Marc Ellison's Ashington tenure ends with dreary Hallam defeat

Ashington produced their worst performance of the season in a Halloween horror show on Saturday afternoon, losing 2-1 to NPL East strugglers Hallam and bringing down the curtain on Marc Ellison’s tenure as first team manager in the process.

The Colliers went into the contest at Sandygate - the world’s oldest football ground - knowing that if they won and Grimsby Borough lost at Morpeth Town, they would move out of the bottom four. However, despite the Highwaymen doing them a favour at Craik Park, Ellison’s men passed up on their opportunity, turning in a lacklustre display on the road.

Ashington went into the contest boosted by back-to-back wins but it was the home side - kicking down a notorious slope - who showed plenty of steel and determination, with the Colliers up against it from the first whistle. The Countrymen flew out of the traps and within 90 seconds, Paddy Almond and Ryan Donaldson cleared efforts off the line.

However, in the seventh minute, Hallam’s pressure paid off as they took the lead when Jacob Priestnall unleashed a low right-footed effort from 20 yards beyond Ashington goalkeeper Matty Alexander and inside the far post.

The Colliers might have drawn themselves level just past the quarter-hour mark when Oli Thompson played a quick one-two with Noah Cunningham, which put the former in on goal. Thompson advanced but saw his effort deflect off Hugo Warhurst’s boot and onto the foot of the post before being cleared.

That chance would be as good as it got from an Ashington perspective in the opening period, and before the interval, Richard Patterson set up an opening for Chaynie Burgin, who was only thwarted by a great block from Jude Cogdon.

Early in the second half, Burgin narrowly failed to connect with a low cross from the right by Danai Rhule, but in the 64th minute Ashington were dealt a hammer blow as Hallam added a second. Dan Groves had only been on the field for a minute when his attempted clearance rebounded off Priestnall. Fortuitously, the deflection put the striker clean through, and he took full advantage, slotting the ball past Alexander.

From there, Ashington struggled to make an impact, but in a brief spell, Ryan Wombwell clipped an effort wide, and Cunningham had a header cleared off the line from a Josh Gilchrist corner.

Ten minutes from time Hallam had a great opportunity to add a third when substitute Aris Cunha won possession in the final third, but after rounding Alexander - and with an open goal at his mercy - he stumbled, allowing the visitors to clear.

In stoppage time, Cunningham fired the ball into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit, but for the Ashington fans, their side’s showing was neither a trick nor a treat - it was simply awful, and on Monday tea time, with his side languishing 19th in the table, the club confirmed that they had parted company with Ellison by mutual consent.