| This third successive home defeat was tough on Ashford's industrious team, who played all but three minutes of the match with ten men. Against a capable and professional Basingstoke Town side, the Tangerines were always going to struggle once Reece Jackson was dismissed for violent conduct. There could be no complaints about the red card - the young striker raised his hand to an opponent - but it was a pity that the officials failed to spot what caused the incident. That was Basingstoke defender Craig Smith spitting in the face of Jackson as the two tussled ahead of an Ashford free kick. Referee Andy Mirza claimed after the game that Jackson did not draw the initial incident to his attention - according to Ashford skipper Martin Jackson the Heathrow official never gave the forward the chance and sent Reece off without allowing him to explain himself. Once everything had calmed down, Adam Foulser headed the free kick against the crossbar and despite their numerical disadvantage, Ashford had the better of the game for much of the first half, although visiting 'keeper Joshua Peckham was not seriously tested, with Moses Phillips the only man to force a routine save in the 19th minute. Before that, Martin Jackson had joined his half-brother in the referee's notebook when he was booked for allowing an opponent to run into him.  With eight minutes of the first half remaining, Ross Bennett made a genuine attempt to win the ball and conceded a free kick just outside the penalty area, for which he was inexplicably cautioned. Nothing came of the free kick, but with forty-two minutes on the watch the Dragons made their breakthrough when a looping header Suhael Odeh left Dan Cox stranded.
Four minutes after the interval, the visitors found the net for a second time. A fine passing move stretched the shorthanded Tangerines and Grant Powell swept the ball into the net. Ashford responded immediately with a Martin Jackson free-kick that was well saved by Peckham. Soon afterwards, Mr Mirza failed to book Odeh for kicking the ball across the pitch after he was flagged offside - he claimed to have not seen who kicked the ball, despite speaking to the visiting player! Martin Jackson and Phillips both went close for Ashford with long-range drives, while George Baldock shot across the face of goal. Phillips was then cautioned for a foul to make the card count a rather unbalanced 4-0 against Ashford. 'Stoke substitute Scott Perkins was spoken to, but not cautioned, for making a meal of a foul while Alfred Akiotu also threw himself to the ground in search of a free-kick, which was not awarded. Adam Foulser was pushed up as an emergency striker and found himself clean through with five minutes remaining, only to fire his shot over the crossbar. Phillips shot just wide from twenty-five yards as Ashford battled right to the end of the game, but Basingstoke were too clever and professional for Ashford and deserved their win. |
Wednesday, 07 January 2009
