Dover Athletic v Ashford Town. Ryman Division One South. 24th of March 2008.

Dover Athletic 1 Ashford Town 1
from Your Milton Keynes Correspondent

No need to spend too much time hyping up this Easter Monday game at Crabble. A match against Dover has been THE local derby in recent times. What made today’s game particularly alluring was the fact that, with our hosts looking certain to be promoted to the Ryman Premier Division as Champions, this might well be the last time that this derby game is played for a little while. The last chance, then, for Ashford to avenge the narrow 1-2 defeat at The Homelands on Boxing Day, when most eye witnesses thought that we deserved at least a draw.

So it looks like The Whites are finally going to secure promotion, at the third attempt. I must say that this will be a loss to the teams left behind. Although Dover Athletic FC appears to be the least loved of the clubs in the division – (don’t shoot the messenger !) – there’s no doubt that we’ve all benefited from having them around for three seasons, particularly from the point of view of having a bumper crowd once a year; (we had 855 at The Homelands on Boxing Day).

I’ve also quite enjoyed our trips to The Crabble – (okay, I know it’s supposed to be called just “Crabble”, but I’ve been using the definite article all my life, so I’m not about to break the habit now). It’s certainly a completely different experience to away matches elsewhere in Ryman Division One South, as this is a proper football ground, populated by proper crowds, that wouldn’t be out of place in the Conference. There’s a depth of terracing behind each goal, with fans that actually sing footy songs behind the goal that Dover are attacking, (although it was eerily quiet for long periods this afternoon, in spite of the crowd of 1,324 being the biggest league gate in this division so far this season).

Crabble Athletic Ground is a multi-tiered facility built on a slope, which Dover Athletic FC shares with Dover’s Rugby Union Club. Whilst the ridiculous and over-rated game of catch takes place at the lower level, on the flat, circular area that used to host county cricket matches, the footy pitch is situated higher up the slope, and appears almost to have been cut into the side of the hill. With the stadium occupying such an elevated position, there is a good view of the tail end of the North Downs, with houses sprawled on their South-facing slopes. There is no main structure that dominates the ground – most of the seated accommodation is provided in a low, narrow stand that extends for the length of the pitch on one side, in which there are red and black plastic seats, about four-deep.

I’ll tell you something else. It’s certainly an expensive experience coming to The Crabble: £9 to get in, an additional £1.50 to get into the stand and £2 for a programme, so, for the two of us, it cost £23 before we’d even thought about something to eat and drink – not that we begrudged paying the Dover players’ wages, you understand !

At the end of one of the most miserable Easter week-ends, weather-wise, in living memory, it was no surprise that we had a bit of everything on the journey from Milton Keynes: snow, sleet, hail, rain and even some bright sunshine. The weather seemed to brighten up as we entered God’s own county, however, and, after a brief snow flurry during the ten minutes leading up to kick-off, the first hour of the game was played out in sunny, but chilly, conditions.

I was a shade apprehensive for the boys before this match, as we’ve been consistently inconsistent all season, and an off-day against a very good Dover side might have had embarrassing consequences – especially with the nagging fear that the prospect of exciting possibilities for next season, and beyond, might cause some players to just “go through the motions” for the remainder of this season. I needn’t have worried on that score, though, as the boys certainly gave it 100% this afternoon. This was a battling performance, against a superior side, and one which fully deserved the hard-earnt point.

Although Ashford inevitably had to ride their luck on several occasions, this was very much a triumph for Manager Steve Lovell. He set the team up in an interesting 3-4-1-2 formation, with three at the back: Sean Ray in the centre, with Danny Lye on his right and Daniel Brathwaite on his left. There was the usual midfield quartet of Mitchell Sherwood, Ryan Briggs, Anthony Hogg and Jimmy Bottle, with Hogg being particularly impressive, in a combative area of the field, and Briggs virtually doing a man-for-man job on Dover Player-Manager Andy Hessenthaler. Lovell played three strikers – which meant a rare start for Walid Matata, who, up front with Paul Jones, used his pace to stretch the Dover defence, with Manager’s son Mark “in the hole” behind them. On the bench there was the welcome sight of young Joe Hitchings, who has been recalled from his loan spell at Tunbridge Wells, Aron Freeman, new signing Toby Ashmore, goalkeeper Sam Moore and Tony Browne, who spent many years here at Crabble prior to this season.

