By Brian Bennett

Ashington crashed to their heaviest home defeat of the season when promotion chasing Bradford Park Avenue won in a canter with a 4-0 result which left supporters of the Woodhorn Lane club shell-shocked on Saturday.

Without a fixture since Boxing Day due to the wintry weather, the Colliers were chomping at the bit – but they got knocked back by a block of gold bullion.

The West Yorkshire side, wearing gold shirts and socks, were on the front foot from the first whistle and banked the three points if not after quarter of an hour by which time they had sailed into a two goal lead then without a doubt when they increased their lead to three with just over half an hour gone on the clock.

It was a hard and miserable watch for the Ashington fans. In truth, their side failed to lay a glove on their opponents throughout whilst the Avenue supporters lapped up what was a totally convincing performance from their side.

That all began as early as the third minute when home ‘keeper Matty Alexander was forced to palm away a goal-bound shot from Connor Shanks.

However eight minutes later, Marcus Carver opened the scoring with a cross shot from the left which passed the diving hand of Alexander, struck one post then rolled across to clip the inside of the other before crossing the line.

Just shy of the quarter hour mark, the visitors doubled their lead. The skilful Kareem Hassan-Smith – who was a thorn in Ashington’s side in the corresponding game and consequent 2-1 defeat at the end of September – crossed from the right and when Shanks fired goalwards, Adam Haw diverted it past Alexander.
Ashington’s first effort came midway through the period following a corner when Craig Spooner clipped wide from the edge of the area.

However, the visitors came again and after Carver had headed narrowly over, they added to their tally in the 33rd minute.

Carver stabbed home at the far post with Prince Ekpolo claiming the assist and it could have got worse for the Colliers with Haw just off target following another cross by Hassan-Smith.

As it was, Bradford didn’t have to wait long to add a fourth. Only 38 seconds had been played in the second half when Ashington were cut open and Haw side footed into the far corner.

That was that with the rest of the game producing little in the way of goalmouth action.

Indeed, the only talking point came ten minutes from time when Ashington skipper Karl Ross was shown a straight red card by referee Elliot Cowens following a tackle ten yards inside his opponents half.

*Next up for the Colliers is a short away trip to face Heaton Stannington on Tuesday (January 20 – 7.45pm kick-off).

By Brian Bennett

On an historic day when the attendance of 1,488 supporters set a new ground record at Woodhorn Lane, it was a pity that the derby match served up by the players of Ashington and Blyth Spartans was out of place to match the occasion.

That detail will be irrelevant to all connected with the Croft Park club, who as a result,  moved off the bottom of the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League courtesy of a stoppage time goal at the end of the first half by Jack Foalle.

After a ball played down the line by Robert Kinninburgh, the live wire striker got on the end of a cross by Michael Fowler which eluded home ‘keeper Matty Alexander to score with a diving header at the far post.

In truth it was the only high spot of the entire game – a contest which was ruined as a spectacle from the fourth minute.

It was clear that there was plenty of tension with both sides showing nerves from the kick-off as they regularly lost possession.

Then came the dramatic fourth minute when Chris Reid, making his home debut, saw red.

Initially, the former Whitley Bay and Morpeth Town defender was aggrieved at not being awarded a penalty after he and Paul Van-Zandvliet grappled inside the area from a Liam Noble free-kick.

Play continued but with the ball near the touchline and harmlessly running out of play, Reid lunged in on Van-Zandvliet from behind and was sent off by referee Tyler Dutton.

Supporters had to remain patient as it was over half an hour before the first opportunity arrived.

Before then, both sides had had a half chance apiece.

Foalle’s cross-cum-shot from the left landed on the roof of the net whilst at the other end, Noble found Marc Ellison who fired over from an acute angle.

From the 32^nd minute play was non stop for a short period. Following a throw in by Karl Ross, Ryan Donaldson produced a fantastic slalom type of run through the middle evading a couple of challenges but when he ventured into the area, Kinniburgh made a crucial interception to clear.

