Season: 2025-26

Consett vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington went down to a crushing 4-0 defeat against Consett at the Belle View Stadium on Friday evening.

It was certainly a night to forget for the Colliers who never laid a glove on their hosts in the first period and who were fortunate to only be three goals behind at the interval.

Nick Gray’s side did improve after the break but the damage had already been done and the Steelmen rubbed salt into already sore wounds when they added a fourth with the last kick of the match.

The only plus point was the performance of goalkeeper Tyler Jones. The youngster, on loan from Newcastle United, spared his side’s blushes with an inspirational display between the posts otherwise Ashington would have been on the wrong end of a much heavier defeat.

Although defeated 3-1 in their last match at home to Matlock Town, Consett had previously strung a few wins together and from the first whistle, they looked by far a sharper, cohesive and confident outfit.

After piling on the pressure, it came as no surprise when they took the lead in the tenth minute.

By then they could and should have already been three goals to the good. Donny Holdsworth had a shot held by Jones; the Ashington defence made a desperate clearance before the stopper was in action again minutes later palming the ball away to thwart Isaac Walker.

However Walker was not to be denied a second time – even though Jones did his utmost to keep the ball out.

The custodian flung himself to his right to push the ball away after a strike by home skipper Marc Costello then when the ball was recycled, Matty Todd’s effort smacked against the foot of the post. It appeared Ashington had escaped but Walker kept his cool and blasted home.

It was all hands to the pump for the Colliers who struggled to get out of their own half but who also contributed to their own downfall.

They repeatedly caused their own problems by giving the ball away and midway in the half, they were punished after doing just that.

Again Jones kept out a first effort before Brendon Daniels fired the ball into the far corner.

It wasn’t until the 27^th minute when Ashington finally made inroads down the right but skipper Karl Ross’s cross was intercepted at the near post.

Back came Consett and two minutes before the break, they added a third with a rasping right foot drive from Todd.

Ten minutes after the break, Josh Gilchrist struck the ball wide from a Craig Spooner cross then a header by Spooner was turned aside by home ‘keeper Harry Moss.

However right at the death, Walker added his second and Consett’s fourth shooting home after Consett had launched a free-kick into the area.

Whilst the goal was harsh on an Ashington side which had performed better in the second period, the Colliers must put this defeat behind them ahead of Tuesday night’s home NPL clash against Matlock Town (7.45pm kick-off).

4 vs 0

Ashington vs Blyth Town

By Brian Bennett

The first ever derby clash between these two sides in the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division ended in a stalemate after a dour and drab encounter at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

However, the visitors will be the happier of the outfits to share the spoils after having to play all but five minutes of the second half with ten men after Marcus Giles was sent off for a second yellow card by referee Alex Clark.

For home supporters, the game was an improvement on Ashington’s 1-1 draw against Blyth Spartans on Bank Holiday Monday, even if it came nowhere near to reaching any great heights.

In the fourth minute, skipper Joe Gibson flicked the ball over the bar after a free-kick was played into the danger zone by Cam Gascoigne who was one of three ex Colliers in their starting line up.

But there was a quick response by Ashington as barely sixty seconds later, a diagonal ball from right to left from Ryan Wombwell found Craig Spooner and when he passed inside to Jake Orrell, the midfielder’s effort from 25 yards was held by ‘keeper Neil De Jesus.

It was Orrell who also drove narrowly wide before Adam Johnson whipped the ball across the face of the Ashington goal.

However, just past the quarter hour mark, the Colliers ought to have gone ahead after they opened up the Blyth defence.

Josh Gilchrist found Orrell but when he pulled the ball across, Liam Henderson side footed wide with the goal at his mercy.

De Jesus collected a shot from Spooner then when play switched, Rory Powell got ahead of Johnson to make a vital headed interception from a right wing cross.

Blyth had made the better start then Ashington had a spell of their own until the game levelled out but remained goal-less at half time.

Five minutes into the second half, the visitors were reduced in number.

Marcus Giles, who had been booked in the first period for dissent, fouled Jay Hornsby near the touchline and was shown a second yellow card followed by a red after the referee had consulted his assistant.

