GLOSSOP NORTH END 0, ASHINGTON AFC 3
Ashington AFC, a football club steeped in history and tradition, are back in the Northern Premier League after an absence of 54 years following their emphatic win at Glossop North End in a play-off decider.
After almost going out of existence not many years ago, Ashington, whose most famous footballing sons are brothers Bobby and Jack Charlton and Jackie Milburn, are a phoenix back on the rise.
Ashington, founder members of the Third Division North in 1921, lost their Football League status eight years later when they failed to win re-election after finishing bottom of the table.
Most of the intervening years have been spent in the Northern League, albeit when they became founder members of the NPL in 1968 only to resign after one season due to the cost of playing at that level.
The play-off involved Ashington, runners-up in division one of the Ebac Northern League, and Glossop who finished third bottom of NPL, west division.
The first two Ashington goals came from another of their famous sons, former county cricketer Ben Harmison.
The 37-year-old all-rounder, who helped Durham become county champions as well as playing for Kent, took his season’s total to 24 goals with his brace.
Harmison, whose brother Steve, the ex-England Test bowler who played and managed Ashington, found the net after 26 and 67 minutes with two clinical pieces of finishing.
There was also a goal for Craig Spooner which sealed Glossop’s fate as they were relegated to the North West Counties League having been in the NPL since 2015.
There were contrasting emotions with Ian Skinner, manager of the victorious Colliers, praised his players for executing his game plan.
“I was lucky to get hold of five videos of Glossop games and looked at where we could hurt them with our strengths,” he said.
“My players were magnificent in delivering today and throughout the season.
“I am delighted for the players and also for the club which nearly went out of business three or four years ago.”
Glossop manager Stuart Mellish thought his side were tentative and nervous and played the occasion.
Mellish added it had been a challenging season operating with the lowest budget in their division and relegation may be the reset they need.
“We can create an environment in the NWCL where we can win more games. We dust ourselves down and go again next season,” he said.