Lord of Ashford Bowl,
Robert Parker Stadium
31st July 2010

Ricky Wellard, Paul Johnson, Ricardo Joseph, Byron Harrison et al were superb players for Ashford and very difficult to replace, but the players that Jamie Lawrence has bought in over the past few weeks show signs that he is close to accomplishing  that. Although this match was for the Lord of Ashford Bowl, it was clearly treated as a pre-season contest as both managers used most of their substitutes in a bid to give their squads ‘playing time’ as they strive to attain match fitness prior to the start of their league campaigns in two weeks time.

As with all clubs when new players come together, it will take time to mould these players into a team and that is Jamie’s job, but the raw ability and quality is there evidenced, in patches, against a strong Staines side and with that scintillating display against Bradford City the previous week.

Jordan Kiffiin floated an early free kick, given for a pull-back on Jamie Lawrence, into the arms of Louis Wells in the Staines goal and, as Staines threatened, Rob Curtis was in the right place to just get his head to a cross from the right in front of Leroy Griffiths.

Shortly after, a brace of free kicks, one for each side, were wide of the mark before a good through ball split the Ashford defence and only a last ditch tackle from Curtis stopped Ali Chaaban from testing Lee Pearce in the Ashford goal.

Chaaban had two other half-chances to put the Blue Square South club in front but both were well taken by Pearce but, in the 24^th minute, another through ball evaded the lunging Russ Canderton and Chaaban latched on to chip the ball over the out-stretched right hand of Pearce to give the Swans a deserved lead.

Staines highly experienced central defenders Danny Gordon and Richard Orlu were having a difficult time against Ashford striker Jamal Fenelon who, despite not being completely match fit, looked to be enjoying the physical battle and showed some excellent touches and a good turn of pace as the half progressed.

Just before the half hour mark, a strong surging run from the combative and versatile Guy Hollis ended with his shot from the edge of the Staines penalty area being blocked but Kiffin was on hand to pick up the rebound but only managed to fire over Wells’ bar, then a break at the other end saw Griffiths win a tussle with Canderton and fire goalwards but Pearce saved the Staines striker’s low shot with his legs.

Fenelon started a good move, soon after, finding Jones Awuah on the right of the Staines penalty area who helped the ball on to Kiffin. Kiffin’s shot was deflected back to Awuah but he was ruled off-side as he tried to force the equaliser.

The visitors scored their second a minute before half-time when the dangerous Chaaban found himself in front of goal with just Pearce to beat and he didn’t disappoint the travelling supporters, firing home from just inside the Ashford penalty area.

Staines made it three right at the start of the second half and in doing so killed the game as a contest, former Ashford striker Richard Butler stooping low to glance a header in at the near post from a cross from the right.

Just after the hour Marc Charles-Smith broke through but saw his shot strike the foot of the Ashford upright and bounce out to safety and Scott Taylor came close to adding to his side’s score but could not quite leap high enough to capitalise on from a cross from the right.

By now both sides had made many substitutions and one, Ashford’s Mark Bitmead who last year was playing in the under 18 side, came close with a good turn and shot that flew over the Staines bar but Bitmead was not to be denied and shortly after, in the 77^th minute, ran on to an astute pass from Scott Weight to draw the Staines keeper out before calmly slotting the ball past him and into the net for a consolation goal for Ashford.

Two other Ashford substitutes came close to making their mark in the later stages of the match, first Julius Senoga curled a good effort just wide and then, just before referee Mr Chris Evans, who enjoyed a good game, blew for time, Jorge Lopez headed goal-wards and it took a superb save from the Staines custodian to tip the ball onto the bar to safety.