| Just as they had in last season's Suburban League Shield quarter final, Ashford returned from Dunstable Town having scored three goals. Unlike that bitterly cold evening in March, the Tangerines kept a clean sheet on this visit and so returned home with the points. In that game, the hosts rallied from 3-1 behind with eighteen minutes remaining to win 4-3 on their way to the North Division Championship and the League Cup Final, so this was undoubtedly an excellent result.  Having had a fairly experienced squad in midweek, Glynn Stephens found himself with a more youthful party for the trip up the M1, although Russell Canderton and Scott Todd (pictured) remained in the starting line-up.
Unexpectedly, Ashford took control of the match from virtually the first whistle, with the pace of Symon James and the skill of Scott Todd proving particularly problematic for the home side, although home 'keeper Nick Gardner was not seriously tested in the opening stages, with a Martin Jackson shot that was straight at the stopper the only strike on target prior to the opening goal. The breakthrough arrived with twenty minutes on the watch when a good passing move released Gareth Teuten, who rode the despairing lunge of a defender to find Reece Jackson, who drilled home from an acute angle. Ashford continued to look strong, with both James and Scott Weight having shots at Gardner's goal before an individual piece of skill by Scott Todd caused a sustained spell of pressure, from which the Tangerines did not profit. Shortly after that, Daniel Rose had Dunstable's first shot on goal, although Dan Cox in the visitors' goal was never under any pressure to deal with it. Teuten and George Baldock both went close for Ashford as the home side struggled to cope with their guests. Four minutes before the interval, Scott Todd looked to have been fouled as Ashford looked to hit Dunstable on the break and Ross Bennett was cautioned for questioning Referee Moore's decision to allow play to continue. Although it is certainly possible to have some sympathy for the young defender - some of Mr Moore's decision making was eccentric, to say the least - the fact that he asked the question at volume and from 40 yards away really gave the official little option but to brandish his yellow card.  Happily for Ashford, within seconds, they were 2-0 ahead. This time, it was good work from Baldock who released Symon James (pictured, left). The pacy winger beat two defenders, took the ball past Gardner and tucked the shot away.
Six minutes into the second half, Ashford again stretched the Blues' defence, although the final shot, from Bennett, ran wide. Shortly after that, the game was effectively ended as a contest when Scott Todd scored a goal out of nothing, running at and beating his marker, before shooting across Gardner. In the 60th minute, the game was halted for seven minutes when home midfielder Ross McLaughlin challenged for a header and was accidentally caught by an elbow. With several Ashford players attempting to assist the stricken midfielder while his team-mates clustered around the dugout, McLaughlin slipped in and out of consciousness before being able to walk from the field, albeit with assitance. Happily, after being taken to hospital, McLaughlin was able to go home on Saturday evening. Ashford remained the dominant force after that, with Teuten going close and Reece Jackson having a couple of chances to add to the scoreline. Dunstable did manage a shot on target - Mark Chrisiodoulou forcing Cox to turn away his long shot in the tenth minute of stoppage time but this was ultimately a comprehensive win for Ashford. | 
Saturday, 04 February 2012
