Disappointed Ashford draw to Chiswick away

The men’s first team’s season got underway with a tough away trip to Chiswick. With a stuttering pre season, and a number of new faces, Ashford knew it would be a hard fought game against one of the leagues toughest defences.

After a nervy opening by both sides, Ashford were the first to settle, and started to dominate the game in the middle of the park through skipper Luke Cottrell, coach Ravi Virdi and Rob Crackles. With the solid base at the back and in midfield, Ashford started to create openings going forward and nearly opened the scoring when Shujah ur Rehman rounded two defenders from their first short corner, then narrowly putting the shot wide. The breakthrough came shortly after, again from a short corner, Rehman arrowed the ball into the top left corner with a bullet dragflick. Ashford didn’t have it all there own way, and had to rely on goalkeeper Ryan Croxon making a couple crucial saves from the hosts own short corner routines. Still with most of the play, Ashford went on to double their lead, thanks to the bright run of Piers Du Boulay, who then picked out Luke Cottrell, and the skipper showed nerves of steel as he flicked the ball home.

2 nil up at half time, it was an fine and composed first half from the visitors, who came out of the blocks as they finished the first half. Unfortunately, Ashford’s slick passing game and adventurous forward play did not produce the end product it deserved, with both posts being struck with fearsome shots. Ashford continued to dominate play, but unfortunately, surrendered possession in a dangerous area and the hosts broke and their captain pulled a goal back with a thunderous shot from the narrowest of angles.

Galvanised by the goal, Chiswick pressed on for an equaliser. With Chiswick pushing higher up the pitch, they left gaps in behind and Ashford almost capitalised with a fantastically worked team goal that was put just wide by the dangerous Andrew Whiting. With 5 minutes to go, Ashford started to sit deeper and deeper and gave away another cheap short corner. This time Chiswick went for a deflection at the back post, which resulted with it hitting postman Patrick Fisher on the line and a penalty flick was given. The hosts captain converted the flick and and it was all to play for with a few minutes to go. Ashford got a short corner on full time, but we’re denied victory by a fine stop by the Chiswick keeper to keep out another attempt by Rehman.

Although disappointed by the result, there were plenty of positives for the red and blacks. Ashford roll on to their first home league game next week against the unpredictable Wycombe.