Within minutes Blyth broke quickly from an Ashington corner. Gascoigne played the ball to Johnson but his effort was directed straight at ‘keeper Tyler Jones.

Gilchrist had a shot which was turned around for a corner by De Jesus and from the flag kick, Ryan Wombwell’s header was cleared off the line.

A misplaced clearance by De Jesus fell to Spooner but his half volley was gratefully saved by the ‘keeper.

Ashington could not break down a resolute Blyth defence and after Spooner had curled the ball just wide, the game drifted into a tame affair with referee Clark brandishing more yellow cards than chances created.

However there was almost a late twist in the tale as the ten men staged a late burst.

In the third minute of stoppage time Noah Millington fired over then Sam Fishburn was through but was denied by Jones.

Before the start of the game, players, officials and supporters celebrated the life of lifelong Ashington supporter Craig Dickinson who tragically passed away recently, with a minutes applause. On the 44th minutes of the game, a further applause was heard around the ground started by Craig’s son Alfie to once again, celebrate the 44 years Craig spent with his family and friends. A bucket collection in aid of Andys Man Club was also held which raised £273.07 and will be rounded up to £300.00 by the club.

0 vs 0

Blyth Spartans vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

A goal in stoppage time by Sam Davison salvaged a point for Ashington against Blyth Spartans on Bank Holiday Monday.

The substitute volleyed the ball home with aplomb from six yards in the eighth minute of time added on to ensure that this totally uninspiring derby clash finished all square.

It had began to look as if Patrick McClafferty’s goal just before the hour mark was going to be the winner – until Davison struck.

To be honest, a draw was a fair result on what was a glorious afternoon at Croft Park.

Indeed, the weather was the most enjoyable feature for a super crowd of 1227 as these two sides battled out a drab opening 45 minutes which was described by many as being the worst they had witnessed for a long time.

Their frustrations were backed up by the fact that after the expected early sparring, 27 minutes had elapsed before the first chance arrived.

That came about when Blyth’s Charlie Wood surged through but his shot was blocked by ‘keeper Tyler Jones.

Ashington eventually responded ten minutes later when Andrew Anderson rolled the ball square for Ben Sampson but the full back fired over from 20 yards.

Shortly before the break, Benjamin Shodeinde chased a through ball but Jones got there first to clear then Arran Wearmouth had a left footer held by the stopper.

All the talk during the interval was would the game improve. Unfortunately whilst it didn’t get any worse, it only marginally got better.

In the 52^nd minute, the Colliers put together the best move of the match when a ball from Jake Orrell found Liam Henderson but his shot was taken by ‘keeper Callum Dobson.

Josh Gilchrist cut inside and fired wide of Dobson’s right hand post before an error in the 59^th minute by Harry Powell led to Spartans taking the lead.

Inside his own penalty area, the young defender tried to beat McClafferty but he was dispossessed by the Blyth full back who surged forward and slipped the ball past Jones.

Sampson had a header clutched by Dobson then substitute Jesse Gomez had an effort shovelled away by Jones.

With two minutes of the 90 remaining, Spooner took a free-kick from the left which got a deflection and smacked against the base of the post and when Dobson pushed out a shot from Henderson it looked as if Spartans were going to hold on for all three points.

But Ashington put the ball into the box again and a header from substitute Rory Powell fell to Davison who levelled the scores.

Out of context with the entire game, both sides fashioned a chance apiece in the final minute.

Sub Michael Annang-Colquhoun headed a cross by Jay Hornsby at Dobson then when play switched, Blyth sub and former Ashington midfielder Danny Anderson clipped the ball wide of the far post.

Blyth Spartans: Dobson, McClafferty, Jacob Wilson, Chapman, Vaulks, Wood, Shodeinde, Richardson (Anderson 78 minutes), Wearmouth (Gomez 61 minutes), Downey (Slocombe 70 minutes), Jack Wilson. Subs not used: Dobinson, Simpson.

1 vs 1

Tyler Jones

Garforth Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington exited the Isuzu FA Trophy at the preliminary round stage on Saturday when they went down 3-0 against Garforth Town at the Bannister Prentice Stadium.

The scoreline suggests a comfortable win for ‘The Miners’ but it was far from the case.

