By Brian Bennett

Ashington slipped into the bottom four of the Northern Premier League’s East Division on Saturday after a 2-0 defeat against high flying Stocksbridge Park Steels at Woodhorn Lane.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Danny Deakin’s opener put the visitors ahead then a penalty converted by Alex O’Connor sealed the win to put a damper on Nick Gray’s first game in charge of the Colliers.

Gray and his assistant Liam McIvor had been looking to put their mark on proceedings with their first target being to arrest the sides’ run of three consecutive defeats – but for all they huffed and puffed and were denied by some last ditch blocks, Ashington were unable to unlock the Steels’ door.

The Wansbeck side had plenty of the ball and at times played some decent football on a surface which was made slick by a pre match torrential downpour but sadly they lacked a cutting edge.

The visitors had problems on route when their coach broke down and consequently the kick-off was put back by half an hour.

Chances in the game were also delayed in a first half which contained little in the way of goalmouth action but there was nothing to choose between the two teams.
Stocksbridge full back Jack Tinker fired high and wide in the fifth minute and it was a full quarter hour before the Colliers looked threatening.

Wilson Kneesahw burst through the middle and found Andrew Johnson who swivelled inside the area but directed his shot straight into ‘keeper Ben Townsend’s midriff.

In the 33rd minute, Elliot Owen saw his effort blocked from a left wing corner then Alexander Hardwick got in behind the home defence and centred but the ball went right across the face of the Ashington goal.

Ben Williams made a superb challenge inside the area to halt Jack Haslam before the referee blew his whistle for half time.

Early doors after the break, Tinker again lashed over before Craig Spooner got to the by-line but his low cross was cut out for a corner. Spooner took the flag kick which saw Williams head wide.

Twice in the space of a minute, Townsend prevented an opener from the home side.

A cross by Charlie Exley was headed on by Matty Slocombe but Johnson’s effort was diverted clear by the stopper then Exley rolled the ball for Spooner who was denied by Townsend’s outstretched foot.

Stocksbridge were hanging on. They survived Ashington’s pressure then after Deakin had clipped the ball just over, it was the visiting number seven who broke the deadlock in the 76th minute.

A header by Haslam hit the post but when the ball was played back across, Deakin found the net with a low side footed shot.

Substitute Cam Gascoigne found Kneeshaw but his touch was just too heavy and as Townsend advanced, the striker lifted the ball over the bar.
A 30 yarder by Spooner flashed wide but seven minutes from the end of the 90, Staples needlessly fouled sub James Morris in the area and O’Connor sent the ‘keeper the wrong way from the spot.

In stoppage time sub Eddie Thomas and Paddy Almond both headed off target – before Stocksbridge headed back to South Yorkshire with all three points.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington suffered back to back home defeats inside four days when they went down 4-1 in their Northern Premier League East Division clash against Sheffield FC at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

Following Saturday’s single goal reverse against Sherwood Colliery, the visitors – bottom of the table before kick off – were indebted to a hat-trick by striker Luke Aldrich which saw them deservedly travel back to South Yorkshire with all three points.

It seems unthinkable that just under a fortnight ago, the Colliers turned in a superb performance to advance into the next round of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup with a 4-1 win over North Shields.

However, Tuesday’s showing in the second half was slightly better than Saturday’s woeful display – but still sub standard.

From the first whistle, the Wansbeck outfit looked like a side determined to put right the wrongs from Saturday.

But in the tenth minute, they pressed the self destruct button and paid a heavy price as the visitors took full advantage to go 1-0 up.

A back-pass played to Ross Coombe saw the ‘keeper’s attempted clearance cannon off Connor Cutts and spin towards goal with Aldrich blasting in from almost on the line.
It was a setback from which Ashington never recovered as they struggled against a hard working Sheffield side.

Jack Dolman struck a left footed drive from the edge of the area which flashed wide before a well constructed move in the 27th minute led to ‘The Club’ doubling their advantage.

Ashington were caught out by a slick move down the left and when the ball was played into the area, Aldrich didn’t have to break stride as he side footed on the half volley wide of Coombe.

On the half hour, Benni Ndlovu could have added another. He latched onto a through ball down the right and looked a certain scorer until a timely tackle by Charlie Exley stopped him.

Ashington’s first chance of the half came in the 35th minute when Andrew Johnson cut inside but curled a right footer over the bar.

Two minutes after the break, the visitors extended their lead to 3-0 – from the spot.

Dolman was denied by Coombe but from the rebound, Aldrich was caught by a trailing leg from an Ashington defender and Rory Coleman sent the home ‘keeper the wrong way from the penalty.

