After two disappointing matches, Ferryhill Athletic travelled the short distance to Coxhoe to play at Beechfield Park and made a return to winning ways on a drizzly Saturday afternoon, reports Chris Orton.
On a muddy pitch, Ferryhill made hard work of the first half with a tepid display that failed to bring any goals.
It was a scrappy half, and although Ferryhill had the majority of the play they were unable to make a breakthrough.
The opposition had the ball in the net after ten minutes, but thankfully for the away side the goal was disallowed for offside.
Coxhoe made things hard for Ferryhill, but a Kieron Richardson shot over the bar was followed by David Gibson whose free kick did the same.
Matty Ashcroft-Brown had a terrific game, handling everything that came his way well and a tactical change to a 4-4-2 formation saw better things come from Ferryhill.
Kieran McWaters controlled things well in midfield, and Ferryhill generally looked to have stepped up a gear.
Shortly before the break, an altercation between Jacob Crowle in the Ferryhill goal and the opposition number eight saw both sent off for foul play.
Into the second half and Shane Todd deputised in goal for the visitors, giving a more than capable performance and coping with the few balls that came his way.
Ferryhill were far more dominant by now with Richardson heading over and Will Houlahan then hitting the crossbar.
Coxhoe offered little, and despite a rapid succession of Ferryhill corners it didn’t look as if a goal was going to come.
But finally it did, when Richardson clinically slotted the ball past the Coxhoe keeper for the game’s only goal.
Matty Ashcroft-Brown earned a very well deserved Man of the Match as Athletic got back to winning ways.
With a dozen games remaining in the season, Athletic sit in fourth place in the league, two points behind Durham City having played two games less, and eight points behind Barnard Castle having played one game less.
Hot on their heels, in fifth, are Deerness Valley, a point further back but with two games in hand over Ferryhill.
Next week, Ferryhill hope for another win when they face Richmond Mavericks who make the long journey to Dean Bank for a 2pm kick-off.
That will be followed by the Clem Smith Bowl semi-final in which Ferryhill will need to overcome runaway league leaders, Willington, in order to continue the defence of the trophy they won last season.
That game will take place at Dean Bank on 8 March at 2.30pm.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
