Ashford now look forward to their penultimate pre-season match, when they take on Fleet Town at Short Lane on Saturday.  Following a long period of stability under Andy Sinton, the visitors are under new management this season in the shape of the respected Steve Mellor and are likely to be fielding a much changed squad.  One player to look out for though is striker Mark Anderson, who averages better than a goal every other match and who has scored goals everywhere he’s been, including Sandhurst Town, Godalming Town and Bracknell Town.  Fleet are members of Division One South of the Ryman League, having flitted like us between the Ryman and the Southern.  Incredibly though, we have never been in the same league and division at the same time, apart from once when we were both in the Surrey Premier League, in 1986-1987, when Fleet had a solitary season in that league.

We actually managed the double in that particular campaign, winning 2-1 at home and 3-0 away.  For nostalgia’s sake, the scorers back then were:  at home, John Lawther and Peter Oram and away, Lawther again plus Micky Watmore and Andy Smith (the latter now managing Hampton Reserves incidentally). 

Ashford are in good heart, with Billy Jeffreys probably the only absentee and he hopes to be fit in time to be in contention for the first league match on 14 August.  Jamie’s squad is now close to completion with perhaps just a couple of players to come in, and with the likelihood of Kane Louis and Chamal Fenelon bonding together up front and Jones Awuah starting to get on the score sheet more regularly, Ashford will be hoping that goal scoring will be a problem of the past, especially with the likes of Mark Bitmead and Lewis Wombwell also in contention following their elevation from the Under 18’s.

There is also a Reserve match on Saturday, when an Ashford XI will make the short trip to play Virginia Water at their Crown Road ground.  This match kicks off at 2.00 p.m.

Back at Short Lane, with Sue and others away, supporters should please note that we may not be able to open the tea bar this Saturday, for which we apologise.  Refreshments will though be available in the club house.