Of course, the fact that the Ashford XVI included no fewer than five former Dover players was another reason why the team needed little extra motivation, and one of the Crabble old boys, Walid Matata, was certainly in inspired form, making John Keister’s life a misery. Whilst The Whites’ skipper was playing at centre-half, he’s actually even shorter than Walid, and certainly slower, with Matata showing the ability to run around his outside on several occasions. He did so in the opening couple of minutes of the game, but his cross, from the right, failed to find a green shirt in the area. The ball instead travelled all the way to Ryan Briggs, wide on the left. Briggs found Mitchell Sherwood, in the centre, but Mitch volleyed the ball well wide of goal, from outside the penalty area.

One feature of the afternoon was Ashford’s vulnerability to aerial balls into the penalty area, with Jamie Riley looking less than commanding, and skipper Sean Ray the only Ashford player to win a significant number of headers at the back. After Mark Lovell had fouled Jon Wallis, ten yards inside the Ashford half, the ball was floated into the penalty area. Jamie came out in an attempt to punch clear, and didn’t get near the ball, but in-form striker Shaun Welford couldn’t direct his header towards goal.

Another feature of the afternoon was a bizarre performance from the referee – that’s a kind way of saying “hopeless”, by the way – who missed a great deal of what seemed to be obvious to everyone in the ground but him and his assistants, and made puzzling decisions throughout the 90 minutes. His performance introduced a random element to the game, which made things interesting and unpredictable for any neutral spectators, but frustrated players and committed supporters of both teams. It must be said that neither side benefited more than the other, overall, but his failure to spot anything wrong with Ashford’s opening goal, in the seventh minute, gave the visitors a much-needed head start. Appropriately at Easter, this was very much a “Hand of God” incident, reminiscent of Mara%$$&a’s goal that cheated England out of the World Cup in 1986, and was all very unsatisfactory. A foul on Paul Jones gave Anthony Hogg the opportunity to float the ball into the Dover area. Our former hero John Whitehouse came out for what appeared to be a comfortable catch – whilst I didn’t see Danny Lye’s hand connect with the ball, the ball eluded John’s hands, and ended up in the back of the net, with an Ashford head nowhere near it. We know John Whitehouse well, and he is normally a calm and undemonstrative character, but he pursued the referee almost to the half-way line, in utter disbelief, just as Terry Fenwick had done in the World Cup. (Anyone spot an Ashford Town connection here ?). Many Dover players appeared to be incredulous at Mr Bentley’s decision to award a goal, and this incident added a little extra bite to proceedings, (but this entertaining game never degenerated into anything nasty).

The goal, followed by more strange refereeing decisions, certainly knocked Dover out of their stride for a while, and gave Ashford the confidence to knock the ball around with some good, passing football for a brief period – but The Whites soon recovered their composure, and the visitors spent most of the remainder of the half hanging on to the one-goal lead. Danny Lye certainly walked a disciplinary tightrope throughout the game, and was a bit fortunate not to get booked for a very late tackle from behind on the half-way line, in the 15th minute. From the resulting free-kick, Dover launched an attack, with a brilliant ball delivered inside the Ashford left-back providing Matt Fish with the opportunity to cross from the by-line, but he hit his attempt straight at Mitch Sherwood. The corner came to nothing. A minute later, a second corner, from the left, was met by Shaun Welford, but his glancing header went wide.

As Dover piled on the pressure, the tireless Andy Hessenthaler, under pressure from Ryan Briggs, won a corner, in the 17th minute; this was pulled back to James Rogers, but the left-back’s cross went straight to Jamie Riley. In the 21st minute, there were optimistic shouts for hand-ball from the Port of Dover stand, as Jon Wallis’s shot was deflected, but the referee was unmoved as Jamie Riley went down to his right to save.

