emley threatened when first an in-swinging corner by Ross Hardaker went right across the six yards box without getting a touch then Luke Parkin cut inside and his left footer was held by Catterick.
Ashington were always in the game and midway through the period, Donaldson slipped the ball wide for the over lapping Summerly who went into the box but saw his shot blocked near to the goal-line. Skipper Karl Ross was also denied from the rebound and from the resulting corner, substitute Harrison Clark headed wide.
In the closing stages, home sub Donae Lawrence was thwarted from six yards following a cross from the left – but whilst another goal would have cemented Emley’s victory, it would have been so unjust on an Ashington side who battled throughout and who deserved to return to Wansbeck with a share of the spoils.
1 vs 0 
Ashington vs North Ferriby
By Brian Bennett
North Ferriby skipper Niall Tilsley scored a stoppage time winner for his side which left Ashington to reflect on a week of double heartache.
The Colliers – cruelly knocked out on penalties in their semi final tie of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup against Morpeth Town – were cruising 2-0 after an hour against play off hopefuls North Ferriby when a massive turning point arrived in the contest.
Ben Williams brought down Lewis Donnison just outside the penalty area and as the offence denied a clear and obvious goal scoring opportunity, the home defender was sent off by referee Glen Hart.
Less than five minutes later, ‘keeper Ryan Catterick dived to his right to palm away a shot from Luke Hogg and from the resultant corner, Dennison netted from close range after a scramble.
The Villagers drew level in the 80th minute when substitute Dan Hernandez headed home from a corner by Dom Roma.
Ashington’s Josh Gilchrist then latched onto a through ball from Gary Ormston but after cutting back inside, scuffed his shot which was held by ‘keeper Ben Bottomley.
It was to be the final opportunity for the ten men and in the second of seven minutes to be added on, Tilsley fired wide of Catterick and inside the corner following a throw in on the left to wrap up what was a complete comeback by the visitors.
There was little to excite the crowd from the start of the game with a 25 yarder by Hogg the only effort in the opening quarter hour.
However Ashington took the lead in the 18th minute after a slick interchange down the right.
Skipper Karl Ross found Andrew Cartwright who played the ball through for Gilchrist. The striker took a good first touch before calmy firing past Bottomley.
Ferriby replied with Jack Johnson heading wide at the far post after a deep left wing cross then after another period without any goalmouth action, Gilchrist neatly slipped a defender but saw his right footer finger-tipped away by Bottomley.
The action swung to the other end where Catterick slipped as he cleared from just inside the penalty area. The ball fell to Alex Flett who from 40 yards lobbed it towards the unguarded net where Catterick scampering back, clawed the ball away. Ferriby thought they had scored the equaliser and all eyes focussed on the assistant referee but he didn’t flag for a goal and play continued.
In the closing stages of the period, Ashington pieced together a lovely move. It started with a deft flick by Gilchrist in midfield and involved Bailey Geliher, Ben Sampson and Cartwright but the latter’s cross was driven straight into Bottomley’s midriff.
Four minutes into the second half, Ashington doubled their advantage. Sampson spread the ball out wide for Ross and when he stood the ball up to the far post, Gilchrist headed inside the far corner.
Ashington looked more than comfortable as they held their 2-0 lead – then came the red card for Williams which changed the whole complexion of the game.
2 vs 3 
Morpeth Town vs Ashington
(Morpeth won 4- 3 on penalties)
By Brian Bennett
Ashington suffered penalty heartache on Tuesday night when they bowed out of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup at the semi-final stage against Morpeth Town at Craik Park.
In a match where chances were at a premium, there was high drama in stoppage time with the scores level at 1-1 as both teams netted before the Colliers – who were the better side over the 90 minutes – cruelly lost out 4-3 after the tie went to a penalty shoot-out.
After an early cross from Jordan Summerly was blocked, the Highwaymen took the lead in the eighth minute when a ball played into the area by Will Dowling went through a ruck of players and inside the far post with Ashington ‘keeper Ryan Catterick rooted to the spot.
Both outfits had penalty shouts turned down before in the 23rd minute, the visitors came close to an equaliser.
