By Brian Bennett

A last gasp goal by Ollie Thompson salvaged a precious point for Ashington in a 2-2 draw against Bridlington Town at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

In stoppage time, the on-loan midfielder from Gateshead got on the end of a ball played into the box to head home despite efforts by the visitors defence to clear.

In Ashington’s lowly position, the point was huge especially as it had appeared the Colliers were heading towards back to back defeats following Friday’s miserable second half performance and consequent 5-2 defeat at Newton Aycliffe.

Interim managers Marc Ellison and Karl Ross will have been happy at the final whistle – but equally disappointed after their side conceded two goals from set pieces both scored by Seasiders skipper Tom Allan.

The Wansbeck side lost their opening league game of the campaign by a 2-0 scoreline on the East coast at the beginning of August and they had a fortunate escape inside the opening minute.

Ben Farrar got on the end of a cross by Eddie Kettlewell to hit a shot which crashed off the bar but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside.

Ashington responded with Oliver Thompson slotting the ball down the right for Rory Powell whose centre went across the face of goal.

Just past the quarter hour mark, Bridlington took the lead when a corner from the left was headed home at the far post by the unmarked Allan.

Within a minute, the picture could have got even worse as the home side were caught trying to play out from the back and they were relieved when a shot by Farrar was blocked.

Bridlington continued to press and have the upper hand and midway through the period, a ball played into the box by midfield schemer Olly Green by-passed a couple of players and forced an excellent save from ‘keeper Ben Metcalf, diving to his right at the foot of the post.

The visitors continued to put good balls into the box and in the 24th minute, Allan ought to have added his second from an in-swinging corner by Green but misdirected his header wide.

For Ashington supporters, it was a hard watch as their team repeatedly lost possession and it was the 35th minute before they had their first shot when Louis Burns fired well over.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Ahmed Salam – the scorer of both goals in the corresponding game – took a great first touch from a lofted ball forward but his low effort skimmed the far post.

Play switched and from a Chris Reid cross, a shot by Oliver Thompson was clutched by ‘keeper Alexander Baird.

At the start of the second half, Salam went close before Ashington fashioned an equaliser in the 55th minute.

Reid played the ball across and Burns finished with aplomb, unleashing a right footer inside the far corner.

It gave the home side a much needed lift but only three minutes later, Liam Henderson made a fantastic goal saving clearance to prevent Bridlington from regaining the lead after Metcalf had initially parried out a shot.

A free-kick by Green landed on the top of the netting then thirty seconds after being introduced, Ifeanyi Nnenanya had a shot turned around by the home ‘keeper.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Ellison and Ross made a bold triple substitution in an attempt to win the game, bringing on strikers Josh Gilchrist, Wilson Kneeshaw and Connor Thomson but with eight minutes remaining, the home crowd were silenced when again the unmarked Allan climbed at the far post to head home from a free-kick on the right.

Metcalf then pushed the ball away after an effort from an acute angle by visitors sub Jacob Day before Thompson’s header in the dying seconds brought the scores level.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington missed the opportunity to distance themselves further from the relegation drop zone on Saturday when they played out an uninspiring goalless draw against fellow strugglers Grimsby Borough at Woodhorn Lane.

Victory for the Colliers would have lifted them up to 14th place in the East Division league table but instead in a game where there was a lot of huff and puff and little in the way of chances, the visitors remain one point behind them.

Nevertheless seven points from nine is a good haul for the Wansbeck outfit who only a couple of weeks ago looked to be locked in the bottom four.

However, it’s a case of leaping from one six pointer to another as Marc Ellison’s side travel to face Newton Aycliffe – a side in the drop zone – on Friday (March 13) and interim boss Ellison will be reminding his players during the week that it was the County Durham side who cruised to a 3-0 win at the Lane at the end of October.

Ashington were looking to make it a hat trick of victories following back to back successes over Garforth Town and Consett and they made a decent start.

Josh Gilchrist picked up an early yellow card for a foul on the touchline but a few minutes later, home supporters were screaming for a different colour to be brandished by the referee after Craig Spooner’s pass had released Ryan Wombwell.

The midfielder took the ball past advancing Grimsby ‘keeper Kian Johnson and as he surged forward towards an empty net, appeared to be tugged back by a defender but the referee waved play on and the visitors cleared.
In the 20th minute, Dayle Southwell had the first shot of the game which was easily dealt with by Ashington’s on-loan ‘keeper Ben Metcalf before the home side made inroads down the right flank through Spooner and Rory Powell but the latter’s cross was blocked.

