Ashford Scorers:
Amit Bhamra, Dan Rose, Gordon Smith (2)
Happy days for Team Ashford as they produced an outstanding second half performance to take the game away from a useful Hawks outfit - one more win and we are promoted to the heady heights of the South league!!
This was far from easy in that we were playing at Oxford at 4.30 and then found they were running late - the game starting after 5 in very windy and cold conditions. First half we were a bit in and out but Amit settled our nerves scoring with his trademark Whack from a short after 10 minutes. Play was fairly even but Chrissy D was leading the line well and putting their back line under a lot of pressure. It was no surprise when he robbed the full back (and got the ball as well) and trundled into the D and then the whole forward line managed to miss a golden chance each… the keeper went down too early and CD tried (and failed) to lift the ball over him - the ball bounced back and squirted to Rosie who missed from an acute angle but the ball went straight to Rhino and from 3 yards out he topped the ball wide!! Sod’s law dictated that from the resultant 16, they went up and equalised made worse by the fact that the lad kicked the ball twice before smacking it past Tom!! We lost our way a bit and it was a struggle in midfield as their playmaker started to pull the strings and we came under a bit of pressure but defended well.
Second half, it could have ended in tears as the home team had an excellent chance but Tom made a top save to keep it all-square and we then scored 3 goals in 10 minutes or so midway through the half to make the game safe. First, Amit switched the ball to Chrissy D from a short and although his shot was saved, Dan Rose at the far post to put it away for his 10th of the season. A few minutes later, the trademark 4’s goal with a twist… Big Amit whacked it in and Gordo deflected it - but straight off his stick hand (and I have the bruise to show for it) - and the ball looped into the corner… ‘it came off his hand!!’ was the shout and the Sunday Oxford papers were raging about the Hand of Gord… but it was perfectly legal as I’m told para 9.11 of the hockey rules states. Five minutes later, we scored from a 3rd short with Gordo deflecting the ball - normally this time - from a Big Amit whack for the goal-den old’un’s 5th goal in the last 2 games and 11th for the season.
Stellar 2nd half performances from Shaggy and the Boy Mountain in midfield and steady - well mostly! - defensive work made sure we won… a great team effort and 3 priceless points… Gerrards Cross and High Wycombe both won to keep us under pressure but that precious point against Eastcote a couple of games ago mean we are a point ahead and a win against MK and Big John next week will mean lemonade shandies all round!!
