Ashford look forward to the visit of Bognor Regis Town on Saturday when they will hope to get back on the winning trail, having gone twelve league matches without defeat, until Tuesday’s defeat at Horsham.  The match has been sponsored by long time joint Ashford and Bognor supporter Eddie Hutchinson and our grateful thanks go to Eddie for his support which is greatly appreciated.

Ashford’s previous matches against Bognor have been less than satisfactory from Ashford’s point of view and include the Club’s worst ever defeat in senior football when they lost by eight goals to nil in November 2002.  Although less severe, Ashford also lost at Bognor earlier in the season by two goals to nil.  The match came at the time of the turmoil following Mark Butler’s resignation and this plus the fact that it was in midweek, as have been most of Ashford’s longer journeys this season, did not help with several unavailabilities on the night.

Although they looked a decent enough team back in November, against Ashford, Bognor have not enjoyed a successful season and will be very keen not to suffer the indignity of two successive relegations, having come down from the Conference South last season.  They currently sit in 21^st place in the table, possibly not helped by the recent release of three players for budgetary reasons, but recent improved form shows two victories in their last four matches, both by the score of three goals to one, away at Kingstonian and at home to Tonbridge Angels.  In between have come a fairly heavy defeat at Hornchurch (0-3) and a fighting draw at home to Wealdstone. 

The Suburban side will make the fairly short trip to meet Wealdstone and will be keen to put up a good display after their disappointing defeat on Wednesday evening in the semi-final of the Middlesex Premier Cup, when they lost by two goals to three at Combined Counties side Bedfont Sports.  Ashford’s goals were scored by Ben Jones (pen) and Munir Dar but the second goal came as stoppage time approached and Ashford’s very young side rarely looked like retrieving the situation once they had gone behind.

Tomorrow evening Phil Marshall is putting on an 80’s disco at the club in the evening.  Entry costs nothing, children are welcome and everyone is invited to come along for what is bound to be an enjoyable evening.