ARCHIVE: Cray Wanderers v Ashford Town. Ryman League Division 1 South. 2006-7 season.

Cray Wanderers                   A       Ashford Town   A

(Match abandoned at half time, due to a waterlogged pitch, with the score 0-2 to Ashford Town)

from Your Milton Keynes Correspondent

Bitter disappointment and utter frustration for Ashford Town this afternoon, as, after a brilliant first-half performance which included two high quality goals, a downpour during the interval caused the match to be abandoned. Of course, you win some, and you lose some, and the luck in such circumstances tends to even itself out – in fact, we’ve now had three games abandoned, being 2-0 down in one, 0-2 up in another, and all square at 2-2 in the other one – but this was dreadfully cruel timing for John Cumberbatch and his boys, after 45 minutes’ play that had suggested that things were finally starting to come together.

It’s not just the fact that a golden opportunity for three valuable points was washed away by a ten minute deluge – it’s more that there was every sign that Tim Thorogood was at last about to be rewarded for bringing such a high-quality group of players to the club, and that the work that John Cumber has been doing with the boys to get them moulded into a team was about to be rewarded with a performance that would really make people sit up and take notice. I saw signs that hinted at such a performance being possible during the 3-0 loss to Tooting & Mitcham, but they really put it together during the 45 minutes that were played today.

Walid Matata has been crucial in making this happen. He appears to have given confidence to the players around him, and his pace, and the speed at which he can do things, enables the whole team to play at a high tempo. I’d also suggest that Kevin Lott’s arrival in midfield has been another important ingredient in the recent improvement in performances. His work doesn’t always necessarily catch the eye, but he’s very quick to see a pass and play it, and this immediately improves the service to the forwards, and enables the team to attack with speed. Walid, on the other hand, stands out as a class player whenever the ball is anywhere near him. We’ve become used to seeing some of our players being out of their depth, but, in Walid’s case, it’s because he’s patently capable of playing at a considerably higher level. There were times this afternoon when he went past defenders so easily that it was embarrassing.

The problem, of course, is that there’s always that nagging possibility that Walid will in fact be snapped up by a team from a higher division – and, with the current spell of wet weather, there’s a real danger that we could lose him before we turn the benefits of having him around into league points. It was encouraging that he turned down Dover’s approach to re-sign him, during the week, but it is also a reminder that we’re vulnerable to any club that might offer more money than Tim Thorogood is currently paying him. I, for one, will certainly be a little relieved to see him warming up on the pitch, every time I arrive for a match, from now on.

Another downside of today’s abandonment is that the boys really seemed to be buzzing this afternoon, and there’s every chance that the momentum we have built up might be stalled by a prolonged period of inactivity. We’re due to play at Sittingbourne on Tuesday, but their match with Horsham YMCA today was an early postponement, and the word is that the pitch is in such a state that they’ll be lucky to play anything at Bourne Park in the foreseeable future; we then don’t have a game scheduled for the following Saturday, so our next match might not be until the 16^th of January (at home to Horsham YMCA). Plenty of time for suitors to be sniffing around Walid !

In spite of the disappointing end to proceedings, there was plenty of entertainment during the 45 minutes that were possible, against arguably the second-oldest football club in the world. I add the word “arguably” because Hallam FC also claims to be the second-oldest club – both clubs were founded in 1860. With the recent throwing-out of Cambridge University FC’s claims, by a committee of wise men, it has been confirmed that Sheffield FC is the world’s oldest football club. Apparently, they were delighted when Hallam FC was formed; not only did that give them a cracking local derby, it also put an end to them having to play on their own for several years.

The oldest football stand in the world was, until a matter of weeks ago, in Milton Keynes – believe it or not. To be precise, it was located within the grounds of the Wolverton railway works, and was the home of Wolverton Town (although I think they might have changed their name to Milton Keynes City quite recently). This stand used to be quite visible in the winter, when there are few leaves on the trees – it was possible to see it on the right, as you approach Milton Keynes from the North on the main West Coast Line, just a couple of minutes before you arrive in Milton Keynes Central station. There was some debate locally as to whether the stand should be saved and restored by MKDC; unfortunately, I noticed, on my way to Liverpool recently, that it was in the process of being demolished, so I suppose that answers that question.

