| The reserve side won 4-2 against a much older and more physically stronger Bedfont outfit, with the Ashford squad having an average age of 18, and containing seven youth team players. The playing surface was by far the worst that Ashford had played on this season and this seemed to affect them more than Bedfont who started brightly and tested keeper Dane Buss with early efforts on goal. This pressure soon resulted in Bedfont taking an early lead after Ashford failed to clear their lines their forward managed to guide his effort into the net. The Tangerines were now aware that a satisfactory performance would not be enough to get something out of this game and everyone’s effort levels started to improve. Good chances for Junior Bushri, Nathan Turner, Ike Chuckwudum and Tommy Hedges soon followed with forwards Bushri and Turner causing havoc in the Bedfont defence and creating chances at will without the end result. The increase in effort from the Tangerines was soon rewarded when Bushri broke free and slotted the ball past the keeper to level the scores. The Tangerines started the second half well, however, after losing possession, Bedfont broke and scored to put the Ash Trees behind once again. It seemed like it could be one of the evenings where Ashford would always be undone by their more gritty and workmanlike but less gifted opponents until Ben Jones pounced on some sloppy defending to level the scores again. The Ash Trees now started to take control of the game and after another testing corner from Jones, centre back Chuckwudum rose above everyone to head the ball into the top corner. Ashford thought the game was finally over when Turner burst past three players, who had all attempted to foul him, and put the ball on a plate for substitute Munir Dar to slot the ball home only for his finish to miss the target. The game was finally taken away from Bedfont when Danny Byron broke free on the right and curled a cross onto the head of Dar who this time didn’t disappoint. Another gritty performance by Ashford that was ugly rather than slick. However, bearing in mind the inexperience of the squad, this one every bit as valuable as the 4-0 drubbing of AFC Wimbledon the week before. Team. 1. Dane Buss, 2. Nick Hardy, 3. Jacob Joseph, 4. Thomas Nyarko (Tom Betts 68mins), 5. Rob Curtis (Harry Stacey 80mins), 6. Ike Chuckwudum 7. Ben Jones, 8. Danny Byron (capt), 9. Junior Bushri, 10. Nathan Turner, 11. Tommy Hedges (Munir Dar 58mins), . Sub not used, Charlie Hamshire, Sam Oyuive. |
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
