Ashington v Bishop Auckland

Hosts: Ashington FC

LOCATION REPORT

Venue: Woodhorn Lane, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 9FW

SatNav: NE63 9FW

Parking: large on-site carpark; on-street nearby eg Woodhorn Lane

Public transport: bus X21 Newcastle - Newbiggin-by-the-Sea (stops along Woodhorn Lane and outside hospital entrance nearby) 

Entry: adults £6, concessions/juniors £1
Programmes: £1

Full-facility clubhouse in the main stand.

Refreshments: bar snack hatch (eg £1 hot drinks)
Licensed bar: clubhouse bar
Toilets: clubhouse, incl accessible
PA system: yes

Covered stands/terraces:
(W) main stand = c.250+ flip-up seats 

(E) stand = 120+ seated 

(E) terrace, stepped = 300+ standing 

Open viewing:
(all sides) hardstanding + lean-on barriers all round

Random picnic tables around outfield

Floodlights: 6 (3 per flank)

MATCH REPORT

Kickoff: 3:00pm Saturday 30 March 2019
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Weather: overcast/rainy, chilly breeze

Team colours:
Ashington = black/white stripes, black shorts
Bishop Auckland = light-blue/dark-blue halved shirts, dark-blue shorts 

Official crowd: 347

Final [h/t] score:
0 [0] Ashington
1 [0] Bishop Auckland 

Sent Off: 0

Official League Report

NORVENMUNKI's COMMENTS

On arrival at Ashington Community Football Club, you immediately get the impression of a club that has a profile way above its current position. 

Just driving into the big car park and seeing the ample extra space available to expand it, you can see there's potential for growth. 

The friendly gate man welcomes us, and we check out the excellent facilities inside. 

This stadium is top-class. There is a massive outfield with acres of space, with several scattered picnic tables in various places (although the weather today is dreadful so they remain unused, despite the various young families with lunchboxes for that very purpose).

The main stand is tremendous: a dozen or so rows of clean plastic flip-up seats, in their black-and-white colours, enough to easily seat 250-plus under a mighty roof. 

Across on the opposite side, there's another pitch-length covered structure, with dozens more seats and room for hundreds to stand in the dry.

And this large capacity is not unjustified, as today's final home game of the season has drawn in almost 350 spectators! 

Despite the dreary weather, there's a great atmosphere, with fans of all ages (from young kids to elderly gentlemen) joining in with the singalongs. The local youths have a repertoire of chants that is self-deprecatingly witty. 

The teams are out. Handshakes etc. It's game on. 

With the rain lashing and the chilly wind blustering, it's not the most elegant of matches. Sliding tackles. The ball in the air a lot from eager hoofing.

It's a bit of a ratty affair, to be honest; and there are too many yellows for my liking. 

The exuberant young local fans are even winding up the away bench, who should really have more control than getting provoked by some 12 year olds. 

Elsewhere, in quieter areas, there are several groups of little ones having kickabouts in the meagre grass patches outfield, rather than watch the game. They, and their attentive parents, are all getting soaked. 

It's a goalless first half. 

To soften the chill, I dip inside for a couple of hot chocolates. These are fab, quick service, super-chocolatey. 

The bar is warm, packed and friendly (although there are some sorry visiting individuals who bring the spirit down embarrassingly!). A pool table is well-attended.

In the distance, wind turbines dotted along the horizon spin wildly. 

The rain does not relent; the glassy concrete reflects the dull sky in splashes of dankness. 

The teams reappear for another slog. 

In the long-lingering memories of a town that once boasted a Football League team, can there have been a greyer game than this?

There is a group of happy kids staying dry under the roof. One of them is wearing a makeshift rain-hood fashioned from a Card Factory carrier bag! What innovation indeed?!

Then, just when you think the game has exhausted itself, we get a goal.

After 84 sodden minutes, a rally of head tennis ensues from a Bishop corner, leading to a dose of pinball and then finally to football as the loose ball gets bundled in: 0-1.

It's definitely not pretty, but I guess the ecstatic visitors don't really care.

A late charge in response from the home side, but to no avail. The Ashington recovery aquaplanes, and their season splashes to a halt. 

The advertising hoardings all around with their paint swooshes are some of the few dabs of colour in this otherwise drab afternoon.

Yet, there's an energy around here. A passion that could paint a rainbow over the place.

MORE INFORMATION

Club Twitter: @Ashington_FC