Under-18 Pre-Season Match,
Lion Park, Bisley
11th August 2008

Ashford travelled to Bisley for this their sixth pre season friendly. They fielded 8 first year/ trialists and 6 second year players.

Almost from the start of the game Ashford handed the initiative to Bisley. Manager Mick Snowden had asked his players to defend higher up the pitch than they normally do in an effort to put the opposition under pressure. The opposite actually happened and Ashford defended raggedly and deeper than usual. Luke Roberts was and Tom Snowden were solid in the centre of defence in the first period but those in front of them were not doing so well. The first substitution was made after 20 minutes with Ryan Casteldine who was playing out of position at right back being replaced by Taylor Gough who went to centre back with Snowden moving to right back. Shortly after Zamit who appeared to be lethargic was replaced by Baldock. Although the way Ashford were defending wasn’t to their normal standard Bisley were restricted to long-range effort that were comfortably dealt with by Dane Buss. Buss did very well with an awkward ball low into the box going down bravely and collecting the ball. Meanwhile Ashford’s two front players were causing Bisley problems with their pace when Ashford broke form defence. Lowe- Simms did well to cut in from the left beating two players and creating himself a clear shooting opportunity which he blazed over the bar. 0 – 0 at half time was a fair reflection on the chances created. 

A number of substitutions took place shortly after half time and, using the roll on roll off system, throughout the half. Ashford came more into the game in the second half and began to look dangerous. They looked stronger than the Bisley players although the opposition moved and retained the ball very tidily. Jennings scored a with a real quality finish only to have been ruled offside when he first collected the ball. The decision was marginal but a correct one.  Bisley didn’t learn their lesson having been caught square on a number of times and were punished by Jennings. On this occasion he timed his run better and was put clear by a ball behind the defence. He accelerated away from the defence took the ball to the keepers right drawing him out of his goal and putting the ball into the far bottom corner.  This goal gave Ashford slightly more belief but they still had problems retaining possession of the ball and their passing was not good enough. This may have had something to do with the grass on the pitch which although was about the right length was very ‘spongy’. Ashford’s second goal came in about the seventy fifth minute after good work from Fearn.  He received the ball with a good first touch and drove between two defenders to the edge of the box and then put a low cross between the defenders and the goalkeeper that was finished by Kandebi coming in at the back post.  Bisley weren’t finished and created a real scoring opportunity but a less than impressive finish and some good footwork and handling by Buss denied them a goal that they probably deserved. Manager Mick Snowden was very disappointed with the overall attitude and efforts from most of his players. The exceptions were Buss Gough and especially Roberts who again was outstanding throughout. Final score Ashford 2  Bisley  0

Squad: 

D BUSS
R CASTELDINE
L ROBERTS
T SNOWDEN
T BUTLER
B KANDEBI
A ZAMIT
D BYRON
A FEARN
D LOWE-SIMMS
G JENNINGS

G BALDOCK
C VERDON
T GOUGH
S TRAILIST