Ashford welcomed old friends Bromley to Short Lane for this pre-season friendly with both teams hoping to improve touch and sharpness in readiness for the start of the new season. Mark Butler and his coaching team may or may not have an idea of their strongest line-up, but for the players all of the positions are still up for grabs and good performances will certainly not go unnoticed.  With Paul Burgess, Scott Todd, the Bamford brothers and, new signing from Margate, Ricardo Josephs missing from the squad and Gavin Smith on the bench, Mark was short of experienced players at this level.
Bromley showed their class early on when a long ball from the back was instantly controlled by Nic McDonnell but a good tackle by Russ Canderton relieved the danger and shortly after Byron Harrison embarked on a mazy run into the Bromley half only to be unfairly impeded by Luke I’Anson but Paul Johnson’s out-swinger was cleared. A defence splitting cross from Vinnie O’Sullivan was touched out for a corner which was cleared before Ashford old boy Anthony Joseph helped to create the visitors first goal. Joseph found room on the Bromley right to cross the ball which was cleared to the waiting McDonnell who blasted a shot goal-wards forcing an excellent save out of Craig Ross in the Ashford goal, Adam Logie headed the deflected ball back into the path of Joseph whose shot was touched in by Danny Hockton. Five minutes later the visitors went two up when a deep corner was headed back into the danger area by McDonnell and slid home by Jerrome Sobers. Both sides were knocking the ball around well with Ricky Wellard showing he had lost none of his passing skills during the summer and with Johnson’s non-stop endeavour complimenting the young midfielders vision. Joseph had a half-chance but blasted the ball over Ross’ bar after being set-up by I’Anson then a superb ball over the top by O’Sullivan was met by Wellard’s late run but the ball sat up and the chance was gone.  The impressive Mark Corneille seemed to cover every blade of grass during the match and it was his cross from the right that gave I’Anson the chance to increase Bromley’s advantage and one he accepted by planting a firm header past Ross.
Four substitutions at half-time for the visitors had the effect of them losing some of the fluidity of their first half display and the home team sought to take advantage but the excellent Sobers was a pillar of strength in the heart of the Bromley defence. Warren Harris, very quiet in the first period, started to show why he is highly thought of in the second half starting with a good run and shot which was deflected into the path of Johnson whose shot deserved more than merely crashing off the far post. Ashford made four substitutions of their own and suffered the same fate as their opponents as far as continuity was concerned as Bromley came back into the game. Another good save by Ross, this time from Jay May, could not prevent the ball from bouncing invitingly into the path of Warren McBean but Luke Francis was correctly positioned to clear off the line. Both teams enjoyed a good run out and the game was played at a good pace considering the warm conditions but referee Mr Sennett, who had a good game himself, sensibly allowed plenty of water intake for the players. Man of the Match: Paul Johnson | 
Saturday, 04 February 2012
