Pre-Season Match,
Hand Stadium, Clevedon
25th July 2009

The last time Ashford and Clevedon met was in the penultimate match of the 2005/06 season when the Middlesex side had to defeat the newly crowned Southern League Division One champions to go into their final match of the season, against Brackley Town, with any chance of contesting the second automatic promotion place. Two goals from Scott Todd and another from Gavin Smith gave Ashford all three points that day and, as supporters will recall, a solitary strike from Toddy ensured a transfer back to the Ryman Isthmian League with promotion to the Premier Division the following week away in Northamptonshire.

So it was a delight to lock horns again with our old friends and rivals who continue to ply their trade in the Southern League and those of us that remember our previous encounters knew before the proceedings took place that a stern test awaited the latest batch of players to wear the tangerine of Ashford.

The match started brightly with the visitors forcing the early encounters and even had the ball in the back of the Clevedon net after Byron Harrison had been flattened by the uncompromising Dale Peckham, but Scott Harris’ ‘goal’ was ruled out for off-side.

Harris went close again soon after when he poked Ivo Genev’s cross wide then, a fine ball from Brett Cooper found Harrison who lobbed the ball over the bar while finding himself under considerable pressure from Peckham.

Clevedon picked up the pace and Ashford custodian Paul Burgess was forced to carry out a smart stop with his feet from the lively Sam Small before his strike partner Tom Billing fired over from just outside the Ashford penalty box.

Ashford new boy, New Zealander, Hone Fowler looked solid, strong and comfortable on the ball, at left back, perfectly illustrated when he secured possession with a timely tackle, half way through the half, and found Genev with a well weighted pass to allow the Bulgarian winger to set about creating another attack which culminated in a corner which Genev swung in only to see Scott Harris’ header cleared off the goal-line.

On the half hour though a tremendous surging run from Matthew Walsh, where he eluded three increasingly desperate tackles from Ashford defenders, gave him a perfect opportunity to open the scoring in favour of the hosts but as Burgess advanced he sent his shot just wide.

Clevedon failed to capitalise on a dominant period of play where Burgess was forced to save low from Joey Evans and Sheppard in quick succession with Ashford only too glad to clear their lines then Harrison twisted one way then the other, finally finding Genev on the left whose superb cross was disappointingly headed over by Scott Harris from close range.

The elder Harris went close again, moments later, after a great tackle by ‘man of the match’ Billy Jeffreys had set Genev on his way to jink past two defenders before finding Harris who shot just wide from range. 

Ike Chukwudum looked a solid presence along side Jeffreys in the heart of the Ashford defence while Malachi Bulley and Scott Weight were industrious and full of running in the central midfield but, along with Burgess and Genev, they gave way to Craig Ross, Ricardo Joseph, Gavin Smith, Russ Canderton, making a welcome return after a short hiatus and club captain Paul Johnson, now fully fit after his long injury lay-off, for the second half.

The home side started the second half in the ascendancy with Craig Loxton, who impressed all match, having a powerful shot deflected for a corner then turning provider when he slid a through ball into the path of Sheppard who bought a fine save out of Ross.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 62^nd minute. An exchange of passes between Cooper and Johnson saw Cooper make inroads into the home penalty area where he squared the ball into the path of Warren Harris and the young winger made no mistake as he swept the ball past substitute keeper Dan Hughes and into the Clevedon net.

Shortly after, the Harris brothers combined on the left, Scott drawing Hughes off his line but the keeper was equal to the shot and saved with his legs.

Ashford made the game safe in the 76^th minute following a free kick for a foul on Johnson on the Ashford right. The Ashford skipper picked himself up to find Gavin Smith with his free kick, the Ashford striker scoring with a trademark header at the far post.

In the last quarter of an hour further chances fell Ashford’s way, Joseph forced a corner following his surging run down the left, the ball being cleared to Cooper who tried his luck from fully 30 yards but Hughes was down quickly to safely gather, then Smith split the Clevedon defence with a ball into Scott Harris who crossed but Harrison shot just wide. Harrison headed wide in the closing minutes from Johnson’s free kick but the final chance fell to the home team when a good effort by Loxton fizzed just wide.