It wasn’t entirely one-way traffic, though, with Ashford, playing in their green & white home kit this afternoon, having some opportunities in the first half. Probably our best chance came in the 23rd minute. Jimmy Bottle picked the ball up in his own half, after a Dover move had broken down, and carried the ball forward, through the centre circle. He was in full flight as he approached John Keister, and managed to play the ball to his right, into the path of Walid Matata, before Keister upended him. Walid just had one man to beat, but, incredibly, the ref failed to play the obvious advantage, and brought play back. Keister became the first of five players to be booked this afternoon.

A minute later, John Whitehouse came out to punch clear a Ryan Briggs cross, then Mitchell Sherwood managed to get in a long cross, from the right touchline, which John Keister headed away – but only as far as Jimmy Bottle, whose volley, from the edge of the area, went high and wide of the target.

Sherwood was again required in defence in the 28th minute, when Dover’s main play-maker, Jon Wallis, sent a long, swinging cross to the far post, and Mitch had to head the ball behind for a corner. This was typically well-worked by this passing Dover side, but the move ended with Alan Pouton side-footing over the bar.

The home side continued to press forward, having the majority of possession, with their best chance in the first half coming in the 37th minute. Frannie Collin, very much the class act in a very strong Dover squad, but kept very quiet by Daniel Brathwaite this afternoon, sent in a deep cross from the right, which Danny Lye had to head behind for a corner, on the left. This resulted in a glancing header going just wide of the Ashford goal, but there must have been a deflection, as another corner was awarded, this time on the right. Jon Wallis’s cross was met by Shaun Welford, who headed the ball down, at the far post. After a goalmouth scramble, the ball was blocked, on the line, by Daniel Brathwaite. It broke to Jon Wallis, who let fly with a shot with the outside of his right foot; this was always curling wide of the goal, but took a slight deflection, for yet another corner. This resulted in yet another free header for a Dover player in the Ashford penalty area, but the effort went wide.

With just three minutes to go before half time, Danny Lye clattered into the back of Jon Wallis, for what looked like an automatic yellow card. I was convinced that Danny had finally over-stepped the mark, as Mr Bentley’s card came out – but it was actually Andy Hessenthaler who was being yellowed, for protesting that Danny had got away without a caution. The resulting free-kick was floated into the area, and Mitch Sherwood once again put the ball behind for a corner. Yet again, it was a Dover head that got up to meet the ball, but the effort was again off target. A minute later, another Dover corner, from the left, was whipped in at pace, and passed all the way through the Ashford six-yard box, with Jamie Riley unable to get near the ball. It seemed just a matter of time before Dover equalised – probably from a cross - but the boys managed to hang on, and went in at half time a goal up.

Ashford had a brief spell of possession at the start of the second period – with Paul Jones bursting into The Whites’ penalty area early on, but seeing his attempted pull-back blocked – but the game soon settled back into the routine of Dover attacking and Ashford defending doggedly. The home side had two corners, which came to nothing, in the 49th minute, but then had a much clearer chance in the 53rd minute. Frannie Collin picked up a loose ball, and, in spite of being faced by Daniel Brathwaite, crossed the ball into the centre, but Sean Ray was there to cut out the cross; this resulted in another corner, on the right. This was sent deep into the Ashford penalty area, and a free header was directed down to the feet of Collin, who attempted to delicately tap the ball into the net, and this effort was easily blocked by Daniel Brathwaite.

In the 56th minute, Paul Jones sent the ball forward, along the right touchline, in an attempt to exploit Walid Matata’s pace. Walid was able to round John Keister once again, in spite of the Dover skipper trying to foul him. The Lino flagged, and, instead of allowing Ashford the advantage, the Referee brought play back. This drew protests from Anthony Hogg – which drew a yellow card from Mr Bentley. The mystery deepened further when the free-kick was actually awarded AGAINST Walid.