The Wansbeck side – who trailed to goals from Mutty Al-Jahadhmy and Rinor Ejupi – were in the game throughout and when substitute Josh Cairns missed a glaring opportunity with quarter of an hour remaining, it was a huge turning point.

Substitute George Harrison then rubbed salt into sore wounds when he scored a third for the home side in the closing seconds.

Following the tragic loss earlier in the week of lifelong Colliers fan Craig Dickinson, Ashington were brilliantly supported on the day. Some of Craig’s family joined with other supporters to generate non-stop chanting from the stand as one of his brothers had asked: ‘let’s make some noise for Craig.’ Ahead of the game, a minutes applause was also held in tribute to Craig.

It was Al-Jahadhmy – making his home debut – who tormented and teased the Colliers all afternoon. He had the first chance in the fifth minute but got no power behind his shot and the ball was cleared.

Three minutes later, Andrew Anderson found Ben Sampson with a superb cross field pass but after cutting inside, the defender curled a right footer from the edge of the box narrowly over the bar.

Ashington had signed goalkeeper Tyler Jones from Newcastle United under-18’s on a short term deal after regular stopper Matty Alexander and Josef Herdman had picked up freak injuries and the debutant distinguished himself in the 19th minute when he pushed a 30 yarder around at the last second to deny Joe Allerton.

However from the resulting corner, the ball pinged around in the area until it fell into the path of Al-Jahadhmy who fired home from six yards.

Five minutes later, Sampson hooked back a deep corner and Ryan Wombwell’s header was cleared away from virtually on the line by Charlie Marshall.

Matt Savage went close at one end then when play switched, home ‘keeper Harry Flatters made a vital interception with Sam Davison poised to side foot in the equaliser then following another cross, Harry Viggars headed off the line.

Marshall volleyed just over then Jones tipped over from Nash Connolly.

However on the hour Ashington – for whom Harry Powell was outstanding – went two-nil down after another worldie.

Sampson headed the ball infield but it fell to Rinor Ejupi who from 25 yards struck a sweet half volley which flew past the despairing hands of Jones and inside the top corner of the net.

Game over? It certainly was not as in the 73rd minute, Ashington got in behind the Garforth defence but when Josh GIlchrist pulled the ball back, Cairns somehow blazed over.

Even in the latter stages, Flatters fumbled a free-kick from Anderson but Allerton cleared the ball off the line.

In the 90th minute, Davison had a header taken by Flatters following a cross by Sampson then in the third minute of time added on, two substitutes combined with Harry Colville sliding the ball across for Harrison to fire home.

3 vs 0

Dunston vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett | Photos: Ian Brodie

Ashington suffered their second league defeat in three matches on Tuesday night when a goal in each half from Michael Pearson and Harvey Neary sealed a 2-0 win for Dunston.

The result saw Dunston go top of the East Division table in the Pitching In Northern Premier League on a night where the Colliers came away empty handed despite staging a late rally.

Craig Spooner had a 90^th minute penalty saved by home stopper Dan Lowson who also denied a close range effort from Ryan Wombwell.

In the first half, there was little in the way of goalmouth action to entertain a crowd of 368 but the 13^th minute proved to be unlucky for the Wansbeck side as they went behind.

A deflection fell to Pearson who with all the time in the World, hammered the ball home inside the far corner from the edge of the box, past the outstretched hands of ‘keeper Matty Alexander.

The only other clear opening came seven minutes later when following a deep free-kick pumped towards the far post, the ball bounced out to Ashington skipper Karl Ross but he skied his effort well wide.

Early doors in the second period, Spooner whipped in a great free-kick from the right which by-passed everyone at the far post.

Midway through the period, it was Neary who doubled Dunston’s lead. He won a 50-50 tackle just inside the Ashington half and after advancing hit a right footer which took a deflection before it looped over Alexander’s head and into the net.

In the 78^th minute, Chris McDonald crossed for substitute Dan Turner but he was denied by Alexander who made a fine block.

Ashington had played better in the second half and in the closing stages, they desperately tried to get back into the contest.

