Colliers's Vase win
ASHINGTON will travel to face Morpeth on Saturday week in the second qualifying round of this season's FA Vase after the Colliers brushed aside a challenge from STL Northern League second division outfit Whickham at Woodhorn Lane at the weekend.
Two goals in the first half put the Colliers on their way and two more in the last five minutes cemented the result – on an unforgettable day for Ashington youngster Lee Scott.
With the sides locked at 0-0 after the opening half hour, Scott came on to replace the injured Joe Race in the 33rd minute, and within 35 seconds he broke the deadlock.
Stephen Young quickly added a second and further strikes from Scott and Andrew Johnson gave Ashington a comfortable win.
Yet the visitors – who won the competition in 1981 – will reflect on two early chances which were spurned.
In the ninth minute, Graeme King headed wide and then Tony Thirkell was through on a one-on-one with home stopper Karl Dryden but saw the keeper block with his legs.
However, Ashington then hit the Glebe-based side with two goals in four minutes to take a stranglehold on proceedings.
In the 33rd minute, Johnson's cross found Marc Walmsley whose thunderbolt effort from 20 yards was finger-tipped onto the bar by Cresswell but from the rebound, Scott nipped in to head into the far corner.
The second came after a cross by Scott Blandford was dropped by Cresswell with Young slamming home the rebound to bag his sixth goal in three games.
On the stroke of the interval, Young chested the ball down to Johnson whose left footer shaved the woodwork.
In the first ten minutes of the second period, Colvin, Johnson and Scott all spurned chances.
Terrific determination by Blandford saw him set up Young whose shot was deflected then Johnson threaded the ball through the eye of a needle for Young but his effort was held by Cresswell.
In the closing stages, the Colliers made the scoreline more emphatic.
With six minutes remaining, Johnson and substitute Liam Davison combined down the right and when the latter crossed, Scott volleyed home at the far post.
Two minutes later, Johnson capped off a fine performance side footing home the fourth after Young – who was clean through – unselfishly rolled the ball into his path.
Ashington: Dryden, Blandford, Walmsley, Shaw, Atkin, J Taylor (Davison 60 mins), Johnson, O'Dea, Young, Race (Scott 33 mins), Colvin. Sub not used: Harmison.
Attendance: 219.
On Saturday, Ashington are at home to Northallerton in the FA Cup first qualifying round.
Admission prices will remain unchanged at 5 for adults and 1.50 for children under 16 and concessions.
Meanwhile Ashington Under-19s drew 1-1 with Blyth Spartans Under-19s in their opening game of the season at Cowpen on Sunday.
Lee Messenger put the Colliers ahead but Spartans levelled in the closing stages of the contest.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blyth
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South