Following a neat build up the ball fell to skipper Karl Ross whose drive from 25 yards flashed narrowly wide of the upright.
Ashington had enjoyed a lot more possession but in time added on at the end of the half, Rhys Evans fired over for the hosts.
It was midway through the second half before the first semblance of a chance arrived.
After a corner on the right, Craig Spooner found Gary Ormston who lofted the ball towards the top corner but ‘keeper Dan Langley held onto it comfortably.
However, in the 68th minute, Ashington deservedly drew level following a great move down the right.
Josh Gilchrist found Ben Sampson and when the midfielder played the ball to his left, Ross stepped over it for Spooner who swept it right footed inside the corner of the net.
Incredibly as the game entered the final five minutes of the 90, both sides had opportunities.
Hodgson placed a glancing header wide from a right wing cross then at the other end, substitute Harrison Clark weaved inside the box but saw his shot saved by Langley.
Ben Williams made a great block inside his own penalty area – and when play switched, Spooner clipped the ball over from a ball played in by Gilchrist.
After the board went up to indicate a minimum of six minutes to be added on, Morpeth must have thought they had won it when in the 92nd minute, they went 2-1 ahead.
A free kick from 30 yards by Nic Bollado smacked against the bar but when the home side recycled the ball, a cross from the left found Jack Foalle who headed into the far corner.
But there was more action to come as the Colliers equalised two minutes later.
Substitute Paul Robinson delivered a cross into the Morpeth penalty area which Nathan Buddle headed into his own net.
Then came the penalty shoot-out.
Bollado, Hickey and substitute Jeff Henderson all found the target for Morpeth with Leon Gibson-Booth and Hodgson denied by Catterick.
For Ashington, Spooner and Gilchrist were successful from the spot. Langley saved from Ross and Clark before Williams levelled with the final penalty of the five which took it to sudden death.
Foalle fired Morpeth ahead 4-3 and when Robinson placed his effort over the bar Morpeth booked their place in the final at St James Park where they will meet the winners of the other semi-final tie between Heaton Stannington and Newcastle United U21’s.
2 vs 2 Bridlington Town AFC vs Ashington
By Brian Bennett
Three defensive blunders inside the first half hour left Ashington with a mountain to climb in their clash against Bridlington Town on Saturday.
Conditions on the East Coast were perfect for football and it was the Colliers – with Sam Fishburn, their on-loan striker from Scunthorpe making his debut – who started the game well until they pressed the self destruct button in the 11th minute.
The Wansbeck side won a corner but lost possession and play moved swiftly to the other end with Bridlington forcing a flag kick of their own on the left.
The ball was swung across where the unmarked Dan Hartley smashed it home with his right foot at the far post.
Barely two minutes later, ‘The Seasiders’ doubled their lead following a simple route one move.
Goalkeeper Jack Hall’s clearance bisected the Ashington defence and allowed Josh Barratt the opportunity to lob the ball over the advancing Ryan Catterick and into the net.
The visitors were shell shocked by the quickfire double but they eventually settled down and had their first opportunity when Josh Gilchrist struck a free-kick from 25 yards narrowly wide.
However midway through the half, the Colliers missed a glorious chance to reduce the deficit when Kyle Errington crossed from the right but Ben Sampson – arriving at the near post – placed his header wide.
On the half hour, the home side added a third. They took advantage after Ashington had given the ball away from a throw in and after making progress down the left, when it was played across the area, Sam Leverett was allowed acres of space to place his effort wide of Catterick.
After the interval, the Wansbeck side got the start they were looking for when they pulled a goal back. Skipper Marc Ellison crossed into the area and Sampson made no mistake as he lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
The goal gave the Colliers a much needed boost and five minutes later, there was a scare in the home area. Sampson found Errington whose cross was finger-tipped onto the bar by Hall and hastily cleared away.
That was as good as it got for the Colliers.
Within minutes Bridlington came close to restoring their three goals lead when Sam Kay fired just wide of the far post.
‘The Seasiders’ managed the remainder of the game whilst Ashington struggled to make any impact on the home goal.
Consequently the final half hour meandered to a dour conclusion.
