By Brian Bennett

Ashington helped to erase the disappointment of being knocked out of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup last week when they deservedly secured a 0-0 draw against Grimsby Borough on Saturday.

On their return to league action after the 2-0 loss to Newcastle University less than 48 hours previous, the Colliers gave a vastly improved performance – much to the delight of manager Nick Gray, his assistant Liam McIvor and the travelling army of fans.

It was a dour and uninspiring contest at The Bradley Football Development Centre but the key to Ashington’s point on the road was that they generally looked solid in defence. Ashington physio Kev Chapman had a busy afternoon after being called onto the field half a dozen times during the clash to treat injuries.

The first chance fell to ‘The Mariners.’ Ashington looked for a foul after a challenge on Craig Spooner which never came and from the break, Rio Molyneaux curled the ball wide of the far post.

On the 20 minutes mark, following a throw in and cross from the right, a shot by Dayle Southwell was saved with his legs by ‘keeper Tyler Jones then on the stroke of half time, Jones pushed the ball up into the air after an effort by Reece York with Jack Richardson firing wide from the rebound.

The final chance of the half fell to the Colliers in the fourth minute of time added on. Debutant Liam Miller and Josh Gilchrist combined to set up Spooner whose swerving shot whistled over the angle of post and crossbar.

Two minutes into the second half, Gilchrist found the overlapping Miller, whose effort was parried by home stopper Sebastian Auton but apart from a shot by Molyneaux which drifted wide, the game developed into a battle where both defences were resolute.

That was until the final quarter hour when Ashington became stronger. In the 78th minute, a ball played in by Ryan Wombwell was headed on by substitute Andrew Anderson but Gilchrist couldn’t get a firm connection on the ball with Auton happy to smother.

Gilchrist went close with a free kick from the left then a dangerous cross by Jake Orrell was cleared.

Then in the third of six minutes of additional time, a free kick by Orrell came off a defender but was clutched by Auton.

By Brian Bennett

A late goal by Oscar Fletcher saw Redcar Athletic maintain top spot in the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League and at the same time sink Ashington hearts at Green Lane on Wednesday night.

The Colliers who sit just above the drop zone, gave their all against the Teessiders who have plundered goals all season including a crushing 10-1 home win against Silsden and more recently a 6-2 verdict over Grimsby Borough.

But with only one minute of the 90 remaining, it was ‘The Steelmen’ who took all three points.

Substitute Louis Johnson turned defender Rory Powell and threaded a pass through for Fletcher who fired in a right footer which got the slightest deflection. Ashington stopper Tyler Jones almost kept the ball out but it spun off his hand and went into the back of the net.

The result was cruel on Nick Gray’s side who had gone toe to toe with the hosts in a game where chances – particularly clear cut ones – were at an absolute premium.

In the early stages, a stumble by Scott Lowery led to a shot by Fletcher which was pushed around by Jones then a melee developed in the Ashington goalmouth following a cross from the right with Curtis Round clipping the ball wide.

Ashington’s only opportunity of the period came just past the half hour mark when skipper Karl Ross found Josh Gilchrist but his tame effort was easily held by ‘keeper Josh Mazfari.

Owen Burns and Danni Lay missed out with half chances but Ashington were quite happy to go into the break at 0-0.

Early in the second half, Jay Hornsby flashed the ball across the face of goal then when play switched, a weak shot by Fletcher was held by Jones.

Prolific striker Adam Boyes had a great chance to break the deadlock for the home side in the 76^th minute but blazed the ball over the bar on the half volley.

Ashington had a ten minutes spell of dominance and after Craig Spooner drove the ball over, a cross by Gilchrist was intercepted at the near post by Mazfari.

Fletcher put Redcar in front – but in the last minute of five which were added on, a header by Lowery cleared the bar after the ball had been played in by substitute Ethan Bewley.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington fell away after a promising start and in the end, promotion chasers Emley were full value for their 3-0 victory at The Fantastic Media Welfare ground which was drenched in glorious sunshine on Saturday.

Home striker Manasse Mampala scored a brace and skipper Chris Dawson grabbed the other goal in a game which effectively ended as a contest by the midway point of the second half.

It all began so well for a Colliers outfit who looked well organised and the first shot of the game which came on the quarter hour mark was a feeble effort by Mampala which was easily collected by ‘keeper Tyler Jones.

The home side got a lift after Joe Stacey played a one-two down the left flank with Mampala which saw a low effort by the former flash wide of the far post.

Ashington responded with an effort by Jake Orrell which was blocked before Mampala opened the scoring in stupendous fashion after another one-two.

On this occasion Mampala got a quick return then let fly with a thunderous left foot strike from 22 yards which gave Jones no chance.

Emley were looking the sharper outfit and on the half hour, they had the ball in the net again but the goal was disallowed for a foul.

However, in the 36th minute Dawson doubled his sides’ lead. The goal stemmed after another raid down the left and when the ball was played across the area, Dawson slotted in.
A turning point arrived 55 seconds into the second half. Liam Noble played the ball down the right to Sam Davison and after the substitute had cut inside and worked a great opening for himself, his effort was pushed up then collected by home stopper Declan Lambton.

Emley stepped on the accelerator and in the 53rd minute, a shot by Stacey from the edge of the area thudded against the base of the post with Mampala firing over the rebound.

