Man of the Match:
Rosey 

Saturday 9th February, a sunny winter’s day and the 2nd XI travelled to Eastcote for a crunch game…a must win game.  As always, changes to the team were made as we continue to struggle with a consistent starting XI; Adam Smith returning in goal this week.  We desperately needed to win this game to move away from the bottom two and hang on to the coat tails of mid-table.

Not the best build up to the game: arrived late, had to borrow a ‘keepers helmet from Eastcote and warmed up on the side of the pitch.  That said, team spirits were high, there was some good banter and the shambles of a pre match were quickly out of our minds once the game started.    

Early pressure came from a predominantly young Eastcote side, with plenty of movement in Ashford’s ‘D’ – early chances were well saved by Adam in goal, who looked like he’d never left the position.  With Shar and Digger marshalling the backs we absorbed the pressure well and started to play the ball through our midfield.  Gaps soon appeared in Eastcote’s set-up down their flanks and we started to enjoy territory with the ball.  A couple of good moves down the left through Charlie, Carl and Dan Holland up front producing a succession of long corners. 

With this pressure Ashford took the lead after 20 minutes.  An excellent cross field ball from Meadows found Captain Washer on the right.  Cutting inside the young left back, he found Rosey on the baseline, he beat his marker and crossed for Dan Holland to shoot into the keeper.  With typical panache, Cole had followed up from midfield and tucked the re-bound away.  A deserved lead. 

The rest of the half continued much in the same way:  Eastcote pressure followed by Ashford counter attack.  As always, young Dan Rose continued to thwart the oppo defenders with another composed performance and worked well with Dan ‘one-trick pony’ Holland. 

Half time came; we were tired but encouraged as we knew a win was on. In the 2nd half we changed things around a little to man mark Eastcote’s playmaker so we could suffocate them further.  It didn’t work though as Eastcote levelled five minutes after the restart.  With a cross expected from a tight angle, Adam was caught surprised as the shot flew in at the far post.  We wobbled, not a good start, Eastcote felt the tide turn. 

Except that didn’t happen this time.  Resolute at the back, Billy in his best performance of the season had plenty of space and was able to release the pressure from the Eastcote forwards.  We also started to get the rub of the green with the umpires for the first time this season.   

A tactical change saw Prince Harry move into the man marking position to give Smarty a rest with Rakey coming in at left back.  Both excelled themselves and we started to threaten on the counter again.    

On 50 minutes, Billy cleared from the back with a typical clout up the pitch, the ball somehow finding man-of-the-match Rosey who with his first touch was able to turn the ball round his marker and onto the Eastcote keeper.  One-on-one, he rounded calmly, headed wide and coolly slotted the ball through the 2 defenders on the line.  No shot needed.  Good goal with a strange celebration from the young man who now resembles a young Graham Smart with his haircut! 

At this point you could see Eastcote’s heads dropped and we sniffed a win.

To Eastcote’s credit though they continued to press and produced a succession of short corners.  We repelled them all but had started to fall deep to protect the lead. There were some desperate tackles, Billy bravely going in on a reverse stick hit and stopping it was typical of the Ashford performance throughout:  Resolute, brave and wanting to win.   

With 4 minutes remaining, we broke out of defence again, Rosey mugging his defender again only to be taken out by another in the ‘D’ – penalty stroke.  Digger strolled up from the back and buried it.  We knew then we’d won and deserved it as well. 

The brief for this game was to follow the example of the men’s 1st XI and win at all costs – even if it was ugly.  For large periods of this game we chased the ball and defended the trenches but going forward we are one of the best teams in this league and it showed today.  Four key chances and we took three of them (our best conversion of the season).  Well done lads, a bit of breathing space as we move ahead of Canterbury and away from the relegation zone.  A performance that proves we’re good enough to compete in this league. 

The 2s welcome Lewes to Short Lane on Saturday for yet another must win. 

Washer