Sunday, 4th May 2025 saw our Club, players and 80 plus supporters make their way to Lea Valley Hockey Centre for the Tier 2 Championships Plate Final and what a wonderful day and occasion it was! Ashford Men stormed to their third National Cup success in 3 attempts with a consummate team performance against Sheffield University Bankers, who were plucky but struggled throughout, the 3-0 final score being a fair reflection of the game.

From the first whistle, and a 50 metre aerial by Sid Woolmore (one of 6 colts in the squad) to winger Freddie Cottrell, the Red-and-Blacks looked potent and up for the challenge. The first 15 minutes was high energy stuff as both teams looked to contain and then impose themselves on their opponents. The Ashford defence was resolute with Cameron Down immense in the holding role, well supported by the defence of Harvey Bray, Matt Sutch, Steven Forster and, playing in his last AHC game, the old grizzled warhorse, captain Luke Cottrell. Sheffield did have one good chance, 10 minutes in, but goalie David Faulkner shot off his line and down to block the Bankers forward. Buoyed by such a confident start, the boys then shoved the Bankers back and, after 15 minutes, only a fantastic instinctive, diving save by the Bankers GK stopped Nico Colman opening his account. AHC were not to be denied and took the lead a few minutes later from their third short corner. It wasn’t trapped and came out to back up Henry Clark, he found Down on the right and his slapped cross was deflected high into the net by the irrepressible Freddie Cottrell.

What was clear from the sidelines was the team ethic from the whole team. Coach Ryan Croxon deserves a lot of credit for not only the team setup and tactics but also for his peerless management of subs as players went on and off in ineffable fashion. Defence started from the front with Zach Barnes, Josh Kavia, joe Holden, Louis Kinyanjui and their Dad, Steve Taylor, working so hard to close down and limit Sheffield’s forward forays. Going forward, Colman and Down were supplemented by barnstorming runs down the right by Henry Clark and AHC were soon 2-up. Nico jigged, jinked, zigged and zagged through the inside left channel clearly looking for a short corner and he got one better when the umpire made a big call and gave a penalty for deliberate feet. Cam on Down, Cameron Down, for a nerveless conversion to seal his MoM award.

Wow, what a half and well-deserved lead and it got even better, as 20 seconds into the second half, AHC were 3-up from the Sheffield pushback!! The ball was misplaced to the centre back whose jittery first touch was a gimme for Colman who robbed him (and he got the ball, as well). With the goalie coming out to the top of the D, Nico did his customary back spineroonie and then tomahawk’ed into an empty net.

Sheffield threw caution to the wind and had a decent 15 minutes or so. GK David Faulkner was at his strutting best blocking out a couple of shots and got down sharply to his left to deflect a decent chance wide. Harvey Bray blocked a high, looping shot on the line and a short corner went agonisingly just past the post. Eventually, Ashford weathered the storm with hardworking defence enlivened by skittering runs down the right by Noah Benedict, which exercised Sheffield as they finally accepted their fate. Last knockings, inside the last two minutes, saw a spectacular goal line save by the redoubtable Sheffield no. 28 who was, by some way, their best player.

The final whistle was blown and Luke had his fairy-tale career finish but this Cup victory was down to an exceptional team performance from minute one to 70 by the whole 16-man squad. A squad with an age range from 16 to 36, 6 who are current colts and 5 who are ex-colts, all 16 of them, of course, Mighty Red-and-Blacks! Well done, lads!!!