ASHINGTON 2 SUNDERLAND RCA 0
post. The visitors improved as the half wore on and were having their best spell of the game when they fell behind.
It always looked as if the game would need something special to provide the first goal.
That duly arrived in first-half injury time as an inspired piece of play from Colliers forward Butler gave them the lead at the interval.
The youngster played a sublime pass to release Lee Mcandrew down the right-hand side and then rose to meet his inch-perfect cross to head the ball beyond Pocklington’s desperate dive.
Whatever Martin Swales said in the away dressing-room clearly had an impact as his side started the secondhalf in lively fashion.
They should have been back on level terms within four minutes of the restart when Tom Mcaloon took a return pass from Davis and broke through on goal.
The lively forward looked set to slide the ball beyond Colliers keeper Grant, but his effort was blocked by the chest of the stopper.
RCA continued to press forward throughout the half, without really testing the hosts’ back four.
Colliers boss Bowey was handed a further boost 15 minutes from time when key defender Wayne Buchanan made his first appearance since the first week of the season.
The former Gateshead centre-back completed a comeback from a broken leg as he replaced South Shields loanee Karl Ross.
The game was scrappy as Buchanan entered the fray, but there was always a sense that a second Ashington goal would hand them the points.
It arrived five minutes from time as Atkinson saw his side over the line with a cool, composed finish.
David Edwards was the creator as his fine pass sent the former Blyth AFC front man in on goal and he made no mistake, rounding Pocklington and sliding the ball into the net from a tight angle.
That rounded off a hard-working display from the Colliers and ensured that it will be an even happier Christmas in the Bowey household. Ashington: Grant, Mcandrew, Hutchinson, Henderson, Caygill, Vipond, Cunningham (Hanson), Ross (Buchanan), Atkinson, Edwards, Butler Subs: Bowey, Smith, Bell Sunderland RCA: Pocklington, Jury (Croft), Mcnab, Lilley (Hodgson), Swansbury, Moan, Charlton, O’neill, Larkin, Davis, Mcaloon (Howard) Subs: Page, Tsapolos