Just past the half hour mark, Southwell pulled the ball back from the left but Mariners skipper Sam Topliss sliced his shot then the Colliers got in behind again but Gilchrist’s flick was wide.

There had been little to enthuse the crowd on a spring-like day but in the 63rd minute, Metcalf earned rapturous applause when he pulled off a stunning save diving full stretch to his left to deny Southwell from a 20 yards free-kick as the ball arrowed towards the top corner.

Minutes later, Paul Walker headed across the face of the goal following a short flag kick on the right before the Wansbeck outfit were reduced to ten men when skipper Karl Ross saw red for a foul on substitute Bailey Wright.

Despite their numerical disadvantage the Colliers played well and shortly afterwards, substitute Sam Davison had a clear run on goal but clipped his shot wide.

Then in the 78th minute, Ben Sampson – making his 250th appearance in an Ashington shirt – played the ball through to Louis Burns.

The sub cut inside and let fly but saw his effort superbly pushed over by Johnson.

In the final minute of the 90, Southwell had a shot cleared off the line by Ryan Donaldson and despite five minutes of time added on, the scoreline remained blank – an identical result of when the two sides met in the corresponding fixture in October.

By Brian Bennett

Chris Reid’s first goal in Ashington colours secured a vital victory against a Consett side who ended the contest with nine men at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

It wasn’t a wonder strike but Reid’s close range effort eight minutes into the second half was all that mattered.

The result meant it was back to back wins for a Colliers side rejuvenated under the guidance of interim managers Marc Ellison and Karl Ross as they backed up Saturday’s 1-0 away success over Garforth Town.

All of a sudden the league table has a different look to it with Ashington – who climbed out of the drop zone on Saturday – now up to 15th place.

However Ellison and Ross will be the first to acknowledge that there is still a long way to go before the final round of fixtures on the last Saturday in April and they will make sure that their side will be fully focussed on the job in hand when Grimsby Borough come to Woodhorn Lane this weekend.

Like at Garforth, Ashington’s win on Tuesday evening was fully deserved. They shaded the first period and although the Steelmen showed more urgency from the first minute of the second half, the Colliers had their own bit of steel as a defensive unit and kept Consett’s chances down to a bare minimum.

The home side ought to have edged ahead in the 12th minute following link up play between Ryan Wombwell and Louis Burns which set up an opportunity for Rory Powell but the full back dragged a first time shot wide from 16 yards.

It was midway through the half before Consett threatened following a crossfield pass by Jordan Patterson but former Collier Will Constantin’s effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Ashington came again and in the 25th minute, Craig Spooner – on his return to the side after a six week lay off through injury – took a pass from Wombwell but curled a right footer wide.

As the interval approached, Donny Holdsworth struck a low effort which was superbly tipped around at the foot of his right post by home ‘keeper Ben Metcalf before the Colliers – playing with a newfound confidence – put together the move of the half.

The impressive Rory Powell found Josh Gilchrist down the right and when he pulled the ball across, Spooner didn’t have to break stride – but side footed wide of the far upright.

The visitors began the second period with more urgency but in the 53rd minute, they were rocked when Ashington took the lead.

Spooner floated a free kick into the box which was glanced on by Jeremy Perera – who was making his home debut – and in the scramble which ensued close to the goal-line, Reid got the all important touch to put the ball into the back of the net.

There was little in the way of chances and play was scrappy but determined defending saw Ashington repel anything which Consett threw at them.

However in the 76th minute, the visitors were reduced in number when Calvin Smith was sent off by referee Alex Clark for a second yellow card offence.

With only four minutes of the 90 remaining, substitute Sam Davison came agonisingly close to sealing the result.

Rory Powell found substitute Ben Sampson down the right flank but when he crossed low, Davison coming in at the far post, missed the ball by a matter of inches.

Just before the final whistle, Consett’s night was further compounded when Marc Costello was also shown a second yellow leaving the Steelmen to play out the last minute with only nine men.

By Brian Bennett

A late strike by Kurtis Turner kept Emley’s promotion bid on track and at the same time sank Ashington hearts after this Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division clash on Tuesday night.

Turner’s thunderbolt from fully 25 yards in the 84th minute clinched all three points for the West Yorkshire outfit who had found it tough going against a rejuvenated Ashington side who were anxious to put Saturday’s 8-0 thrashing against Redcar Athletic behind them.

