Belle View Stadium

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 27th 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).

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Shildon vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett  |  Photo Gallery: Ian Brodie

Ashington went out of the Emirates FA Cup with a whimper on Saturday against Shildon in their extra preliminary round tie which was played at Consett’s Belle View Stadium.

Talk about disappointment! Although Shildon edged ahead midway through the first period, the half itself was a low-key affair with little separating the two sides in a footballing sense.

However, as the Colliers continued to huff and puff after the interval, it was full steam ahead for the Railwaymen who were the better outfit and were worthy of their success on the day.

Manager Nick Gray handed debuts to four players – goalkeeper Matty Alexander, Andrew Anderson, Harry Powell and Jake Orrell – with Jay Hornsby slotting in at full back on his return to the club.

On the bench were four other newcomers – Michael Annag-Colquhoun, Sam Davison, Rory Powell and goalkeeper Josef Herdman.

The game got underway in bright sunshine, and it was 11 minutes before the first shot of the match came with Anderson shanking a right footer well wide.

Minutes later, Shildon – who have suffered the heartache of missing out on promotion to the Northern Premier League twice in as many seasons after falling at the play off stage – came much closer when a cross from the right by Ashton Houlahan was headed back and Andrei-Vasile Ardelean’s effort came back off the crossbar.

However, home skipper Jon Weirs made no mistake as he put his side in front with a crisp left foot finish from 20 yards.

A turning point in the contest came five minutes later. Ryan Wombwell’s through ball found Jake Orrell but his shot rolled agonisingly the wrong side of the far post.

Then with half time approaching, Weirs beat the offside trap but after advancing, his effort was superbly blocked by the advancing Alexander.

Ten minutes after the break, a drive from Benjamin Reay was pushed around by Alexander before Shildon effectively wrapped the game up with two goals in four minutes.

The first came in the 69th minute following an in-swinging corner on the right which found Ardelean, and he lashed the ball home at the far post.

The second resulted when Luke Spalding picked up possession just inside the Ashington half. His pace saw him surge forward leaving defenders in his wake before firing wide of Alexander from the edge of the area.

And the picture could have got even worse for the Wansbeck side as in the 80th minute, a free kick from 25 yards by Ciaran Banks thudded against the bar and rebounded to safety.

The game had been a hard watch for Ashington supporters but two minutes before the 90, their side netted a consolation goal.

Ben Sampson was upended just inside the box and after referee Michael Moore had pointed to the spot, Craig Spooner stepped up and struck a firm penalty past ‘keeper Matthew Wheeler.

02 August 2025 - Shildon AFC V. Ashington AFC (Emirates FA Cup)

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Consett vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington bridged an eight year gap on Saturday when they edged out Consett by the odd goal in five with Connor Thomson bagging a late winner.

The venue has never been a happy hunting ground for the Colliers although in more recent times, the two outfits have contested exciting battles – like the 4-4 draw two seasons ago.

Paul Van-Zandvliet gave the Wansbeck side a dream start with a goal inside the first minute before Dan Capewell equalised on the stroke of half time.

With 20 minutes remaining, Charlie Exley came off the bench to restore Ashington’s lead but shortly afterwards Capewell was on hand to level for a second time – before Thomson struck what proved to be the clincher.

Central defender Si Jakab was ruled out with illness and there was a surprise when Nathan Buddle – who has been sidelined for the past two and a half months whilst recovering from two slipped discs – was named in the starting line up.

The Wansbeck side also scaled new heights on Saturday as they completely took control of the first 45 minutes and bossed possession – something which they had not done before at the Belle View Stadium.

The Colliers got off to the best possible start by taking the lead after only 24 seconds.

A quick exchange of passes between Wilson Kneeshaw and Thomson released the former down the right. He cut inside and when his shot was parried across by ‘keeper James Anderson, Van-Zandvliet pounced to slot home the rebound left footed from six yards.

On the quarter hour, Van-Zandvliet had a shot from the edge of the area turned around by Anderson before Consett had their first sniff when Wil Shaw dragged a right footer wide.

The best move of the period came in the 36th minute and ended with a gilt edged opportunity for the visitors. Thomson pulled the ball back but Van-Zandvliet struck his effort well off target.

Ashington ‘keeper Karl Dryden made a brilliant save tipping a Calvin Smith thunderbolt over the bar but in the dying seconds of the half, Dryden pushed the ball out and it fell straight at the feet of Capewell who forced it home.

There was a quiet start to the second half until Thomson had a shot blocked.

On the 65 minutes mark, Ashington manager Ian Skinner made a double change introducing Cam Gascoigne and Charlie Exley.