Craig Spooner had a shot tipped behind by ‘keeper Edd Hall then after the stopper had spilled the ball, a scramble ensued but the visitors cleared.

Jay Errington cut inside but his tame effort was held by Hall before the Colliers reduced the arrears.

Spooner touched a free kick sideways to Exley who drilled home left footed.

Gary Ormston clipped an effort over then Johnson crossed the ball into the area for Cam Gascoigne who swivelled but saw his goalbound shot acrobatically turned over by Hall.

However for all their pressure, Ashington were caught on the break in the 79th minute when the ball was played down the right channel for Aldrich who advanced before firing wide of Coombe to restore Sheffield’s three goal lead.

It was a sucker punch which took the wind out of the home sides’ sails with the game drifting to a lethargic conclusion.

By Brian Bennett

Alexander Duhameau’s goal for Sherwood Colliery ten minutes into the second half saw Ashington tumble to their second home defeat of the season in the Northern Premier League East Division on Saturday.

The result was one issue – but the thing which irked home supporters was the overall performance.

Not only was it Ashington’s worst showing of the campaign – it was their poorest display for many years.

Conditions were perfect at kick off but it was a day when nothing went right for the Colliers and was topped off when ‘keeper Ross Coombe was sent off for a second yellow card after the final whistle.

The first half was a tedious affair with little in the way of goalmouth action.

The first opportunity came in the 12th minute following a move down the left and when the ball was crossed, Harry Bircumshaw’s goalbound volley was tipped away by Coombe.

Ashington struggled to make any inroads whilst Sherwood defended well – so much so that the home side were restricted to a couple of efforts from distance.
The second half promised so much. Surely after an opening 45 minutes of lethargic action including a distinct lack of quality, things could only get better.

Marginally they did.

Craig Spooner had a shot deflected wide of the post before Duhameau’s low left footer into the far corner put the visitors in front,

In the 77th minute, Paddy Almond was penalised for a foul on Duhameau and the striker had the opportunity to double the lead from the penalty spot but saw his effort magnificently saved by Coombe diving to his right.

Yet whilst home supporters vented their general frustration, Ashington could and should have got back on terms in the dying embers of the contest.

Four minutes into time added on, Craig Spooner was the provider of a superb cross from the right but Michael Ndiweni headed wide of the upright.

And that was as good as it got ……

By Brian Bennett

Two goals in the final five minutes of normal time by Grimsby Borough’s Scott Fenwick and Tom Jamieson saw Ashington slip up and be forced to settle for a 2-2 draw in their Northern Premier League East Division clash at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

The visitors did contribute to what was an exciting second period – but the Colliers will reflect on two points being dropped which cost them a third win on the bounce.

The first half was slow to get going but it was the home side that made inroads and on three occasions inside the opening quarter hour, Andrew Johnson, Wilson Kneeshaw and Jay Errington got crosses into the box which were blocked.

Then on the half hour, Jack Camarda – who was in the thick of the action – found Craig Spooner whose effort from 25 yards was pushed out by ‘keeper Liam Higton.

Three minutes later, it was Spooner again who from a similar distance saw his shot gathered at the second attempt by Higton.

During the first 45 minutes, Ashington had a tendency to overplay especially near the Grimsby box and on one occasion the ball eventually found Cyril Giraud but his shot was taken by Higton.

However six minutes before the interval, the best opportunity fell to ‘The Wilderness Boys’ when Scott Fenwick charged clean through with only ‘keeper Ross Coombe to beat but Paddy Almond made up ground to thwart the striker with a great tackle.

A superb low ball by Jaedyn Chibanga went across the face of the Ashington goal before in the first minute of time added on, the Colliers went ahead.

Kneeshaw charged through the middle before laying a pass out wide to Errington who advanced then smashed home left footed into the far corner.

Early doors in the second period, Reece York drove wide and Luis Adlard fired over then the visitors had the ball in the back of the net but the goal was disallowed for a foul.

In the 55th minute, Kneeshaw slotted the ball through for Giraud who was through on goal but saw his shot blocked by Higton then minutes later, after a slalom run by Johnson, Giraud was blocked out.

Jamieson struck the bar for the visitors following a corner on the left and when York unleashed a 25 yarder, Coombe dived to his right to finger tip the ball around for a corner.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Ashington doubled their lead through Johnson.

Kneeshaw again claimed the assist when he crossed from the right and after Johnson’s initial effort had been blocked by Higton, he followed up to make no mistake.

If Ashington thought that was the decisive blow, they were in for a shock as Grimsby produced a late, late show to claim a point.

Jake Brown struck the bar then in the 85th minute after a cross from the left, Fenwick lobbed over Coombe to reduce the arrears.

Four minutes later after a free kick, Jamieson levelled for the visitors.