By Brian Bennett

It was another improved performance; another where they dominated possession but ultimately another where Ashington fell to a narrow defeat against Brighouse at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium on Saturday.

Jack Dando’s goal ten minutes before half time was enough for the West Yorkshire side to take all three points from this Northern Premier League East Division match and send the Colliers to a fifth consecutive reverse.

Once again it was a case of what might have been for the Wansbeck outfit who were the better side throughout the contest but lacked any punch in the final third.

However a huge turning point arrived as early as the fourth minute when Michael Ndiweni failed to convert from a penalty.

The Colliers were awarded the spot kick when Jay Errington was pulled down in the area but Ndiweni’s weakly struck effort was palmed away for a corner by home ‘keeper Kyle Trenerry.

The only threat from Brighouse came minutes later when Joshua Waldram found Romario Dunne but the strikers shot from the right was easily taken by ‘keeper Dan Staples.

Ashington – with Harrison Clark impressing on his full debut – had the upper hand in the opening half hour yet were unable to find a way through a stubborn home rearguard – then they were hit by a goal in the 36th minute which came against the run of play.

Following a short worked corner on the right the ball fell to Dando who found the net past Staples from eight yards.

There was an immediate switch in momentum for the final ten minutes of the period as the home side enjoyed having a lot of the ball and it was a similar pattern at the start of the second period with Ashington forced to withstand a lot of pressure.

On the one occasion when the visitors ventured into their opponents half, a fizzing drive from Charlie Exley went narrowly wide.

In the 72nd minute, Dunne was denied by Staples but it was the Colliers who looked to force the game in the final 20 minutes.

Craig Spooner was close with a long range free kick then substitute Matty Slocombe had an effort deflected over for a corner.

In stoppage time, Slocombe was again denied then Ben Williams clipped the ball to the near post which was taken by Trenerry.

The final chance of the game fell to sub Jack Camarda but he blazed the ball over the bar.