Isthmian League Cup Quarter Final,
War Memorial Sports Ground, Carshalton
3rd March 2009

Mark Butler made six changes from the team beaten at Horsham on Saturday, including a 1^st Team debut for Moses Phillips who had been showing up well in the Reserves recently.  Billy Jeffreys and Scott Harris also returned as did Scott Todd to his old club.  Craig Ross replaced Paul Burgess in goal.

The Carshalton team sheet showed a strong team but the home club were dealt a blow before the match when leading scorer Richard Jolly failed a fitness test and had to be replaced.

The match began with the rain falling heavily accompanied by a swirling wind that made it very difficult for the players even though the pitch itself was immaculate.  Referee Bentley, who generally refereed the match very sensibly, blew his whistle to start the game and the 81 hardy spectators were entertained as much as could possibly be expected given the conditions.

Both sides looked lively in the opening exchanges but it was Carshalton who struck the first blow on 11 minutes when the newly recruited CHARIE IDE, older brother of Ashford’s less well known Nathan Ide, found himself put through and a sublime finish into the far corner gave Ross no chance, despite the custodian’s valiant effort which saw him get fingertips to the ball to no avail.

With Ashford never having triumphed at Carshalton before, there was some immediate concern within the visitors’ ranks but unlike Saturday’s  mediocre display at Horsham, the team seemed to have the bit between their teeth and an equaliser on 29 minutes was no more than they deserved, even though it came from the spot following a foul on Scott Todd, who was enjoying himself against his former club.

It did look like a foul although it was “soft” in nature and might well not have been given on another occasion.  None of that bothered RICKY WELLARD whose confident effort gave home keeper Richard Stroud no chance. 

It got better for the visitors.  On the stroke of half-time it was that man WELLARD again who was on hand to take advantage of a rather unnecessary defensive mix-up involving Stroud and one of his colleagues.  A controlled low effort propelled itself into the net to send Ashford in one up at half-time.

It got even better three minutes into the second half when Todd sent in a high swerving cross to the far post which found BRETT COOPER unmarked and he took full advantage with a header back across the keeper and into the far post.

With the rain still lashing down, the pitch held out valiantly but it was inevitable that slips would be made and just ten minutes later it was the turn of the Ashford defence to look a little red faced as a long cross from the right flank eluded everyone and nestled in the far corner.  Sadly the writer was re-adjusting his umbrella at the time and failed to identify the scorer.

With over half an hour to go, it seemed anyone’s game and few would have predicted that the 2-3 scoreline would remain intact.  Remain it did though as Ashford defended well enough against a rather muted home attack and were always dangerous themselves when they went forward, especially towards the end of the game as Carshalton were obliged to throw caution to the wind in their quest for an equaliser.