Ashford’s season has been broken up by only playing one game in the last six weeks. After a very busy pre season in which they played seven friendlies the season got under way with excellent results both in the league and the FA Youth Cup. The squad of boys signed on and those training has increased and continues to increase meaning that up to thirty boys attend Monday night training. These boys are coming from such teams as Mole Valley Predators U16’s, Staines Town U16’s and others. As a result there are several boys that haven’t yet played a competitive game for Ashford. This game started with two boys making their full debuts Steve Streeter and Rav Randhawa. There were pairings all over the pitch that were new in Rav and Josh Finch in central midfield Steve and Samad Kazi at centre back and Luke Whiteman and Lewis Wombwell as forwards. The game started with Ashford playing up the slope playing a more direct type of football than Northwood. This was how they had been asked to play and on the whole the boys did it very well. Consequently the goals went in the Northwood net at regular intervals throughout the first half with a hat trick from Mark Bitmead playing right side of midfield and Luke Whiteman adding the other. Mark’s best goal came from a sweet left foot strike from twenty yards out after he had picked up an excellent position in space and was found by a good pass from Daryl Loates. Northwood’s’ goal came when Ashford were two up and should really have been avoided but the goal was probably as much down to the new defensive line up as to any individual error. Throughout the first half Northwood played the ball around quite impressively but the Ashford boys are well drilled in their defensive duties and restricted Northwood to the odd chance. Ashford had to readjust at half time, as Daryl Loates was unable to continue, being replaced by Dwayne Lowe- Simms. Within minutes of the restart Ashford scored their fifth goal, a header from Steve Streeter from a well-worked free kick. This prompted a change of formation from Northwood with them pushing more bodies forward. Ashford continued to defend well and look very dangerous on the break. Whiteman came off to be replaced by George Jennings and Randhawa was replaced by Stewart Luwawa. Although Northwood put the Ashford goal under pressure the best chances fell to Ashford as by now Ashford were playing with three forward players against the three Northwood defenders. There were two incidents in the second half of note. The first when Dan Kennard dived bravely to gather the ball in a crowded area only to receive a kick straight to the head, which left him with a bloody nose and a bruised eyebrow. The other involved Lowe-Simms who received a caution after apparently “doing a Rooney” and somehow treading on an opponent. The Northwood players were quite incensed but the referee who was well placed decided Lowe-Simms only deserved a yellow card. Overall things are working well for the under 18’s with their last two games resulting in a 6 - 0 win against Walton and Hersham from the Ryman League and this 5 - 1 win over Northwood who play in the Premier division of the Allied Counties League. As well as this six boys from the youth team are now regularly playing in the Reserves and of course Guy Hollis and Warren Harris are regular first team players. Ashford’s next game is at home to Woking in the New Year. | 
Tuesday, 07 February 2012
