By Brian Bennett
They did it the hard way – but Ashington started the season proper with an excellent 4-2 win against Shildon in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup.
The Wansbeck side trailed at the interval to a goal from Shildon’s long serving striker Billy Greulich-Smith before a second half transformation saw the Colliers turn on the style.
In a storming display, Ashington’s goals came from Wilson Kneeshaw (2), Cyril Giraud and Jon Shaw.
The upshot is that with Bishop Auckland beating their local rivals West Auckland, the Wansbeck outfit will now host Bishops on Saturday August 17 – and face them twice in the space of five days as the teams clash earlier in the week in their Northern Premier League East Division fixture.
Conditions were perfect at Dean Street on a sunny but humid day and with no wind – and within seconds of kick-off, the Colliers could have put their stamp on proceedings.
Andrew Cartwright played a ball down the right flank which saw Cam Gascoigne advance into a good position but when he pulled the ball back, his cross was intercepted by a home defender.
Just past the quarter hour mark, a great ball played over the top of the Shildon back four by Paddy Almond released Craig Spooner with only home ‘keeper Shaun Newbrook to beat but his shot was blocked by the stopper.
In the 20th minute, Shildon broke the deadlock. Leighton Harris produced some good work as he charged through the middle from his own half and when the ball found Greulich-Smith, his initial effort was parried by ‘keeper Dan Staples but he followed up to net the rebound.
With half time approaching, Paul Van-Zandvliet found Gascoigne who dragged a right footer wide of the far post.
For the start of the second period, Ashington made two changes with Cyril Giraud and Eddie Thomas replacing Van-Zandvliet and Spooner.
Chances had been at a premium in the first half – but within a minute of the resumption, a turning point arrived.
Greulich-Smith released Andrei-Vasile Ardelean in the clear but the striker fired his shot across goal and wide with Staples looking on.
However on the hour, Ashington stunned the hosts with two goals in as many minutes.
The first saw Kneeshaw latch onto a through pass and after taking the ball around the advancing Newbrook, he slotted home the equaliser.
Ashington supporters had barely finished celebrating when Giraud put them in front. He ran from the half way line before firing into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.
The visitors had well and truly lit the touch paper and after Kneeshaw had smashed a half volley into the side netting, substitute Jay Errington put the forward clean through but he was thwarted by Newbrook.
The ‘keeper came to Shildon’s rescue seconds later as he parried from Errington who had been set up by Giraud and the procession of chances continued as from a flick on by Errington, Kneeshaw drove the ball across the face of the goal.
However two quickfire strikes put the Colliers firmly in control.
The first came in the 75th minute as Kneeshaw beat the offside trap and finished superbly wide of Newbrook.
Debutant Jon Shaw then got in on the scoring act with a sublime effort as he moved across the park from right to left before he chipped left footed over the advancing Newbrook with the ball nestling inside the corner of the net.
In the closing stages, Shildon – who had hit the bar – reduced the arrears when Ardelean forced the ball home and in stoppage time following a run down the right by Luke Spalding, Staples bravely smothered the ball in the nick of time ahead of Ardelean.
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