Score four to avoid the draw!

This was the first of a few MASSIVE games for AHC 2s in their fight to avoid the drop from MBBO Div 1. Sonning 2s had lost to Oxford, who were sitting bottom of the table, the week before so the pressure was on to perform. The game started very evenly with both teams holding onto the ball well. Ashford had a number of early half chances with the final ball being agonisingly close to our forwards. A long Sonning crash ball through our midfield took a number of deflections and found its way to a Sonning attacker. Running out of space, he took a wild swing at the ball from less than a meter from the baseline. The ball squirmed past a diving Andrew Ritchie whilst hitting the far post on its way in. A goal completely against the run of play and the first real chance Sonning had of the game.

Stunned by the goal, Ashford came back fighting with more and more chances. The possession was again very even between the two teams with Ashford being by far the more efficient with their attacking play. A number of piercing runs forward from midfield man Matt Law (later voted MoM) created opportunities in and around the D. The skilful runs of Adeshpal Aulakh also looked dangerous with one attack finding its way to David Baker on the baseline. The ball was fired across and greeted by David Eastbury who first time slapped the ball towards goal. His attempt was off target but a defensive deflection took it past the young Sonning keeper to level the score at 1-1.

The half ended and Ashford knew we had a very important 35 minutes ahead of us. We had been all over the oppo without much to show for our efforts - as was an emerging pattern of our campaign so far. We therefore needed to pull together as a team and convert our chances. With these words still ringing in our ears, we went out to show why we do not deserve to be in the position we are.

Ashford started sharply and used the wings effectively. Matt Sutch and Ryan Croxon teamed up well and used the left wing to play a long one two between themselves whilst driving up the pitch. Another quick one two between Matt Emmerton and Ryan in the D who managed to find a defenders foot under pressure to win the short corner. A powerful injection from Rob Grant was stopped dead by Paul Neyton before being flung knee height towards the far post from a Matt Law drag flick. Matt Emmerton met the ball on the run and expertly deflected the ball into the bottom corner - taking his goal tally to 8 for the season. Sonning had their second attack of the game and were rewarded with another goal. A diving stick interception from Andrew Ritchie found its way to a Sonning attacker in the D who calmly lifted the ball into the net.

The side was determined not to be beaten again and continued to push forward. A long ball down the line from David Baker found its way to Matt Emmerton who beat a number of players whilst driving towards the baseline. A simple ball across the face of goal found its way to Ryan Croxon on the far post to simply slap the ball into the open goal. At 3-2 we knew we had to keep going and push for another goal. We were rewarded for our efforts with Sam Betts locating Rob Grant in the D who finished into the bottom corner.

With 10 minutes left to go and 4-2 up, Ashford showed both professionalism and composure on the ball to fight off the Sonning chances. A well worked Sonning move did however end in a goal but with only one minute left on the clock we had done the job. The game ended with the score at 4-3 and Ashford emerging winners - a feeling which hadn't been felt since the 28th November 2015. AHC 2s now take on Oxford (again at home) next week with another opportunity to grab some points.