Just past the hour mark, the green & whites had a rare corner, on the left. Ryan Briggs delivered the cross, and Sean Ray got up well, heading the ball downwards – there was anguish as the ball hit the inside of the post, and popped, one bounce, into the arms of a stranded John Whitehouse. This really would have put the visitors in a commanding position, but there was no time to dwell on what might have been, as Dover immediately launched a counter-attack. This culminated in Alan Pouton hurriedly shooting wide, when he had plenty of time to compose himself and pick his spot.

In the 63rd minute, Ryan Briggs spread the ball wide for Walid Matata to chase, down the right flank. Walid again took the ball around the outside of John Keister, and then cut inside. He appeared to be bundled over, in the penalty area, but there was no reaction from the officials. It was one of those which often results in a penalty being awarded, but, in an age where forwards tend to go down very easily once they cross the white line, you can’t really blame the ref for erring on the side of the defender. Seconds later, Ryan Briggs was booked for dissent, after expressing some surprise at Mr Bentley’s decision to award Dover a free-kick, in the Ashford half. Before the kick could be taken, the home side made a bold tactical change, sending on Jimmy Dryden, as a third striker – (and what a luxury it must be to have a player of his calibre on the bench !) – in place of right-back Matt Fish.

In the 66th minute, Ryan Briggs fouled Jon Wallis, who shaped up to take the free-kick himself, faced by a two-man Ashford wall. Wallis bent his shot around this wall, but Jamie Riley made a good save, one-handed, diving low to his left. Two minutes later, Daniel Lye finally ran out of luck with the ref, and was booked after another challenge from behind. It’s true that he played the ball, but he also took a piece of the man first, so it was always going to be a foul – although nothing was absolutely certain with today’s referee ! Full marks to Danny, though, for having the brass neck to look aggrieved at being shown the yellow card. Worse was to follow, though, as Dover scored what had seemed an inevitable equaliser, from the free-kick. This was a very simple, and well-taken, goal for Jimmy Dryden, with his first touch since coming on as sub. As the ball was floated in, Dryden came flying in, and planted the ball in the net with his head.

With a quarter of the game still remaining, this was bound to be a real test of Ashford’s resolve, as the pressure on the visitors’ goal was cranked up a gear. A long cross from the right, in the 70th minute, went all the way through the Ashford penalty area, across the face of goal; James Rogers just about got on the end of this, but was unable to hook his foot around the ball. Five minutes later, a long-range Jimmy Dryden shot was deflected for a corner, on the right. Shaun Welford got up well, above the Ashford defence, and headed the resulting cross down, but Mitch Sherwood, on far post duty, hoofed the ball clear, (although I think Welford’s effort was actually going just wide). It was at this point that Dover made their second substitution, with their other full-back, James Rogers, making way for Steve O’Brien; (and not Paul O’Brien, as the PA announcer initially said – not that OB would look out of place in this Dover side !).

In the 77th minute, as the lowering sun eventually sank behind cloud, the home side launched a long throw into the Ashford area – the ball bounced around for a while, before Jimmy Dryden shot and turned in one movement, but shot well wide. A couple of minutes later, we saw the rare sight of a triple substitution from Ashford, as Steve Lovell decided to revert to a 4-4-2 formation. Walid Matata came off, having run his socks off, with Tony Browne slotting in at right-back, whilst Aron Freeman replaced Jimmy Bottle on the left side of midfield, and Joe Hitchings made a welcome return to central midfield in place of Anthony Hogg, who had turned in an excellent, battling performance. Credit should be given to Steve Lovell for the fact that his bold decision to play with three men at the back seemed to have worked, when a three-man defence has so often failed miserably, for other Ashford managers, in the past. (Credit too, of course, to the players, for making it work).

The fact that Ashford managed to hold out for a creditable point was very much due to an all-round team effort, so let’s not forget the contribution made by Jamie Riley. Without his brilliant save in the 81st minute, when he tipped over a spectacular, hip-high shot from Jon Wallis, there would be much less back-slapping of The Management and the outfield players, as the ball would have hit the roof of the net. Instead, Dover had to settle for a corner, with Jimmy Dryden heading the resulting cross over the bar.

