With the league won easily by Fareham, the only games of note are the ones at the wrong end of the table and Saturdays clash was an intriguing one for two reasons.
Ashford just HAD to win against a side that was in contention for the league earlier on in the season. Secondly it was the battle of coaches. John Shaw in charge of Oxford University, former GB player, having represented GB in two Olympics and Hockey World cup silver medal winner versus Guest coach Mike Williamson, former Wales International and Hounslow player in their heyday and now making strides as coach of Reading (and Wales) as they head towards their second consecutive title under his management.
In the end there was no contest in either category. Ashford looked comfortable for most of the game although the score line suggests otherwise and of the two coaches, Williamson got more out his players then Shaw did.
The omens were good when in the first minute. A ball played down the right found McFarlane in space. He looked up, beat his man and spotted Jimmy Webber in front of goal who took the ball onto his reverse side and slotted the ball in. The ease of the goal surprised the spectators and the bench and the low-key celebrations bore that.
Just 3 minutes later Ashford conceded a penalty corner that resulted in a drag flick low to Appleyards right, which hit the underside of his body and thudded into goal for stunned silence.
Back came Ashford as Jody Smith had a good run into the D won a penalty corner and the resulting flick from Jimmy Webber hit the post. Ashford were more then holding their own with good movement and passing. Oxford with nothing to play for looked disinterested and at times this looked like a training game. In the 17th minute another attack won Ashford a penalty corner and this time Jimmy Webber found the gap just inside the right post to give Ashford a 2-1 lead.
Ashford looked more and more like the side in the top three rather then the bottom three and in the 23rd minute a long corner resulted in McFarlane finding room in the D to strike at goal, the rebound off the keeper came straight back to him and this time he placed the ball to the left of the goal giving Ashford a 3-1 lead at half time.
Williamson’s talk at halftime was about moving forward and finding space behind the Oxford defence. Oxford started the second half strongly with greater purpose as they increased the tempo. Ashford on the other hand had lost some of their urgency with a two-goal lead already in the bag. It was inevitable that Oxford would pull another goal back and it was so in the 60th minute when they won a penalty corner and the straight dragflick went through Appleyard’s legs to add some belief to Oxfords intelligent play.
Suddenly there was a reaction from the Ashford players and another attack won a penalty corner which Jimmy Webber flicking only to have it saved. The ball went to McFarlane whose strike was deflected in at the far post by Grainger.
With only 4 minutes to go that should have been it but a desperate attack by Oxford on the left after breaking up play forced Bryant to lunged into a tackle leaving the defence exposed resulting in a goal for them, making it 4-3.
There just wasn’t enough time for Oxford to build on the late goal and it was three wins on the trot for the boys in red.
Ashford are out of the relegation zone for now with just one game to go against Lewes who prop up the table. A win will secure their position in the league, ready to rebuild for next season.
