| On a wet and blustery evening, Ashford's greater composure saw them record an emphatic win over Fleet Town. Playing down the slope in the first half, Ashford found themselves a goal down after just three minutes when Tom Snowden was adjudged to have pushed Sam Hamilton, who fired the resultant penalty past Dane Buss. Ashford were unperturbed by this setback and drew level within six minutes when Jimmy Stanford turned and hit a low shot 25 yards into the bottom right hand corner. Also both sides were struggling to measure their passes as they skidded off the soaked surface, Ashford managed a degree of fluency and took control of the game, with Stanford twice going close to a second goal before creating the second in the 28th minute. Ironically, his left-sided corner was mishit, but it flew across the six yard box to Tom Snowden, whose emphatic header left the 'keeper with no chance. George Baldock shot wide shortly after that, but it was Fleet who finished the first half strongly, forcing a number of corners before a long shot from Ashley Tribe forced Dane Buss into a fine save. The impressive Michael Campbell also drove across the Ashford goal in the closing moments of the opening period. Ashford started the second half well and added to their lead within six minutes of the restart when a blistering Stanford run split the defence and allowed him to find George Baldock, whose finish was emphatic. Shortly afterwards, Taylor Gough was withdrawn and replaced by Dwayne Lowe-Simms, which prompted a change of formation and an almost immediate fourth goal when the home defence got themselves in a muddle, Adam Fearn charged down their attempts to clear, rounded the goalkeeper and scored. That was the cue for Daryl Loates to be replaced by George Jennings. Fleet continued to seek a way back into the match and Campbell fired over from distance. At the other end, home stopper Matthew Goodsell did well to save a curling shot from Stanford but shortly afterwards left the field with an injury, to be replaced by Jamie Anderson. That substitution took place after referee Andy Woodruff awarded a second penalty, this time adjudging that Snowden had impeded Hamilton. The award looked harsh, but that mattered little to Hamilton, whose finish was as emphatic as his first spot-kick. George Jennings was replaced by Lewis Wombwell at this point, and the hosts had a good spell of pressure where they looked increasingly dangerous. Another goal for Fleet at that point would have made for an interesting finish, but Tangerines 'keeper Dane Buss was in inspired form and stopped everything the Blues could throw at him. That allowed Ashford to take the sting out of their opponents and finish the game strongly. Lewis Wombwell was visibly nervous when he entered the field, but gave an assured performance, having a shot charged down before plundering two late goals. The first came in the 88th minute, when Wombwell was sent clean through by a fine pass, rounded Anderson and struck a low finish into the empty net. The second came in stoppage time when a Buss clearance was raced onto by Wombell and he flicked the ball over the advancing Anderson from 30 yards to end the match with a flourish. |
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