Minutes later Jones was forced to make a double save to thwart Charlie Barks and Isaac Baldwin following a free-kick but on 66 minutes, Mampala was given time and space to fire the ball wide of Jones for his second goal and Emley’s third.

Ashington had been toothless up front and Scott Lowery tried his luck with a half volley from 30 yards which was fielded by Lambton.

The final effort of the game came with six minutes of the 90 remaining when Jones pushed the ball out to deny substitute Belchior Rodrigues.

Ashington now prepare for a trip to Teesside on Wednesday (October 15) when they will take on new East Division league leaders Redcar Athletic.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s mini run of three wins in a row came to an end against East Division league leaders Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday night when they went down 2-1 at the Horsfall Community Stadium.

After a ropey opening 20 minutes when they looked completely out of sorts and trailed 2-0, the Colliers battled back for the remainder of the contest with a wholehearted display and in the end deserved to take a share of the spoils back home with them.

Bradford showed what they are all about – and are top of the pile for a reason. ‘The Green Army’ went into the clash unbeaten in their first ten league games with five wins and five draws and from the first whistle oozed with confidence.

Nine minutes into the contest, the hosts broke the deadlock with an unbelievable strike from Joe Ackroyd. Following a build up down the left, the midfielder chested the ball down then struck a right foot volley from 25 yards which went in off the far post with ‘keeper Tyler Jones a spectator.

On the quarter hour, things got worse for Nick Gray’s side when the home outfit doubled their lead.

They cut Ashington open with an intricate passing move down the right and when the ball was played into Kareem Hassan-Smith, the winger rifled it into the far corner wide of Jones.

In truth, apart from it being a nightmare start, it looked as if it was going to be a long night for the Wansbeck side – but a change of formation and a goal midway through the period changed all that.

Ashington forced a corner on the left and when Liam Noble floated the ball over, Scott Lowery – ghosting in at the far post – headed home with a towering header.

Bradford were stunned but a few minutes later, Hassan-Smith cut inside a couple of defenders and his right footer was pushed out by Jones.

Then in the 34th minute, a free-kick from just outside the box by Marcus Carver clipped the top of the crossbar and went over.

Ashington were giving as good as they got and five minutes before the interval, Craig Spooner’s through ball for Ryan Wombwell just had too much pace on it with ‘keeper Jack Hall quickly off his line to intervene.

The second half was a rip-roaring affair, played at a ferocious pace but with chances at a premium – and at the final whistle, Bradford knew they had been in a game against an Ashington side whose energy levels went through the roof.

The only clear opening for the Colliers came five minutes before the 90 when Noble ran through from midfield but his effort lacked power and was easily taken by Hall.

Before that, Ashington stopper Jones had pulled off one of the saves of the season. Carver met a left wing cross from Charlie Winfield and directed a header which had goal written all over it until Jones spectacularly pushed it over.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington broke their duck for the season when they chalked up their first win against Ossett United on Saturday.

What’s more, the Colliers deservedly extended their short but unbeaten run at the Ingfield Stadium to three game games in a contest which was played in incessant rain throughout.

Josh Gilchrist and Liam Henderson scored the goals for Nick Gray’s side but their was so much more to admire from a performance which was brimful of endeavour.

The Wansbeck side went into the game on the bottom of the table but they were boosted by an impressive second half showing – albeit in a 3-2 home defeat – against Matlock Town in midweek.

Boss Gray had emphasised that they had to replicate the same type of performance – and the players duly obliged.

Chances were few and far between in a first half which included a lot of huff and puff and it was ten minutes before the first effort at goal arrived – courtesy of Craig Spooner whose left foot effort was held just inside the post by ‘keeper Aleksandar Petrovic.

It was a full half hour before the hosts threatened when Jack Crook hit the side netting after cutting inside from left to right.

Rory Powell had a header clutched by Petrovic then at the other end, Samuel Pashley blasted over from the edge of the area.

Ashington had enjoyed more possession but five minutes before the break, it was Tyler Jones who kept the scoreline blank when the stopper pushed a shot from Alfie Proctor aside.

And the save proved pivotal as two minutes later, the visitors went ahead through Gilchrist.

Spooner provided a cross from the left into the area where Gilchrist’s excellent header found the far corner.

Second half, although the Colliers kicked down the slope, the driving rain was directly in their faces.

Little materialised in the way of goalmouth action until on the hour when the Wansbeck outfit forced a corner.

The ball fell to Harry Powell whose sweetly struck effort was goalbound until it hit Karl Ross and lobbed up for Petrovic to claim with ease.

Just past the half way mark, Gray introduced Liam Henderson – and it proved to be an inspired substitution as within three minutes, the striker doubled Ashington’s lead.

Gilchrist swung the ball into the danger zone from the left and an ice-cool Henderson side footed it wide of Petrovic and into the net.

Late on, Henderson came close with a right footer which flew narrowly wide before Ossett served notice that even with time running out, the game was not over.

A snapshot from Proctor hit the base of the post and went wide then in the 89th minute, Crook was given space to curl a superb left footer from 25 yards wide of the despairing dive of Jones and inside the corner of the net.

With five minutes of time added on, the goal set up for a nervy finish – but there were no further scares for the Colliers who picked up three precious points on the road.

Ashington now prepare for two home games in the space of five days which start with Tuesday night’s clash against Hallam (7.45pm kick-off).