By Brian Bennett

The unbeaten run continues in more ways than one – but two goals in the final stages by Stocksbridge substitute Josiah Dyer left Ashington to reflect on what might have been at Bracken Moor on Saturday.

After the Colliers’ 1-1 result against Morpeth Town in midweek which opened their NPL programme, many will say that a point on the road is always welcome – only the Wansbeck side should have returned home – and deservedly so – with all three.
The reason why they didn’t could be attributed to a double dose of misfortune.
With ten minutes of the contest remaining, they were looking so comfortable. Then a through ball down the middle saw ‘keeper Matty Alexander’s attempted clearance rebound off sub Thomas Marshall – who was standing at close quarters – straight to Dyer who lobbed first time just inside the upright.
However worse was to follow in the last minute of the 90 after the referee awarded a controversial penalty to the Steels.
A clearance from ‘keeper and skipper Ben Townsend down the centre was glanced on and contested between Alexander and Marshall. The latter got to the ball first and clipped his shot – which went wide – as the two players collided. However the match official blew for a spot kick and Dyer blasted into the corner to level.
In the opening stages of the contest, Stocksbridge pushed hard and had half chances before Romario Dunne went extremely close with a right footer and Tomas Poole hastily fired over.
However it was the visitors who took the lead on the half hour with a wonder strike from Benji Shodeinde.

The goal materialised after good build up play with Ryan Wombwell finding Shodeinde on the left flank. The striker cut inside then from inside the box, curled a delightful right footer wide of Townsend and into the corner.
Nine minutes after the interval, the Wansbeck outfit doubled their lead. They forced a flag kick and Josh Gilchrist’s in-swinger curled directly inside the far post.

In the 70th minute, the Colliers – who had never lost in three previous visits to Bracken Moor – had a chance to make it three with a counter attack. Tom McIntyre’s delicate flick out wide found Shodeinde but after advancing, his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Ashington’s defence which had been under pressure in the first half, snuffed out the danger after the break and Marc Ellison’s side appeared to be heading for their first win of the campaign – until the clock reached the 80 minutes mark and Dyer struck twice.

By Brian Bennett

It was described by some – in particular home supporters – that Ashington produced a smash and grab raid on Saturday when they pulled off a 1-0 victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels at Bracken Moor Stadium.

The Colliers held onto a fourth minute goal by Ben Williams then the defender was a key member at the heart of the defence as the Wansbeck side were forced to dig deep and work tirelessly before ensuring that they came back with three precious points.

An upsurge in form by the Woodhorn Lane based outfit – whose current run includes only one defeat from their last seven matches – has also brought a return of confidence.

Although the closing stages were particularly nailbiting – and the Steels will quite rightly say they dominated possession and had numerous shots and corners – Ashington ‘keeper Dan Staples was not forced to make a diving save.

Yet inside the opening 30 seconds, the Colliers could have been behind – had it not been for a timely intervention from central defenders Scott Lowery and Williams.

Staples dropped a cross from the right and when the ball fell to Jack Dolman he must have thought he was a certain scorer until Lowery and Williams combined to make a brilliant block from point blank range.

Ashington responded with Ryan Donaldson, Cieran Jackson and skipper Karl Ross linking well to set up Josh Gilchrist but his shot was charged down.

However in the fourth minute, Nick Gray’s side took the lead from a set piece. They forced a corner on the left and when Gilchrist floated the ball to the far post, Lowery headed it back into the danger zone for Williams, who scored his first goal of the season as he prodded it into the back of the net.

On the quarter hour, Ashington’s press up front saw them hunt the ball down but when it was played wide to Gilchrist, he blazed over the bar.

The Colliers had to ride the storm as first Oliwier Grzelak had a shot blocked then Alex O’Connor directed a tame effort straight at Staples before the stopper saved with his legs to deny Jack Tinker.

Ashington had a chance when Andrew Cartwright pumped a free kick into the box which was headed back by Lowery but Gary Ormston fired off target.

Early in the second half, the ball struck the top of the Ashington bar from a corner and Elliot Owen headed wide before a snapshot from 20 yards by Tinker went straight down Staples’ throat.

Ashington continued to hang on as the minutes ticked by with players putting their bodies on the line – and credit must go to the visitors after an excellent display of defensive resilience.

By Brian Bennett

Mason Hardy came off the bench to fire Ashington to their first league victory of the season against Stocksbridge Park Steels at the Eco Power Stadium on Saturday.

Charlie Exley had opened the scoring for the Colliers early in the contest but ten minutes later, Luke Rawson equalised from the penalty spot. Just before the hour mark, Hardy struck what proved to be the decisive goal which saw the Wansbeck side return home with all three points.

Whilst the super sub took the plaudits, Ashington will look back on an opening quarter hour where they could have cruised into a commanding lead.

They got the opener in the eighth minute when Kyle Errington found Oli Thompson down the right. The newcomer swung the ball across to the far post where it was met perfectly by Exley who squeezed a firm header between ‘keeper Henry Hampshaw and the post.

Two minutes later a delightful ball over the top of the home defence by Craig Spooner put Wilson Kneeshaw clean through down the middle with only Hampshaw to beat but the striker was thwarted by the stopper who blocked his effort.

Then Exley’s pass put Kneeshaw in the clear down the left but on this occasion, the forward clipped his shot around Hampshaw but wide of the far post.

Ashington – and Kneeshaw – were to rue those golden opportunities as the home side levelled in the 17^th minute – from the spot.

Ify Ofoegbu raided down the left and when he advanced into the area, was sent sprawling by a tackle from Nathan Buddle with Rawson sending ‘keeper Karl Dryden the wrong way from the resultant penalty.

Three minutes later, Thompson was denied what would have been a superlative goal on his debut.

After picking the ball up from just outside his own penalty area, he made a surging run deep into the Stocksbridge half, cut across from left to right then unleashed a stinging effort which was fisted away to safety by Hampshaw.

The incident deservedly drew warm applause from the crowd in appreciation for both the run by Thompson and the save by Hampshaw.

Stocksbridge got stronger as the half wore on and on the half hour, Ofoegbu took the ball past the advancing Dryden but shot across the face of the goal then the stopper repelled a drive from Jack Tinker.

The sun came out for the start of the second period – and the visiting rearguard had to withstand a bit of heat from the home side.

In the 49^th minute, Watson was through on the left and placed his shot wide of Dryden only to see the ball strike the inside of the post then the striker went past the ‘keeper on the right hand side of the box but lifted his shot over the bar from a tight angle.

Ashington had been sloppy from the resumption but in the 58^th minute – and against the run of play – they regained the lead with an excellent strike by Hardy.

Spooner provided the assist for the youngster who nonchalantly clipped the ball with the outside of his left foot wide of the advancing Hampshaw and just inside the post.

Ben Sampson had a stinging goalbound effort deflected for a corner then at the other end, Watson saw a low drive pushed away by Dryden.

In the closing stages Dryden held a shot on the turn by Rawson and twice in stoppage time, raids down the left by the home side were halted by superb tackles from Kyle Errington and Hardy.