Within seconds, Gascoigne had an effort held by Anderson then the two substitutes combined with stunning effect with 20 minutes of the 90 remaining.

Buddle headed the ball into the box, Gascoigne laid it off and Exley – playing against his former club – produced a venomous low finish.

However Ashington’s joy was short-lived as within a minute, Consett were level.

They had posed a threat from set plays and corners and following a flag kick on the left, Capewell added his second of the afternoon from close range.

Incredibly, Ben Ramsey was not far away with a 25 yarder before Dryden pulled off excellent saves from substitute Zak Atkinson and Jake Orrell.

At the other end, Thomson linked with Craig Spooner whose cross saw Kneeshaw just fail to connect in front of goal.

But in the 85th minute, Ashington got the winner.

Substitute Darren Lough passed to Thomson and the striker unleashed a power drive from 18 yards which took a deflection to sail over Anderson and dip just under the crossbar.

However, a game which had started in dramatic fashion almost had a late twist as in the second minute of stoppage time Capewell missed out on a chance to complete his hat-trick as he headed just wide.

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Consett vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Dean Briggs surely scored Ashington’s ‘goal of the season’ in an eight goal thriller against Consett at Belle Vue – with an outrageous strike seconds before the half time whistle.

Two nil ahead just past the quarter hour mark and 4-2 up early in the second period, the Colliers eventually had to settle for a share of the spoils. Over the 90 minutes it was probably the right outcome – but it was Briggs who provided the main talking point of a game which was littered with chances throughout.

His moment to savour arrived in the third minute of time added on for stoppages when just inside the Consett half, he looked up, spotted home ‘keeper Kyle Hayes off his line and promptly clipped the ball over the stopper and into the net.

That goal saw Briggs’s side take a 3-2 lead at half time – and Consett must be pleased that they haven’t got to face the midfielder turned striker any more this season.

Briggs netted twice in midweek – his second which provided the knockout punch – as Ashington won an epic semi final clash against Consett in the Ebac Northern League Division One Cup and it was Briggs who the Steelmen found too hot to handle on a warm sunny afternoon, in Saturday’s encounter.

The teams have served up plenty of thrills and spills in their three meetings this term with a 3-3 draw at Woodhorn Lane followed by Ashington’s 4-3 cup semi final win and this exciting eight goal feast.

And literally both sides could have struck up double figures on Saturday. After only two minutes, Consett went close with Colin Larkin’s glancing header going just wide then an effort by Scott Heslop shaved the post. Seconds later, an almighty scramble took place inside the Ashington box, including a save from ‘keeper Adam McHugh before the ball was eventually cleared.

However, Ashington’s response was to hit Consett with two goals in three minutes.

The first arrived when Briggs capitalised on hesitancy in the home rearguard to chip the ball over the advancing Hayes then Lewis Suddick blasted home from seven yards after Jordan Summerly’s shot had been blocked by the home ‘keeper.

But three minutes later, Heslop headed in at the far post to reduce the arrears then ex Collier Pearson levelled matters in the 33rd taking the ball down and rifling a left footer past McHugh.

Carl Lawson went close at one end then Briggs escaped his marker down the left and his shot saw Hayes get the slightest of touches to deflect it past the upright.

Lewis Green smacked a shot against the bar before that sublime goal from Briggs arrived seconds from half time.

Seven minutes into the second period, Ashington went into a 4-2 lead with a brilliantly worked goal. Ben Sampson’s defence splitting pass found the overlapping Doyle in the area and when Hayes went to close Doyle down, the full back squared the ball for Suddick to hammer into an empty net.

Both ‘keepers made saves before Briggs was through in the 65th minute but his side footed effort rolled agonisingly wide of Hayes’s right hand post.

Minutes later, a free kick by Jake Orrell smacked against the bar and Green’s shot from the rebound was turned around by McHugh.

However in the 70th minute following a throw in on the left, Calvin Smith got the final touch to make it 3-4.

Paul Robinson flashed a drive just over then Green weaved in and out before his effort was held by McHugh.

Six minutes from time, Orrell equalised for the home side with an excellent right footed free kick from 25 yards and the non stop action continued to the final whistle.

In the 87th minute, Ashington had Curtis Coppen sent to the sin bin by referee Helen Conley then in the closing stages, Hayes denied substitute Jordan Lashley and Sampson before Doyle rifled just wide then a break by Lashley saw him find the unmarked Spooner but he trod on the ball at the vital time and the chance evaporated.

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Consett vs Ashington

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Consett vs Ashington

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Consett vs Ashington

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