Play switched with Foalle through on the right but with support, he elected to unleash a right footer which went over.

Fowler burst down the left flank but his dangerous cross was cut out at the near post by Rory Powell then Ross and Craig Spooner combined but the latter pulled the ball back too much for Liam Wotherspoon.

In the 44^th minute, Henderson’s effort from 16 yards lacked power and was easily held by ‘keeper Callum Dobson before Foalle nodded Spartans in front.

On the hour Foalle fired wide and Ashington cleared off the line from a corner before substitute Noah Millington dragged the ball wide from distance.

In the closing stages, Spooner blasted over from the edge of the area then Alexander held an effort from Millington.

The final piece of action came in the third minute of time added on when Blyth cleared the ball off the line but the assistant had his flag raised for offside.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington made it three wins on the bounce and climbed out of the bottom four after a 3-2 thriller against Ossett United on Saturday.

The result also saw the Colliers complete their first double of the season having collected a 2-1 victory over the West Yorkshire outfit in September but they had to work extremely hard before overcoming their opponents who were reduced to ten men in the early stages of the second half.

Once again, the wind whipped up at Woodhorn Lane and the home side – who had the wind on their backs in the first half – made a great start when they forged ahead after only 90 seconds.

Josh Gilchrist played the ball down the flank for the overlapping Karl Ross and when the skipper crossed, Craig Spooner sent a looping header wide of ‘keeper Aleksandar Petrovic and inside the far post.

Despite the setback, the visitors looked sharp in attack in what was a lively start.

Jack Crook was through on goal but a heavy touch by him saw home ‘keeper Matty Alexander gratefully take the ball just inside the penalty area.

Shortly afterwards, Luca Bolino charged clear and Ashington were relieved when his right footer flashed wide of the far post.

On the quarter hour, Alexander made a vital stop from a shot by Joseph Crosby before Liam Henderson struck over on the half volley at the other end after a headed knock-down by Liam Noble.

Henderson was involved again when he glanced on for Gilchrist but when the winger centred, the ball went across the face of goal.

Crosby had an effort which took a deflection to roll just wide before Ashington doubled their lead in the 44^th minute.

The ball fell to Gilchrist inside the area and faced by Petrovic, he calmly dummied the ‘keeper before cutting inside and blasting home.

Seven minutes into the second half, it was certainly ‘game on’ after the visitors halved the deficit.

The ball was crossed from the right where Samuel Pashley’s header from just inside the area went wide of Alexander and inside the corner.

In the 55^th minute, Ross latched onto a quickly taken free-kick by Noble but when he centred, Ashington again had no-one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Two minutes later, goal scorer Pashley – who had already been booked – was involved in an incident at the far side and after referee Daniel Forbes had consulted with his assistant, the Ossett defender was shown a second yellow card followed by a red.

Gilchrist had a goal chalked off for a foul on Petrovic but with Ashington looking for a third and Ossett an equaliser, the game developed into an end to end contest which continued right until the end.

The visitors got on terms in the 77^th minute when the ball was swung into the area from the right where Ashington substitute Andrew Anderson turned it past his own ‘keeper Alexander.

Incredibly six minutes later, the Colliers got their noses back in front – with another own goal.

Noble’s pass down the wing found Gilchrist and when he crossed low into the danger zone, an Ossett defender nudged the ball into his own net.

In the dying embers of the game, substitute Josh Cairns and Spooner both missed out on opportunities to make the game safe before the final whistle brought another welcome three points for the Wansbeck side.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s bid to escape from the threat of relegation received another boost on Saturday when they defeated an in-form Brighouse Town side 3-0 at Woodhorn Lane.

The result made it back to back wins for Nick Gray’s outfit following their 2-1 success over Lincoln United the previous week.