In the 84th minute, a good one-two, on the right flank, gave Jon Wallis another sight of the Ashford goal. He cut inside, but his shot went well over the bar – just as the PA man announced that he was, deservedly, the sponsors’ Man of the Match. With two minutes remaining, a foul by Ryan Briggs on Hessenthaler, near the right corner flag, gave the home side another opportunity to swing the ball into the Ashford penalty area – the cross was headed clear by Sean Ray, but only as far as Jon Wallis, whose shot was again well saved by Jamie Riley.

So The Whites had to settle for a point, in a game that they had dominated for long periods – but Ashford deserved the draw for sheer effort and determination, defending well all over the pitch, and closing Dover down at every opportunity. I didn’t hear many complaints from the home supporters – and they were ultimately quite pleased with the result, given that Tooting & Mitcham suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat at Croydon Athletic, meaning that Hessy’s boys need just five points from their remaining five games to make sure of the championship.

There were many heroes in the Ashford side this afternoon. Skipper Sean Ray was solid, and dominant in the air, as usual; Mitchell Sherwood had a good game, particularly in the defensive context; Anthony Hogg was very strong, in a competitive midfield area; Ryan Briggs’s contribution in following the experienced Andy Hessenthaler around for 90 minutes shouldn’t be under-estimated; Danny Lye did well, (if we disregard the Hand of God incident). But our Man of the Match this afternoon was Daniel Brathwaite, who did a terrific job in looking after Frannie Collin, and always seemed to be there when required, on his return to The Crabble.

So seven games of Ashford’s season remaining – let’s have a quick Anorak’s Corner (including today’s match).

** Anorak’s Corner **

Milton Keynes Bowl: Today’s Man of the Match award was Daniel Brathwaite’s first, in away games; with two away matches remaining, Paul Jones still leads the field, with three MoM medals, with Jimmy Bottle, Danny Lye and Ryan Briggs just behind him, with two each.

Goalkeepers: Jamie Riley is still head & shoulders above his contemporaries, having now conceded an average of a goal every 85 minutes; the next-best, statistically, in recent years has been Jake Whincup, with a goal conceded every 61 minutes, and he has just signed for Grays Athletic, in the Conference, for the remainder of the season. I’d be very interested to see the record that John Whitehouse had when he played for Ashford – but I don’t have the figures. I reckon he’s probably the best ‘keeper we’ve had for many years, and is becoming respected as one of the best goalies in the Ryman League. He’s certainly impressed the people at Dover, having let in just four goals in 13 matches – and these have included a penalty and Danny’s controversial goal today !

Strikers: Walid Matata’s goal against Whyteleafe on Good Friday put him clear as the top scorer for Ashford this season – but with just eight goals. Mark Lovell, (who also scored five for Dover earlier in the season), is just behind him, with seven; then come midfielders Jimmy Bottle and Danny Lye, with six each. Walid clearly has the best rate of scoring of our current goal scorers; here are the figures for the past three seasons, (with former players in brackets): -

(George Fenwick: 18 @ 177 minutes per goal)
Walid Matata: 16 @ 206
(Nick Wright: 4 @ 221)
(Luke Coleman: 4 @ 228)
Mark Lovell: 7 @ 253
(Richard Sinden: 5 @ 276)
(Adam O’Neill: 2 @ 289)
Paul Jones: 4 @ 305
Danny Lye: 6 @ 342
Jimmy Bottle: 6 @ 362
(Rob Denness: 5 @ 368)
(Joby Thorogood: 18 @ 369)
(Steve Sodje: 5 @ 369)
(Shaun Bradshaw: 5 @ 487)

Attendances: As expected, the average home league attendance continues to decline, as things wind down towards the end of the season. The current average is 273, which compares with last season’s figure of 243. With five home games remaining, gates need to average just 141 for the remaining five games of the season for last year’s average to be beaten. The median figure stands at 220, and will definitely be higher than last season’s median of 198, even if the five remaining matches are played behind closed doors. Of course, we’re dealing with minimal improvements here, and we’re all hoping for a substantial increase in attendances in 2008-9 !

* * *

Man of the Match
(to go towards the Milton Keynes Bowl)
Daniel Brathwaite