Craik Park

Morpeth Town vs Ashington

 (Morpeth won 4- 3 on penalties)

By Brian Bennett

Ashington suffered penalty heartache on Tuesday night when they bowed out of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup at the semi-final stage against Morpeth Town at Craik Park.

In a match where chances were at a premium, there was high drama in stoppage time with the scores level at 1-1 as both teams netted before the Colliers – who were the better side over the 90 minutes – cruelly lost out 4-3 after the tie went to a penalty shoot-out.

After an early cross from Jordan Summerly was blocked, the Highwaymen took the lead in the eighth minute when a ball played into the area by Will Dowling went through a ruck of players and inside the far post with Ashington ‘keeper Ryan Catterick rooted to the spot.

Both outfits had penalty shouts turned down before in the 23rd minute, the visitors came close to an equaliser.

Following a neat build up the ball fell to skipper Karl Ross whose drive from 25 yards flashed narrowly wide of the upright.

Ashington had enjoyed a lot more possession but in time added on at the end of the half, Rhys Evans fired over for the hosts.

It was midway through the second half before the first semblance of a chance arrived.

After a corner on the right, Craig Spooner found Gary Ormston who lofted the ball towards the top corner but ‘keeper Dan Langley held onto it comfortably.

However, in the 68th minute, Ashington deservedly drew level following a great move down the right.

Josh Gilchrist found Ben Sampson and when the midfielder played the ball to his left, Ross stepped over it for Spooner who swept it right footed inside the corner of the net.

Incredibly as the game entered the final five minutes of the 90, both sides had opportunities.

Hodgson placed a glancing header wide from a right wing cross then at the other end, substitute Harrison Clark weaved inside the box but saw his shot saved by Langley.

Ben Williams made a great block inside his own penalty area – and when play switched, Spooner clipped the ball over from a ball played in by Gilchrist.

After the board went up to indicate a minimum of six minutes to be added on, Morpeth must have thought they had won it when in the 92nd minute, they went 2-1 ahead.

A free kick from 30 yards by Nic Bollado smacked against the bar but when the home side recycled the ball, a cross from the left found Jack Foalle who headed into the far corner.

But there was more action to come as the Colliers equalised two minutes later.

Substitute Paul Robinson delivered a cross into the Morpeth penalty area which Nathan Buddle headed into his own net.

Then came the penalty shoot-out.

Bollado, Hickey and substitute Jeff Henderson all found the target for Morpeth with Leon Gibson-Booth and Hodgson denied by Catterick.

For Ashington, Spooner and Gilchrist were successful from the spot.  Langley saved from Ross and Clark before Williams levelled with the final penalty of the five which took it to sudden death.

Foalle fired Morpeth ahead 4-3 and when Robinson placed his effort over the bar Morpeth booked their place in the final at St James Park where they will meet the winners of the other semi-final tie between Heaton Stannington and Newcastle United U21’s.

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Morpeth Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

A late double by Eddie Thomas secured Ashington a 3-2 victory against Morpeth Town at Craik Park on Tuesday night – but the game was marred by a first half injury to Colliers striker Connor Thomson.

Thomson was stretchered off just past the half hour mark with a knee injury and taken to hospital.

Morpeth had the first opportunity after five minutes when a snap shot from distance by Will Dowling smacked against the foot of the post but three minutes later, Ashington went in front when Wilson Kneeshaw charged into the penalty area and showed great determination before prodding the ball home.

Jordan Hickey headed over a cross from the left by Liam Miller then when play switched to the other end, a flowing Ashington move ended when a right footer by Thomson was held by the home ‘keeper.

In the 27th minute, Morpeth got back on terms after excellent work by Luke James. He weaved into the box and when he pulled the ball back, it was swept into the net by a trialist.

Shortly before the interval, Charlie Exley made a vital clearance inside the six yards box but in the third minute of time added on, the Highwaymen went in front.

On this occasion, Miller was the supplier of a cross from the left which was headed into the far corner by the trialist who notched his second goal of the night.

Early in the second half, there were chances at both ends.

Matty Griggs found himself clear in the inside right position but his effort was blocked by ‘keeper Dan Staples then when Ashington retaliated, Kneeshaw’s shot hit the post.

Just prior to the hour mark, the Morpeth trialist had a chance to compete his hat-trick but was thwarted by Staples before Thomas left his mark on the encounter with a quickfire brace for the Colliers.

In the 70th minute, the substitute was on hand to tuck the ball away neatly following a cross from the right by Jack Camarda and eight minutes later, Thomas scored what proved to be the winner.

Cyril Giroud was the provider of a defence splitting pass which sent Thomas through and he applied a cool confident finish.

Within two minutes, Dowling almost netted an equaliser when his effort from 25 yards whistled wide of the upright with Staples rooted to the spot.

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Morpeth Town vs Ashington

By Brian Bennett

Ashington came away with a deserved 0-0 draw following an impressive showing in this pre season friendly against Morpeth Town at Craik Park on Saturday.

The game was played in incessant rain but it gave the artificial surface a bit of zip and there were good one touch combination moves from both sides during the contest.

In his pre match notes Colliers manager Ian Skinner had said “I’d like to think we’ll go there (to Morpeth) and cause them some problems” – and the boss must have been delighted as his side did just that against an outfit who operate one division higher up the footballing pyramid.

Overall the Woodhorn Lane outfit carved out more chances and they came so close to breaking the deadlock in the first period when Ben Sampson’s drive thudded against the underside of the bar.

The visitors settled immediately and striker Scott Heslop fashioned an opportunity after only 24 seconds when his shot from 20 yards was held by home ‘keeper Dan Lowson.

At the other end Morpeth’s Jack Foalle – who was to be a constant threat – netted in the eighth minute but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Further chances fell Ashington’s way with Damen Mullen going close from distance; Heslop placing a header the wrong side of the post then Craig Spooner’s effort from 22 yards flashing narrowly wide of the post.

Sandwiched in-between Ashington stopper Karl Dryden denied Foalle at the near post before the forward fired over on the half volley.

Ashington’s build up play had been admirable and on the half hour when Sampson unleashed a 25 yarder, only the woodwork prevented them from taking what would have been a deserved lead.

Then shortly before the break the Colliers pieced together another slick move when Karl Ross crossed from the left, Sampson teed the ball up but Dan Maguire saw his right footer whistle past the upright.

Early in the second period, Dryden made a stunning stop as he deflected the ball with his legs for a corner but back came Ashington and after Lowson had pouched a 30 yarder from Sampson, a diagonal ball in by Darren Lough saw Heslop’s strike well blocked by the home custodian.

On the hour, Dryden pushed away from Danny Barlow then from a corner on the left the lively Foalle directed a header straight at the visiting ‘keeper.

The final opportunity fell Ashington’s way in the 83rd minute when Cameron Gascoigne headed just wide following a cross from the left by Jordan Summerly.

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Morpeth Town vs Ashington

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