Ashford Scorers:
Dan Rose (2), Ryan Holland (2), Amit Bhamra
Team Ashford showed how tough they were on Saturday overcoming crippling nipple rash - yes we bled for the team - to post a convincing win over struggling Bracknell. Our new shirts had turned up and we all looked very handsome, our mum’s would have been proud. Eventually we decided to stop treating the astro like a catwalk and got on with the game…
It was immediately apparent there was a bit more time and space on the ball than usual and we could get our heads up and pass the ball. Of course that would be too easy for us so it took us 10 minutes to impose ourselves us on the game, when we did, a smart move involving Wild Man and Rhino ended with the Time Bandit flicking home. We could and should have scored a couple more but went into half time one-up.
The half time team talk was enlivened by Tony - our crowd doubled for the day - telling us to watch out for flying acorns!
We continued to dominate the second half but couldn’t get the second goal, some interesting runs from Adam caught the eye, he certainly likes cutting inside as one mazy diagonal run would have seen him on the neighbouring footie pitch but for the railings! We then gave up a goal so shocking it has been suppressed by the authorities and you’ll have to come back to this website in 30 years, one element of it was 2 lads calling for the ball and then both leaving it!!
Frustrated by ourselves our play deteriorated and Bracknell had their best spell of the game but their tactic of playing a goal hanger didn’t work and with 15 minutes to go, Big Amit topped in a shortie to calm us down. We then stepped up a gear and went through the pain barrier, as shirts started to chafe the sensitive skin of the brave Ashford boys, to score a quick 3 goals, the first was simple, neat, quick hockey, the ball was cleared to Adam Husband on the left inside our half, he made ground and slipped it to Shaggy - the ball as well - Shaggy - miracle!!!!! - not only had 2 hands on his stick but passed the ball to our resident ewok, Rhino, who rounded the keeper and passed the ball home. The fourth was a shot which hit Rosie’s stick and deflected in and the 5th goal finally broke plucky Bracknell’s hearts…. picking the ball up outside the 25, the brilliant yet modest playmaker-cum-libero Gordon Smith sent 7 of the home team the wrong way with a twitch of his pelvis and then picked out Wild Man, who went past the other 2 of the defence before crossing to Rosie who managed to get his hair out of his eyes to slap it home… Rosie - 2 goals - total distance from goal - 3 yards.
So a comfortable win - according to the Bracknell website we were a larger and more experienced team - not hard to be larger with Egor, Euro and Big Amit in the team - but it should also be reported 4 of our goals were scored by a 12 and 14 year old…
