By Brian Bennett 

A goal in each half from Sado Djalo and Dale Pearson was enough for Dunston to wrap up all three points against Ashington at the UTS Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

Over the years, games between the two sides have always been hard fought and well contested affairs – and this one was no different.

Dunston – who narrowly failed to gain promotion last season – are one of the favourites this time round and in the first half they bossed possession.

However after the break – with the introduction of Paul Van-Zandvliet – it was the Colliers who emerged as the better outfit. They had chances too – but with quarter of an hour of the contest remaining, Dunston caught Ashington on the break with Pearson scoring the clincher.

The Wansbeck side – after their long trip to Cheshire on Saturday where they suffered a 4-1 defeat against Congleton Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy – had to reckon without no fewer than nine players for the clash whilst joint head coach Richie Hill revealed afterwards that three or four who were named in the starting line up were playing despite carrying injuries.

There was an unusual start to proceedings when Ashington defender Paddy Almond was shown a yellow card by referee Jamie Cann for a foul after only 45 seconds as Dunston broke into the Ashington half.

The first chance of the game arrived in the 12^th minute. Pearson found David Robinson whose shot was blocked for a corner.

Jack Camarda headed off the line then from a second flag kick, Jack Walker nodded the ball over the bar.

However on the quarter hour, UTS went in front with a well worked goal. The ball was played out to the left flank and when it was crossed into the danger zone, Scott Robson did a step over which allowed Djalo to smash home.

Ashington’s first threat came in the 34^th minute when Cyril Giraud played a pass through but ‘keeper Dan Lowson read the situation and smothered the ball in the nick of time to thwart Wilson Kneeshaw.

The visitors looked lively right from the start of the second half. Jon Shaw and Giraud combined to set up Jay Errington but his effort was blocked by Jack Walker.

Dunston hit back with Djalo finding Robinson whose drive was saved by ‘keeper Dan Staples diving to his left.

After that, it was the visitors who were in the ascendancy. Craig Spooner clipped a free kick from 25 yards the bar over before Camarda’s cross was helped on by Jay Errington but Kneeshaw fired off target.

Ashington were knocking on the door – but in the 74^th minute a goal on the break left them stunned.

Dunston substitute Josh Gilchrist’s right footer was parried by Staples and the ball ran into the path of Pearson who hammered it home.

Even then the Colliers were not finished. Kneeshaw went past Lowson but ran the ball out of play then Spooner played a one-two with Almond and shot narrowly wide.

Ashington’s second 45 minutes was encouraging – but they have got to be more clinical when chances come their way.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner has used several well know clichés when delivering his postmatch assessments during the course of the season.

On Saturday two from his collection were certainly appropriate as his side went down 4-1 against an in-form Dunston UTS side who are in a play-off position at the top of the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division table.

“In football, you don’t always get what you deserve” lamented the Colliers boss after a defeat earlier in the campaign which was followed after the reverse against Sheffield last week when he said: “goals win games.”

And although the scoreline at the UTS Stadium on Saturday suggests an emphatic victory for the home side, in reality the performance from Skinner’s side deserved to earn them a share of the spoils.

Trailing 2-1 at the interval, the Wansbeck side completely dominated the second half but in the dying embers of the contest as they continued to push for an equaliser, they conceded two goals in as many minutes on the break which clinched the result for UTS.

On a heavy pitch, chances were in short supply but it was the Colliers who had the first in the fourth minute.

Connor Thomson seized onto a back-pass and clipped the ball past advancing ‘keeper Dan Staples only for Jude Swailes to clear off the line.

The opening period had been even but on the quarter hour, Dunston took the lead.

Ashington failed to close down Sado Djalo who let fly with an explosive left footer from 25 yards that whistled past ‘keeper Karl Dryden before thudding against the underside of the bar and Jack Maskell was left with the easy task of prodding the ball into an empty net.

Five minutes later, the Colliers pieced together a swift intricate move following a corner on the left,

Thomson played the ball into Dan Maguire whose effort was blocked and Thomson shanked the rebound wide.

However in the 26^th minute following a throw in from Darren Lough, skipper Karl Ross ran onto the ball to side foot home a brilliant equaliser from 25 yards.

Just past the half hour mark, Ashington again shot themselves in the foot which gifted UTS the lead for a second time.

They allowed home skipper Michael Pearson space just outside the area and he struck a low drive inside the bottom corner.

Before the interval, Dryden held a tame effort from Maskell then on the stroke of half time, the stopper did well to block a shot from the centre forward.

Ashington took the game to their opponents after the interval and midway through, Will Constantin found Wilson Kneeshaw but the striker lashed over a great chance.

With quarter of an hour of normal time remaining, Skinner threw Morgan Dart into the fray.

Within two minutes, the substitute set up Kneeshaw whose effort was held by Staples then a shot by Dart was deflected for a corner.

However for all their possession and dominance, the Colliers were stung by Dunston’s third which arrived in the 89^th minute.

The ball was played through to David Robinson down the right who advanced before he finished well slotting wide of the advancing Dryden.

It was a cruel sucker punch and just to complete Ashington’s day, Pearson played the ball to the left where Constantin chipped the ball into his own net.

It was game over for the Colliers but in a period of eight minutes of time added on, a 30 yards free-kick by Craig Spooner floated narrowly over then a header by Constantin was tipped over by Staples.