However the victory wasn’t enough to lift the Colliers out of the drop zone with the Wansbeck side fourth from bottom of the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League on 20 points – the same total as Lincoln United, Bishop Auckland and Consett – but Ashington having a more inferior goal difference.

It was a deserved win on what turned into a mudbath of a pitch following incessant rain on a day when two other games in the division – Dunston v Hallam and Heaton Stannington v Grimsby – were abandoned due to the elements.

The home side – kicking with the wind on their backs – could have made a dramatic start in the third minute.

Louis Burns – making his full debut on loan from South Shields – closed in on visiting ‘keeper Michael Acquah who had the ball in his hands. The stopper then slipped on the turf with the ball escaping from his grasp but breathed a huge sigh of relief as he regained possession just ahead of the striker.

The West Yorkshire side looked the more threatening and after ‘keeper Matty Alexander had held a 35 yarder from Jason Davis, the home number one made vital blocks from Derry Robson and Jordan Barnett whilst Ryan Donaldson made a recovery run to thwart Nathan Curtis.
Ashington’s first effort of note came from Liam Noble as he curled the ball over following a corner but the game developed into a dour and drab contest.

However, Ashington got a boost in the 44th minute when they took the lead.

Craig Spooner played a short corner on the left to skipper Karl Ross who rolled the ball into the path of Liam Noble. The midfielder drilled an 18 yarder which was spilled by Acquah and when Harry Powell crossed into the danger zone, Josh Gilchrist applied the finishing touch from close range.

After the break Ashington were the dominant side but chances were non-existent until the final quarter of an hour.

Gilchrist charged down the right before he was fouled by a defender just inside the area.

Referee Stephen Beresford pointed to the spot and Gilchrist made no mistake from the penalty.

Then with six minutes of the 90 remaining, there was more drama including the home side cementing their victory.

Substitute Sam Davison – who had replaced the injured Ryan Wombwell – got to the ball just ahead of Acquah before he was clipped by the ‘keeper.

The offence took place inches inside the area and after Acquah had been shown a red card, Burns made no mistake from the resultant penalty, sending Barnett – an outfield player who went into goal – the wrong way.

*Friday night football returns to Ashington when the Colliers take on Consett on December 5 with a 7.45pm kick off.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington stay firmly entrenched in a relegation battle after they tumbled to a 4-1 defeat against Garforth Town on Saturday who produced a late show to leave Wansbeck with all three points.

It was all going so well for the struggling Colliers – who are third from bottom of the East Division and who were without a win in seven league games – when Liam Henderson nudged them ahead ten minutes into the second half but nemesis Luke Aldrich who invariably scores every time he plays against Ashington, netted a quick fire equaliser.

Could the home side respond or hold onto a precious point? Well they were edging towards taking something from the game when Garforth hit them with a triple blow in the final quarter hour as Jordan Emery, Dan Coupland and substitute Mutty Al-Jahadhmy all got onto the score sheet.

It took a while for the game to get going until the 11th minute when Aldrich was through but was thwarted by ‘keeper Matty Alexander, making his return to league action after injury.

Midway through the half, ‘keeper Harry Flatters slipped just inside the area and in the tussle which ensued, Henderson went to ground but the referee ignored Ashington’s claims for a penalty.

Garforth full-back Rinor Ejupi had the next chance when he latched onto a cross from the left but his shot lacked power and was easily taken by Alexander.

In the 34th minute, Coupland put the ball into the middle but Aldrich fluffed his lines in front of goal and Matt Savage fired wide.

Ashington retaliated on the break with Craig Spooner finding Gilchrist but when it looked like he had laid the ball on a plate for Jake Orrell, defender Joe Allerton appeared from nowhere to make a dramatic clearance.

Gilchrist was denied then shortly before the half time whistle, Liam Noble delivered a free kick to the far post but Henderson – on the stretch – put the ball wide of the
post.

Charlie Marshall had a great chance for the visitors but clipped his effort wide before the Colliers went ahead in the 54th minute.

