Newbury blown away by Shujah

Ashford men’s 1st XI were away to a Newbury & Thatcham side that had picked up some peculiar results, beating some teams in the top half, whilst losing to teams down the bottom half of the table.

Not knowing what to expect, Ashford sat off for the opening 10 minutes to get used to the pitch, opposition and the very windy conditions. Newbury held the middle of the pitch well, forcing Ashford to be patient on the ball and making them play backwards and down the flanks. After an untidy opening 20 minutes, Ashford worked the ball to Shujah Ur Rehman who drew a foul in the D, winning the first short corner for the visiting side. Rehman stepped up to slam the ball into the top corner, nearly taking the postman with it, to give Ashford a deserved lead. The first half came to end with Ashford maintaining control and keeping their one goal advantage.

Into the second half, and now with the win behind them, Ashford were far more fluid and should have got more outcomes as they regularly got into the oppositions 25. They did eventually get another short corner, again through Shujah Ur Rehman, who was hacked down by the agricultural Newbury defence. Once again the league’s top scorer was on hand to bury the ball into the top corner – once again frightening the life out of the post man. Ashford were well in control of the game and nabbed a third not long after, when Billy Bassett played an aerial down the line to Adam Dunbavand, who played in Rehman, who subsequently beat his player and then squared the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper to Jamie Hemphrey to slap home into an empty goal. A lack of concentration meant Newbury grabbed a goal back 5 minutes from time, and they also managed to convert a short corner at full time to make the scoreline suggest it was closer than it was.

Ashford now have their last game before the Christmas break at home to Eastcote 2s. After ten games Ashford remain unbeaten, winning eight and drawing two, and are still sitting in 2nd place, two points behind the leaders.