By Gav Perry
Ashington travelled to Guisborough Town’s KGV Stadium on Tuesday evening looking to continue their unbeaten start in the league, and the fans who were able to make the 120 mile round trip were not disappointed.
Manager Ian Skinner made four changes to his starting XI, including ‘keeper Karl Dryden making his first appearance of the season.
It took around ten minutes for Ashington to fully settle into the game before Dean Briggs then opened the scoring in the eleventh minute. Racing towards the advancing keeper on the edge of the box, Briggs played the ball off the keeper which rebounded passed and into the area, managing to keep the ball in play, he struck a low shot from a tight angle across the goal to the far post.
Just three minutes later it could have been 2-0. After Briggs was fouled just over 20 yards from goal, Max Cowburn stepped up for the resulting free kick. Getting the ball around the wall proved no issue for Max, but Robert Dean had it well covered at the far post.
Guisborough’s best chance of the game came on around 25 minutes, when Ryan McGorrigan fouled James Dillon just outside the box. Dryden made light work of saving the freekick from Callum Martin.
Just before half time a Ryan McGorrigan was unable to make contact with a cross from Dean Briggs and Ashington went into the break with a one goal lead.
Ashington came out for the second half as hungry as they ended the first, and it took just three minutes before they doubled their lead. Briggs stormed down the left wing before playing it across to Robinson who made no mistake with the powerful shot across goal to the far post.
Ashington were dominating possession when a ball played over the top from Danny Anderson was just out of reach of Ryan McGorrigan on the edge of the box.
On 69 minutes, Ashington were awarded with a penalty after Dean Briggs was brought down in the box by the Guisborough right back. Briggs decided to take the penalty low and to the left, but a fully stretched Robert Dean made an excellent save to give stop Ashington putting the game to bed.
Guisborough had one final chance in the 88th minute, the ball was in the back of the net, but a look over at the Assistant Referee and the flag was up for an offside.