Talk about chalk and cheese! The Colliers looked a completely different team. They held the upper hand in an opening period where chances were at a premium and overall deserved to take something from the game.

A corner from the right by Joe Stacey clipped the top of the bar and went over then on the half hour, Ben Williams – on his return to the Ashington side on loan from Gateshead – earned rapturous applause from the home supporters after winning a tackle near the touchline.

Ashington were playing some excellent football and they deservedly got their noses in front ten minutes before the interval.

Liam Henderson beat the offside trap as he raided down the right and when he pulled the ball back, it was only half cleared to Josh Gilchrist who rifled home from 16 yards.

Early doors in the second half, substitute Carlos Rodrigues fired a warning for the Pewits dragging an effort wide then Ellis Farrar lifted the ball over following a long throw in.

The visitors were the better side but once again there was a lack of chances until the 72nd minute when Emley got back on terms.

Following a corner on the right, the ball was played into the Ashington area and steered into the net by Charlie Barks.

Then came Turner’s winner.

Colliers substitute ‘keeper Ben Metcalf – on for the injured Matty Alexander – made a superb stop to deny Bailey Thompson but seconds later Turner let fly with an effort which beat the outstretched hands of Metcalf and went into the net via the inside of the post.

By Brian Bennett

Talk about being brought back down to earth with a bump!

After a deserved 2-0 win over North Ferriby the previous week, Ashington crashed to an all time low at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

League leaders Redcar Athletic were merciless and ruthless in their finishing as they romped to an 8-0 success and inflicted the heaviest ever defeat on an Ashington side at the Lane which left home supporters shell-shocked.

In truth, it could have been worse. Teenage goalkeeper Ben Metcalf – making his debut on a youth loan from Sunderland – made several excellent saves especially in one of the most one sided 45 minutes as a commanding display from the Teessiders saw them effectively have the game sewn up by the interval.

It’s not as though Carl Jarrett’s side eased their way into the contest – they went for the jugular straight from kick-off.

With only 50 seconds on the clock, the warning signs were evident as Oscar Fletcher headed over a great chance from a corner on the left even though the assistant’s flag was raised for offside.

Ashington caused their own problems. They tried to play out from the back, overplay and were guilty of losing possession.

In the third minute, John Howard advanced before his right footer came back off the post then debutant Danny Rowe had a goal-bound effort blocked by Metcalf who also denied Louis Johnson.

Harry Powell made a superb tackle to stop Adam Boyes but it came as no surprise when Howard edged the Seasiders in front just past the quarter hour mark with a powerful shot from inside the area.

That was the first of three goals inside ten minutes. The lead was doubled when Metcalf gave away possession and after the ball was played in from the right flank, Boyes’s effort crossed the line despite Ashington attempts to clear.

Fletcher scored a screamer to make it 3-0 then Metcalf kept out attempts from Fletcher and Boyes.

In the 36th minute, Rio May headed home at the near post from an in-swinging corner and Ashington were pleased to hear the half time whistle which brought an end to a mistake ridden first period.

The Colliers started the second half much brighter and five minutes in, debutant Rees Greenwood had a shooting chance but elected to lay the ball off sideways for Liam Wotherspoon whose drive was blocked.

Surely Ashington’s day couldn’t get any worse but in the 56th minute after Rory Powell had been upended in the area, Josh Gilchrist stepped up to take the resultant penalty only to smash his effort against the post.

Then as heads began to drop in the Ashington ranks, Redcar’s Louis Johnson took charge. The Colliers simply couldn’t handle the striker and shortly before the midway point, he fired the ball across Metcalf and into the net to make it 5-0.

The home ‘keeper turned the ball around from substitute Brad Fewster before Johnson undoubtedly scored the goal of the game in the 74th minute.

He charged through on a run of 40 yards then hammered a right footer inside the far stanchion.

Home substitute Sam Davison went close with a shot which skimmed the post before Fewster got on the end of a ball knocked into the danger zone to score Redcar’s seventh.
In the final minute of the 90, Curtis Round found Johnson and the striker duly completed his hat-trick with another unerring right foot finish.

The last occasion when the Colliers were on the wrong end of a hammering on home soil came at their former Portland Park ground when they lost 9-0 against Bedlington Terriers in a Northumberland Senior Cup clash back in the 1993/94 campaign.

Ashington face another stiff test at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday (February 24) when they take on Emley. The West Yorkshire outfit went second top of the East Division on Saturday night after an eye catching 4-0 away win over fellow promotion chasers Matlock Town.