Ill-disciplined Ashford draw with promotion rivals Eastcote

Ashford men’s 1st XI were looking to continue their good form away against early league leaders Eastcote this week in the MBBO Regional 1 league.

Ashford were slow to start, and allowed their opponents to have much of the ball and territory in the opening stages, but the defence remained resolute and gave Ashford a base to work from. Ashford began to create openings through forwards Tom Pitfield and Andrew Whiting, and, after a sustained spell of pressure, got their just rewards when Pitfield skinned his marker and squared the ball across goal where Jamie Hemphrey was on hand to provide the finish. Ashford were buoyed by the breakthrough and pressed forward looking for more goals. Unfortunately, this left huge spaces in behind the midfield and, after a couple of cheap turnovers in defence and midfield Ashford found themselves conceding twice in quick succession before the break, ending the first half 2-1 down.

With some words of encouragement by returning coach Ravi Verdi, Ashford came out of the blocks rapidly and forced an early short corner. As he so often does when Ashford need him, Shujah Ur Rehman stepped up and unleashed a dragflick hard and in to the bottom corner, putting Ashford back on level terms. Ashford took control of the game and started to dominate proceedings. When their opponents did have the ball, they were forced into playing the ball back in their own half, which lead to the hosts surrendering possession and allowing Ashford to break quickly. After narrowly missing an opportunity from break, Ashford regained the lead when Hemphrey released Rehman, who was one on one with the keeper, and managed the squeeze the ball under the keeper and into the vacant goal.

Ashford were then reduced to 10 men with ten minutes to go and subject to a number of contentious decisions, which led to Ashford losing their discipline and allowing Eastcote to grab an equaliser in the last 5 minutes. Ashford keeper Adam Smith made a couple of crucial blocks at the death to ensure that Ashford left with a point, with the match finishing 3-3.

Ashford face no let in their next match home against in form and promotion chasing Oxford.