Ryman League Premier Division,
Short Lane Stadium
5th September 2009

Ashford battled back from two goals and a man down to snatch a point in this clash between two sides at the wrong end of the table. A well taken brace from Byron Harrison gave the Short Lane side a share of the points but that was tempered with the straight red shown to Mal Bulley for retaliation.

The home side very nearly made the perfect start as Harrison ran on to Vinnie O’Sullivan’s pass but his shot was wayward and found the head of his new strike partner Brian Haule, signed from Hendon in midweek, but Haule could not direct the ball into the net.

O’Sullivan and Bulley combined to set up a chance for Harrison but he was adjudged off-side, from the resulting free kick the ball was played down to Lloyd Blackman on the Margate right whose cross was met by Steve West but his header cleared Craig Ross’ bar.

Paul Nicholls saved from the head of Harrison from Paul Johnson’s free kick before, in the 23^rd minute, Margate took the lead. A long throw by right back Aaron Lacey was not defended leaving West with the simple task of stabbing the ball past Ross.

Ten minutes later Margate doubled their lead. A quick Ashford free kick was intercepted and played down field where, for the second time in a week, O’Sullivan was penalised for hand ball. Blackman dispatched the penalty.

Ashford hit back and a long throw from Adam Logie caused consternation in the Margate penalty area where, in the act of clearing his lines, Curtis Robinson’s hasty clearance went out for a corner via his own goal post.

Ashford should have reduced the deficit just before half time when Harrison broke through the Margate off-side trap but Nicholls saved with his feet and Haule screwed his shot wide from the rebound then, a minute later, Haule picked out Harrison with a superb cross from the right obliging the Margate custodian to execute a full length dive to keep out Harrison’s well placed header.

Ashford hit the woodwork again early in the second half when a Johnson free kick was played out to Logie who volleyed against the visitors bar.

Margate’s lead was halved, soon after, when a free kick was awarded for a foul on Joseph by Lacey. The resulting free kick from Warren Harris was played low into the penalty area where Harrison (pictured) was waiting to roll the ball past Nicholls and into the Margate net.

The home team found themselves down to ten men in the 64^th minute when Bulley was shown the red card for retaliation.

The visitors missed a golden opportunity to restore their two goal lead but West headed over from a corner then, three minutes later, Ricardo Joseph received the ball on the left, checked his run and sent a well weighted cross goal-wards with his right foot where Harrison volleyed home for his second of the match.

Ashford had a decent penalty appeal for hand ball turned down before, late in the game, another surging run down the left by ‘man of the match’ Joseph took him into the Margate penalty box but his cut-back to Haule was intercepted.