Troublesome Tring

AHC 2s took on a tough newly promoted Tring side who managed to bag a massive 125 goals last season and were undefeated so far in this. Missing a large section of the spine of the team, Ashford demonstrated its youth and strength in numbers as we all pulled together to get 13 players named for the fixture. Players travelled from near (Clubhouse) and far (Norfolk) to make the fixture at The Lane ready for a tough game on the warm October day.

A new partnership in midfield saw Adeshpal Aulakh and Elliott Symes swap their hockey sticks for a coaching board as they got to grips with the teams press moments before the warm up. Long time Ashford right half Adam Husband was also back in the classroom learning new responsibilities as a CB filling in for the phantom David Baker who was out Trick Or Treating with El Vice Crabitan David Eastbury.

The first half ended 0-0 with the vast majority of chances coming from the pacey rotating front line of Rob Grant, Sam Betts, Stephen Law, Andy Sonden and Robert Forster. Shaggy would have had more pitch time if it wasn't for those meddling kid...

Ashford's defence started to melt in the scorching heat as we faced short corner after short corner. Adam Husband (later voted as 2nd place MoM) stood firm with an unusually sober Matt Sutch filling in behind. A half volley from a rebounded drag flick into the corner of the goal put Tring into the lead. Ashford continued to pour forward with a number of chances going wide as we set up camp in their half of the pitch. On the break, Tring looked dangerous and forced a number of saves from MMA fighter Ryan Croxon in the Ashford net. Following some tired defending, Tring finished off the game with another goal bringing the score line to 0-2. A truly unjust score line for the closely fought game.

Ashford 2s now face two much easier opposition in Sonning and Oxford away in desperate need to get some more points on the board to keep them high mid table.

Both MoM and DoD were awarded to Ryan Croxon who wore the jester hat with pride. With the Social Sausage of the Season costume on the line next week (for the sober social on the 9th November) the tallies will be counted with the leading DoD player being awarded the coveted costume.