Colliers are in seventh heaven as Harmison proves to be spot on
A LATE Ben Harmison penalty helped Ashington to their seventh consecutive win in all competitions as they saw off Tow Law Town.
The Colliers were briefly behind after Andrei Ardelean’s opener but an equaliser from Luke Salmon saw the sides into half-time level – the scores remaining equal until the 83rd minute with Harmison’s winner.
Ashington were on top of the possession early on but were unable to carve out an attempt.
Tow Law were forced to play hopeful passes which struggled to create any chances in the starting period – Ardelean did manage to dribble into the box but it was cleared without much issue.
The visitors had the first shot of the game in the 14th minute, Daniel Marriott showing smart dribbling on the wing to cut into the Ashington box and working the ball back to Luke Page - but his shot never looked goalbound.
The Colliers continued to enjoy a lot of the ball, carving out two good chances.
The first of which saw Salmon float a cross across the six-yard box but Harmison was at full reach to meet it and could not manage to get it on target.
Harmison turned creator shortly afterwards, turning the ball inside for Ben Sampson but Tow Law turned it behind.
Jay Cartwright’s corner failed to beat the first man and the ball came out to Paul Robinson who charged into the box and went down under a challenge amidpenalty shouts – but the forward was booked for diving.
The period of pressure built confidence among Ashington players going forward, which would be their downfall just after the half-hour when Lawyers’
ASHINGTON TOW LAW
dangerman Ardelean sprinted through one-on-one after the Colliers’ defence was caught napping.
The forward rounded Karl Dryden and slotted into an empty net.
The Lawyers’ lead would last less than 10 minutes thanks to intelligent play by Yannick Aziakonou on the right-hand side.
The Ashington midfielder worked himself space before crossing to Thomas Orton’s backpost, where Salmon leapt highest to level the score.
Ashington carried their momentum into the second half, not giving the away side any chance to build an attack.
The best chance of the early sustained pressure came from Ashington’s left, Salmon and Hanson linking up before the latter found Harmison whose shot was collected.
Ardelean nearly doubled his tally and punished Ashington for failing to capitalise.
The forward found himself behind the back ine and past the goalkeeper once more.
This time, though, he is pushed wide and only able to meet the post.
The away side would eventually give away one foul too many.
Briggs’ whipped his free-kick from the left-hand side into a dangerous area striking a hand in the process. That gave Harmison the chance to convert from the spot – which he did for his sixth in his sixth start of the season. ASHINGTON: Dryden, Cartwright, Salmon, Aziakonou, Kalthoeber, Lough, Hanson (Ross), Sampson (Anderson), Harmison, Briggs (Mullen), Robinson (Smith) Subs: Summerly.
TOW LAW TOWN: Orton, Goldsborough, Joynes, Mallaburn, Renshaw, Harvey, Hurworth (Mcaloon),
Page, Ardelean (Bewley), Craggs, Marriott Subs: Pearson, Anderson< Da-costa, Bateman.