3 vs 1 
Sam Fishburn
2024/25 Sponsor: Make Ashington Mint Again – MAMA
Currently on loan from Scunthorpe United FC
Ashington vs Brighouse Town
By Brian Bennett
A strong second half performance by Ashington saw them complete a particularly good week as they backed up a 2-1 win against Bishop Auckland in midweek with a 4-1 victory over Brighouse Town at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.
It’s been an incredible turnaround by the Colliers who even a month ago, were included among the teams at the foot of the table but one defeat in eight has seen them climb into a mid-table spot.
However, once again they were forced to come from behind before deservedly securing all three points with Josh Gilchrist who scored a timely double taking his tally for the season to ten.
Buoyed by the result over Bishop Auckland, home supporters were expecting the Colliers to come out of the traps with a real spring in their step – but they were disappointed as what developed was reminiscent of a dull and lethargic end of season encounter.
The visitors took the lead in the 11th minute.
Akeel Francis dispossessed Harrison Clark near the touchline, cut inside and rifled a right footer inside the far post leaving ‘keeper Ryan Catterick helpless.
Seven minutes later, Craig Spooner spurned a marvellous chance to level. Ryan Wombwell supplied a cross from the right but Spooner got his angles all wrong and headed well wide.
Then all of a sudden, the game came alive in the final ten minutes of the half with the home side in the ascendency.
Spooner had a left foot shot held by ‘keeper Shea Callister and shortly afterwards it was the stopper who denied Bailey Geliher as well as the follow up effort from Gilchrist.
However in the 43rd minute, Clark atoned for his earlier error when he got the equaliser.
A free kick on the left by Gilchrist was blocked and when Gilchrist recycled the ball into the danger zone, Clark delicately clipped it home from six yards.
The Colliers had a chance to forge in front right on the stroke of half time when Spooner set up Gilchrist but the striker fired over.
After the break, Ashington continued where they had left off and upped the tempo and seven minutes in, they went ahead – from the spot.
Ryan Wombwell was upended inside the area by Niah Payne and Gilchrist stepped forward to smash the ball into the roof of the net, sending Callister the wrong way in the process.
Five minutes later, Ashington added a third following a well worked move. Gilchrist got to the by-line and crossed and although Ben Sampson missed out, the ball ran for skipper Karl Ross who blasted in the third from a tight angle.
In a rare raid, Payne fired wide for the visitors whose troubles were compounded in the 78th minute.
Skipper Joshua Grant was sent off after a foul on substitute Wilson Kneeshaw on the half way line then the nearside assistant spoke to referee Tyler Dutton which resulted in one of the staff in the Brighouse technical area also being shown the red card.
Then in the 90th minute, the Colliers stretched their lead further. Wombwell slipped the ball through to Kneeshaw who cut the ball back perfectly for the onrushing Gilchrist who steered it into the net from close range.
4 vs 1 
Bishop Auckland vs Ashington
By Brian Bennett
Ryan Donaldson will take the headlines after his late goal proved to be the winner for Ashington against Bishop Auckland on Tuesday night.
However it was two brilliant saves in the dying minutes by ‘keeper Ryan Catterick – playing against his former club – which guaranteed the Colliers all three points on a cold and damp night at Heritage Park.
They were forced to do things the hard way too, after going behind in the first half but the win was no more than Nick Gray’s side deserved.
The Wansbeck side left every ounce of energy on a stamina sapping pitch and although they are not totally out of the woods yet, the victory gives them more breathing space in the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League as they now sit seven points above fourth from bottom Bridlington Town who they visit on Saturday week (February 22).
The first piece of action came in the seventh minute when Catterick saved a shot from Joe Bartliff with Gary Martin’s effort from the follow up flashing narrowly wide of the far post.
Bishops then took the lead in the 19th minute. The space opened up on the right for Bartliff to surge through into the penalty area and although Catterick did extremely well to parry Bartliff’s fierce drive into the air, Martin headed home the rebound.
Ashington had shouts for a penalty when Josh Gilchrist went to ground from a Craig Spooner corner – before the Colliers got back on terms in the 27th minute with a well worked goal.
Ben Sampson won back possession inside the Bishops half and found Spooner on the right flank. He passed forward for the overlapping Ryan Wombwell and when the full back crossed to the near post, Gilchrist turned the ball into the net from six yards.
