| This was a remarkable evening, in more ways than one, and Ashford returned to Middlesex far happier with a point than they might have been at kick-off time. However the home side - defending Suburban League Champions - may be regretting letting this match slip away. Rory Gleeson joined Glynn Stephens in the away dugout at Imperial Fields as Ashford fielded a squad packed with experience and including Gavin Bamford, Gavin Smith, Scott Todd and Jon Palmer. The game was played on a much-improved pitch at Imperial Fields, amid torrential rain and strong winds. Despite boasting a relatively star-studded line-up, Ashford started this match badly, allowing their hosts to take the lead in the fifth minute with the first meaningful attack of the game. A pinpoint pass from Daryl Swabey sent Martin Grant free of the static defence and he ran through to fire past Dan Cox. Swabey then had a shot of his own, before Tooting added a second after thirteen minutes. This time, centre-backs Ross Bennett and Russell Canderton got themselves into a tangle, Cox raced out to try and deal with the danger but had no chance of reaching the loose ball and Grant was left with an easy finish.  Shortly after that, Gavin Smith (pictured) hauled Ashford back into the game with a 25yard strike. However, with just nineteen minutes on the watch, the home side were 3-1 ahead when a surging run from Adam Fletcher saw the ball move from one end of the field to the other. Fletcher then found Swabey, who drilled his shot beyond Cox.
Ashford didn't fold in the face of this latest setback, coming back into the game strongly. Smith had a shot deflected wide, while Bennett had a header cleared off the line. The Terrors' Martin Dynan then hit the bar with a header, before Jon Palmer miskicked from a Scott Todd free kick. The Tangerines then enjoyed a strong spell of pressure, which ultimately led to their second goal of the game. A good passing move sent Todd down the left flank and his ball across the goal was tapped in by Smith. Moments later, it was 4-2, after some incisive passes sent Michael Antonio clear of the increasingly ponderous Ashford rearguard, with the pacy winger hitting a venomous shot beyond Cox. Whatever was said in the changing room at half-time must have had the desired effect, although the replacement of Ross Bennett with Adam Foulser helped arrest some of the defensive frailties. Indeed, the substitute also made an impact at the other end, firing a half-chance over after 53 minutes, then hitting a shot wide after 61 minutes. In between those efforts, midfielder Gareth Teuten also warmed the hands of home stopper Chris Sinclair with a drive across goal. By now, the Tangerines were in complete control against an oddly flat United side and pulled the deficit back to a single goal in the 64th minute. A good run from Palmer led to the forward cutting the ball back into the danger area. The home defence attempted to clear the danger, but succeeded only in finding Scott Todd, who drove the ball into the net. With nineteen minutes, Ashford left back Matt Holley slipped on the sodden turf and left the field on a stretcher before being taken to hospital. Happily, the injury turned out to be a badly sprained ankle rather than anything more serious, with Reece Jackson coming on and almost immediately getting into a one-on-one with Sinclair, which the goalkeeper won. Jon Palmer was then replaced by Jimmy Stanford as Ashford strove for an equaliser. Smith and Teuten both had chances, but it wasn't until the sixth minute of stoppage time that Town finally got the leveller their second half performance deserved. A Scott Todd free kick caused chaos in the penalty area, which Russell Canderton took advantage of, lashing the ball into the net to secure a point for his team. |
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
