Ashford entertain Beaconsfield SYCOB on Saturday in the ongoing search for league points.  Beaconsfield, under the managership of Byron Walton, have turned their fortunes around this season, after being spared from relegation last year, and currently sit in third position in the table with 34 points from16 matches.  They have won their last three league matches, beating Rugby Town, Leighton Town and Chertsey Town but lost the one before that to Woodford United by two goals to one.

The match at Short Lane kicks off at 3.00 p.m.

Ashford are still looking for a Press Secretary.  Gareth Coates has stepped in admirably in recent weeks but is unlikely to be present tomorrow – is there anyone who would like to try the job out and help us through tomorrow please?

We now have the junior results from last Sunday, along with this week’s fixtures, courtesy of Kelvin P.

Under 10s 1 v 5 Rocks Lane
Under 10s 4 v 2 Esher Youth
Under 11s 1 v 3 Twickenham
Under 11s 7 v 0 Woking & Maybury
Under 11s 1 v 4 Seen Lions
Under 12s 1 v 2 Kingswood
Under 14s 1 v 3 Leatherhead 
Under 15s 2 v 4 St Francis Youth
Under 15s 3 v 3 Horsley
Under 16s 1 v 1 Kingstonian
Under 18s 0 v 2 Yeading Middx County Cup 

Ashford’s Under 18s bowed out of the County Cup and will have learnt some harsh lessons in terms of gamesmanship. Ashford turned up with 11 players which became 12, minutes before kick off, not the best preparation before a match like this with so much admin to prepare in addition to normal warm up and organisation. Ashford started very brightly despite this and Louie Hedges was a threat from the kick off. But it was a poor mistake by the GK that gifted Yeading the lead after just 6 minutes. After the initial disappointment Ashford found their feet and continued to dominate despite the fierce wind in their faces. Alex Chitty drove a powerful 25 yard strike that hit the woodwork and a couple of good efforts were thwarted by the Yeading GK and defence, half time 0 – 1.

Ashford then had 3 subs arrive all of which would probably have started but clearly the half time appearance of these players were nothing more than a distraction. So the starting 11, went out for the 2^nd half full of confidence and a game plan to use the wind which we were all confident would see us through but again within the first 5 minutes of the 2^nd half another telling incident occurred. The ref chose to send off Jordan Pearce for at worst a shoulder to shoulder challenge which the ref deemed to have denied Yeading a goalscoring chance. The free kick some 25 yards out resulted in nothing. Ashford were phased but by no means out of it and after some reorganisation still dominated the game. Eventually though it disintegrated in to farce, for reasons that I couldn’t understand the ref began to lose grip and rather than any discussion felt a further 2 reds were needed coinciding with 5 yellows all in the space of 25 minutes. The only clear read in the game was the assault on Alex Chitty who was punched in the head and with his head thumping he inexplicable received a yellow. Ashford lost Stevie Rutland whose frustrations got the better of him and a petulant trip resulted in a red card and we finished the game with 9 men as Yeading scored a second.

This week’s games are:

ASC (Smaller Pitch)
Under 15s v Knaphill KO 12:30 (Jamie\Mike\James) 

ASC (Larger Pitch)
Under 16s v Royals Elite KO 10:30 (Phil\Bryan)
Under 18s v Hook KO 12:30 (Kelv)

ASC Mini Soccer 7-a-side Pitch
Under 10s v Whitton KO 10:30 (Glen\Julie)

ATFC
Under 11s v Chipstead Youth KO 11:00 (Steve\Lee\Conor)

Away
Under 10s v Roehampton Colts (Scott\Jackie)
Under 11s v SCR Colts (Marco\Richard)
Under 11s v Panathinaikos Youth County Cup (Kevin\Steve)
Under 12s v No Fixture (Gary\Jason)
Under 13s v TBC (Mick) (SPL)
Under 13s v Kempton Park (Nick\Mark)
Under 14s v Mitcham Park KO 11:15 (Chris) 
Under 15s v TBC (SPL)