After Sam Davison had fired into the side netting, the substitute was brought down in the area by Jude Swailes but Spooner’s penalty was pushed away to his right by Lowson.

Then in stoppage time, Wombwell met a corner from the left but somehow he was thwarted by Lowson.

2 vs 0

Josh Cairns

Ashington vs Bishop Auckland

By Brian Bennett

Nick Gray said in one of his postmatch interviews last season that in football you don’t always get what you deserve.

On Tuesday night, Gray’s Ashington outfit bossed their first home league game of the new season against Bishop Auckland. They missed gilt edged chances, struck the woodwork on three occasions and even trailed early in the contest.

And as the match entered four minutes of stoppage time in the second half, it looked as if they were heading for a second consecutive defeat inside four days after Saturday’s 2-0 reverse at Bridlington Town.

But with one last throw of the dice, Craig Spooner whipped a superb free-kick from the right into the danger zone where Harry Powell stabbed the ball in at the far post to salvage a point.

It was the bare minimum the Colliers deserved.

On the night they played some excellent football and in the seventh minute they should have nudged ahead following a free flowing move involving several first time passes on the right. The ball was crossed into the area but from six yards, Spooner’s effort rattled against the crossbar and from the rebound, Karl Ross’s shot was gobbled up by ‘keeper Alfie Gordon.

Ashington continued to dominate the opening exchanges and a corner by Josh Gilchrist went across the face of the goal. However, in the 12^th minute, one piece of slackness saw the Two Blues take the lead when a cross from the right by Mikey Roberts was firmly headed home by Robbie Spence.

Undaunted, Ashington hit back and after Gordon had held a shot from Gilchrist following a Jay Hornsby free-kick, Ben Sampson charged through the middle before he slipped the ball through for Liam Henderson but the striker’s effort came back off the foot of the post.

Midway through the half, an instinctive right footer from Bishop Auckland’s Roberts flashed just wide then Jack Blackford cut inside and fired narrowly off target.

Ashington continued to exert pressure in the second period. Henderson and Gilchrist were not far away with efforts then just past the hour mark, Ryan Wombwell got on the end of a Spooner restart but directed his shot straight into Gordon’s midriff.

Still the home side continued to create chances. A brilliant run down the left flank by Hornsby saw him deliver a great inviting cross into the box but no Ashington player was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Henderson headed wide then from another cross an effort from Sampson was finger-tipped onto the bar by Gordon.

When Sampson cut inside and blazed over with 88 minutes gone, it appeared it was going to be one of those nights.

That was until the third minute of time added on when Powell equalised following a quality ball in from Spooner.

1 vs 1

Bridlington Town AFC vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett | Photo:

Two sumptuous strikes in the second half from Ahmed Salam sent Ashington spiralling to 2-0 defeat in their opening game in the Pitching In Northern Premier League clash against Bridlington Town on Saturday.

With three quarters of the game gone and with little in the way of goalmouth action, Salam’s double came inside a ten minutes spell.
For his first, Casey Stewart raided down the left flank and when he cut the ball back, Salam struck a first time effort from 20 yards wide of ‘keeper Matty Alexander and into the net via the post.

Salam’s second came in the 77th minute from a similar distance was an even better finish. Ashington allowed the number eleven time and space to cut inside before he curled the ball inside the far corner with Alexander rooted to the spot.

The first half was nothing more than a dour battle in the sunshine. In the 11th minute, Josh Gilchrist played a great ball into the danger zone from a free-kick but no Ashington player reacted to get on the end of it.

Two minutes later, home skipper Jacob Day was all set to unleash a drive until Andrew Anderson closed him down and made a superb block.
The only other incident of note came midway through when Gilchrist fired over from 22 yards.

Early doors after the break, Gilchrist had an effort blocked by ‘keeper Jonathan Dash and from the rebound, Liam Henderson’s half volley was snuffed out.

Then a cross by Rory Powell found Gilchrist but he directed his header straight at Dash.

Stewart put a ball across the face of the visitors goal then an effort from Salam was deflected for a corner.

Sandwiched in-between Salam’s two strikes, a long diagonal pass from Harry Powell reached Henderson but he lobbed wide at the near post.

That was that in a game where chances were few and far between.