Before the interval, Catterick denied Martin then the home number ten crossed for Johnson who fired wide.
The first half had been played at a frenetic pace – and there was no let up after the interval.
Catterick pushed out a free kick from 35 yards by Bartliff then on the hour Johnson had a great chance after he skipped inside but fired off target.
Ashington had opportunities too.
Gilchrist was played through but was blocked then a lovely move down the left involving Bailey Geliher and substitute Jordan Summerly came to nothing after the full back’s cross was directed straight at home ‘keeper Jack Norton.
Scott Lowery flashed a header just wide of the near post from a Spooner corner then at the other end, a flag kick by John Howard almost caught Ashington out until Catterick punched it clear.
When sub Gary Ormston broke forward and released the ball to Spooner, the midfielder was through but clipped his effort over the bar.
Manager Nick Gray then introduced Donaldson and two minutes later, he put Ashington in front.
Sub Wilson Kneeshaw found Wombwell down the right and when the defender crossed, the ball ballooned up into the air. When it came down, Donaldson found the net with a left foot shot which crept just inside the post.
The action continued right up until the final whistle. Catterick saved from Bartliff then seconds from the end, the ‘keeper dived low to his left to deny John Howard.
1 vs 2 Pontefract Collieries vs Ashington
By Brian Bennett
Ashington staged a spirited comeback and left The Hunters Stadium with a point after a dour battle against Pontefract Collieries in West Yorkshire on Saturday.
Admittedly the second half – which contained all four goals – was a vast improvement on the first 45 minutes which was a midfield scrap and saw both defences on top.
Indeed there were only three stand out moments in the opening period.
In the 12th minute, Kyle Errington found Craig Spooner whose shot was parried away by home ‘keeper Heath Richardson.
Pontefract’s first effort came minutes later when Mikey Dunn cut inside from the left touchline but fired wide of the near post.
Three minutes before the break, a corner on the left by Spooner was headed out and when the ball fell to the feet of Marc Ellison his 25 yarder went over the bar.
Surely the second half would see a bit more zip and excitement – and it was the home side who came out the stronger with the impressive Dunn scoring twice inside the opening ten minutes.
Three minutes after the restart, a corner on the right by Jack Boyle found Dunn lurking around the penalty spot who was allowed time and space to squeeze a right foot effort between ‘keeper Ryan Catterick and the post.
The second goal materialised after a free kick from 30 yards by Elliott Walker beat the outstretched hands of Catterick, smacked against the underside of the bar and bounced down on the line.
Dunn was first to react and headed the rebound into an unguarded net.
A massive turning point then arrived just before the hour mark. After a quick raid down the left, Boyle played the ball across to the unmarked Dunn but he spurned the chance to complete his hat-trick as he fired tamely at Catterick.
Three minutes later, Ashington received a lifeline from an unlikely source to half the deficit. Following a cross from the right, home skipper Jack Greenhough tried to cushion a cross with his head to Richardson but he got too much pace on it. The stopper dived full length in an attempt to keep the ball out but the assistant flagged to indicate that it had crossed the line and the referee awarded the goal.
Like the flick of a switch, the score sparked the Wansbeck based outfit into action with the Colliers playing their best football of the match.
A drive from distance by Harrison Clark was straight at Richardson then thirty seconds later, Gavin Rothery cut inside before he unleashed an effort which went narrowly over.
Ten minutes from time, Ashington got back on terms following a well worked set-piece.
Josh Gilchrist flicked on a corner by Spooner for Clark who steered the ball home to register his first goal in Ashington colours.
Now it was game on as both sides went for the win. Home sub Joshua Lindley directed the ball down Catterick’s throat then a ball played into the near post was stabbed wide by fellow sub Bailey Thompson.
However, Ashington were much the better side in the closing stages and they could and should have snatched a winner in the third minute of stoppage time.
After defending a corner, they broke with pace and had a five versus two situation in their favour.
Gilchrist found Spooner whose shot was spilled by Richardson but with Ben Sampson looking to pounce on the rebound, the ‘keeper clawed the ball away to safety.
2 vs 2