| Non-competitive matches are unusual at this stage of the season but the FA Cup had left both clubs with a blank midweek and as Mark Butler and his opposite number Pete Browning both wanted to give their squad players a run-out, this match was arranged at short notice. Rory Gleeson and Glynn Stephens were in the dug-out for the game and fielded an interesting mixture of youngsters and more recognisable names, including Scott Todd, Adam Logie, Jon Palmer and Wes Goggin. It was an impressive young player, though who fired Ashford in front just twenty-five seconds into the match. Jimmy Stanford has attracted a lot of attention since he emerged in the Youth Team at the end of last season and his run and low shot gave the visiting side the perfect start. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Ryman League Premier Division side took a firm grip of the game at the expense of their Combined Counties League hosts, with Wes Goggin and Scott Todd both having two opportunities each to score before the Tangerines doubled their lead in the 31st minute. On this occasion, good interplay between Jon Palmer and Goggin gave Todd a good chance, which he fired across the goalkeeper. Five minutes later, it was 3-0. Again, Palmer was at the heart of the move and his excellent run and cross allowed Wes Goggin to head the ball into the net. Although Sandhurst had a couple of half-chances, the score didn't change again before the interval. The second half continued in a similar vein, with Stanford hitting a free kick at the goalkeeper in the 53rd minute. Moments later, a Ross Bennett pass saw Scott Todd (pictured) bearing down on the stopper, who promptly felled the diminutive forward. Todd took the penalty himself and hit the post, before tucking in the rebound. However, as no-one else had touched the ball, the "goal" did not stand. Jon Palmer forced a good save as Ashford changed things, bringing on promising youngsters Sonny Russell and Moses Phillips. Indeed, Phillips marked an impressive performance by setting up the fourth goal with a slide-rule pass to Todd, who took the ball in his stride and struck a low shot into the net. By then, there were 78 minutes on the watch and the Fizzers must have been heartily sick of the sight of Todd, who continued to cause problems for the home side and created two good opportunities before the final goal of the night with five minutes to go. The strike came from midfielder Martin Jackson, whose twenty-five yard strike flew into the net. All in all, this was a good workout for Ashford and we are thankful to Sandhurst for their excellent hospitality, particularly at short notice. |
Saturday, 04 February 2012
