Ashington secure timely first win of NPL East campaign

Ashington climbed out of the bottom four after they secured their first league win of the season with a narrow 2-1 triumph over Garforth Town at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday night.

New signing Dan Groves was named amongst the substitutes as Marc Ellison’s side looked to put the disappointment of Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat against Guisborough Town firmly behind them.

And the Colliers did just that - not only with the result - but also with a rip-roaring start to the contest during which they played some scintillating football and looked more like a side at the top of the table as opposed to the other end.

Ashington were rewarded for their early endeavour with a fantastic team goal in the fourth minute as defender Bryan Taylor notched his first strike for the club. The full-back finished off an intricate move down the left to steer the ball beyond visiting goalkeeper Harry Flatters.

Brimming with confidence, Ashington continued to dominate, with Noah Cunningham going close to adding a second. From there, Garforth grew into the game somewhat, but their hosts headed in a goal to the good at the interval.

Just as they had been at the start of the match, however, Ashington were quick out of the blocks after the break, and squandered two good opportunities inside the opening minutes to add to their lead.

Cunningham and skipper Karl Ross combined down the right, but when the latter set the ball into the path of Jack Gibson, the teenager failed to make a good connection and his effort was held by Flatters. The Colliers then pieced together another impressive move, but it finished with Cunningham blazing the ball over from the edge of the area.

It would take until the 77th minute for the Wansbeck side to double their lead. Josh Gilchrist cut inside the area, but was upended by Jamie Barkway, and substitute Scott Fenwick stepped up to slot home a perfect low penalty inside the post.

Ashington had the cushion they wanted, but in the 86th minute, their advantage was halved when Garforth sub Max Tweddle netted with a low drive from the edge of the area.

The strike set up a nerve-wracking finale and with five minutes of additional time, the home outfit had to dig deep as the Miners threw the kitchen sink at them. The only real effort the visitors managed to produce, however, came from Tweddle, whose shot from distance was clutched by Matty Alexander.