Red and Black come out on Top

An epic battle awaited Ashford 3's this week in the form of Wootton Wanderers. 1st v 2nd, a highly intense top of the table clash was on the cards.

Wootton launched the first attack, quite literally, sending a long range aerial downfield from the pushback. Great battles ensued with Ashford players launching attacks from all over the pitch, Shane Smith and Harvey Bray pushing up from the half back positions. Wootton though weren't the highest scorers in the league for no reason and mounted some pressure of their own.

Jimmy Berressem and David Baker ensured that these were largely contained but Wootton got first blood through a short corner. The Red and Black however soon got revenge, and it was David Merchant who levelled the scoring with a superb reverse shot whilst running across the face of goal.

The 2nd half saw Ashford's free flowing play dominate possession and territory even more.

Shane Smith bundled the ball into the net after a defence splitting pass from Nathan George to restore Ashford's lead.

A period of dominance soon followed in which more goals should have followed. Paul Tickner, Nathan George and Harvey had good shots saved whilst Lewis Baber earned his DOD award for putting an easy shot shot high and wide. Word is that NASA have found the ball on the moon. There were also near misses for James Bashford and Nathan George.

Wootton though showed their abilty to capitalise on an opportunity and scored from another short corner to level the match.

Ashford though refused to relent and with minutes to go, a moved started with a fantastic aerial from Baber, in what seems to be an Ashford 3's tradition now, Paul Tickner picked up an excellent second pass, ran about half the length of the pitch and slotted the ball home prompting wild celebrations on the sidelines.

The win puts the unbeaten Ashford 3's 5 points clear at the top of the table and is the 3rd match this season where Ashford have left it late to either win the match or seal a draw, another excellent example of the 3's fighting spirit to give their all until the end. The term 'squeaky bum time' is in need of being renamed Ashford time.

MOM - Nathan George
DOD - Lewis Baber