Gilchrist did well to cross from the left and after Garforth had initially blocked the ball, Liam Henderson pounced to fire inside the upright.

However, three minutes later, Ashington were caught on the counter and when a long clearance by Flatters found Aldrich, the forward gave Alexander no chance with a sweetly struck shot from 18 yards.

Ball and Aldrich missed out as the number of chances in the game began to mount up then
midway through, Gilchrist slipped the ball through for Henderson but his low effort from 25 yards hit the base of the post and rebounded to safety.

The contest then entered a period where tempers became frayed but when things settled down a Marc Ellison-Gilchrist combination unlocked the door for Jake Orrell who was denied by Flatters.

Mutty Al-Jahadhmy had caused all sorts of problems for the Colliers when the two sides met earlier in the season in the Isuzu FA Trophy and after being introduced as a substitute, Al-Jahadhmy saw his shot take a deflection and spin up into the air with Alexander producing an astonishing save to thwart Aldrich from the rebound.

However in the 79th minute and from the resultant corner, the visitors went 2-1 ahead. The ball was glanced on for Emery who headed in from close range.

Aldrich had a good chance before Alexander made another excellent save, pushing a shot by substitute Robbie Wilson onto the bar. From the rebound, the ‘keeper went to punch the ball clear but made contact with the Garforth player.

Referee Harvey Websdale awarded a penalty and skipper Coupland nonchalantly tucked home the spot kick.

Then in the third minute of time added as Ashington pushed forward, they were caught on the break and Al-Jahadhmy added a fourth.

By Brian Bennett

It was the worst case scenario for Ashington on Friday evening after they lost their six pointer clash against Newton Aycliffe under the lights at Woodhorn Lane.

A night which stared badly when Josh Gilchrist missed an early penalty got progressively worse for the hosts in the second half.

“The Cliffe” scored twice in ten minutes then after Harry Powell had been red carded, they added a third from the spot with quarter of an hour remaining.Before the contest, the Colliers sat a point above the drop zone whilst the County Durham side were second from bottom.

The home side had the perfect opportunity to put their stamp on proceedings when they were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute.Sam Davison played the ball inside to Gilchrist who was upended by ‘keeper Kyle Seymour and the award was a formality for referee Elliot Cowens.

Seymour was yellow carded before Gilchrist sent him the wrong way from the spot – only the Ashington striker placed the ball wide of the goal.

Within a minute, Aycliffe broke down the left and Tom Henson clipped a shot just over the bar.Both sides were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply in what had developed into a scrappy affair then on the half hour, Liam Noble found Gilchrist whose right footer was pushed away by Seymour.Five minutes before the break, the visitors had the next chance after Ashington had lost possession but after cutting inside,

Scott Fenwick blazed over.At the start of the second half, Henson missed a good opening before the visitors took the lead in the 54th minute.Ashington failed to deal with a corner from the left and when the ball fell to Jack Clarkson, his low right footed effort went in off the far post.

The game started to open up and after Fenwick had scuffed his shot which was held by home ‘keeper Tyler Jones, Gilchrist had an opportunity at the other end but delayed his shot and when the striker went to ground under challenge, appeals for a penalty were ignored by the referee.Ashington’s task became more difficult as Aycliffe – who had grown in confidence – doubled their advantage in the 64th minute.

Joey Hope supplied a cross from the left and Fenwick applied a superb side footed finish as he steered the ball wide of Jones and inside the far upright.

Then in the 71st minute, Harry Powell tugged Kieran Greenway’s shirt with the Aycliffe player just ahead of the defender as he homed in on goal. The offence took place outside the area and Powell received his marching orders for denying a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Five minutes later, Aycliffe wrapped the game up. The impressive Henson – who had caused Ashington problems – made no mistake tucking the ball inside the bottom corner from a penalty after he had been brought down by Jay Hornsby.After that, the final whistle couldn’t come quick enough for the home side.