One claim that Hallam FC has that is less open to dispute is the fact that their’s is the oldest football ground in the world; Cray Wanderers, on the other hand, do not currently have a ground of their own, and ground-share with Bromley FC. This gave Your Milton Keynes Correspondent the chance to belatedly add another to his list of major Kent grounds visited – in fact, I think I only have Margate’s Hartsdown Park, plus Welling United’s and Gravesend & Northfleet’s grounds left, of the established grounds in the county at this level.

There were over 1,600 spectators here at Hayes Lane during the week, for Bromley’s home game against AFC Wimbledon, and it’s not difficult to imagine such a crowd being accommodated with some comfort. As well as the large, main stand – mainly a green, corrugated steel construction – there is plenty of terracing on the other three sides of the ground, with roofed shelter behind the two goals. The car park was a little bit Croydon Athletic, but the pitch appeared to be in pretty good condition, in spite of there having been steady rain leading up to the game.

It had, in fact, rained all morning in Milton Keynes, and rained steadily during the whole journey, that took us down the M1, around the M25 via Dartford and then into Frankie & Benny’s New York Italian Restaurant and Bar on the A21, for lunch. (We arrived at the same time that Dion Dublin scored Norwich’s opening goal against one of the two non-league survivors in the FA Cup – live the dream, boys; live the dream). I don’t normally like handing money over to The Mob, but the food here was really good. It was a pity that there wasn’t time for dessert, but it was nice to get some pre-match scran, especially after our recent travel debacle on the way to Tooting & Mitcham.

There was every prospect of this being an evenly-balanced match, with Cray starting just seven points ahead of Ashford, having played the same number of games. Cray have already beaten us twice this season – 0-1 in the league, and 2-4 in the League Cup, both at The Homelands. The Wands are one of several recent examples of a club being promoted from the Kent League and easily making the grade in the Ryman League, along with Chatham Town, Maidstone United and (especially) Ramsgate – with Whitstable probably carrying on this tradition next season. They’re also a team that has a reputation for playing decent football, so there was plenty to look forward to today.

The most notable names on the Cray teamsheet were Andy Martin, a centre-forward making his debut for The Wands today, and the prolific Gary Abbott, who was lurking on the bench – Abbott might be nearly as old as me, but he’s still a handful for any defence, and scored against us in that League Cup game. It was also good to see our old mate Barry Gardner, playing on the left side of midfield for Cray, after spells with Bromley and Tooting & Mitcham – our Club Secretary was gutted to discover that Barry is no longer a blond (not that he ever really was), but isn’t it so easy for illusions to be shattered ?

Ashford’s line-up had a fairly settled look about it, with the only change to recent team-sheets being the addition of Luke Coleman on the right side of midfield. This might have had something to do with Joby Thorogood and Drew Watkins both being injured, but Luke has certainly performed well in the past when coming on as sub in that position – he’s also been showing a good attitude whilst waiting for his chance. So John Cumberbatch continued with the defensive format of Anthony Allman and Simon Glover in the full-back positions, with Tommy Adlington and Marc Cumberbatch in central defence, in front of Jake Whincup. The midfield, from right to left, was Coleman, Carruthers, Lott and Jarrett-Elliott, with top-scorer George Fenwick partnering Walid Matata up front. There were limited attacking options on the bench, but there was defensive cover provided by Nick Fenwick and stalwart Ian Ross, with midfielders Jamie Leggett and Joe “Joe 90” Hitchings also available.

I must say that our hosts showed a rare touch of class by playing Status Quo on the tannoy before the match – which can only be applauded. I just hope that the choice of “Down Down” wasn’t a thinly-veiled reference to any relegation worries they imagine we might have – the selection of “The Wanderer”, just before kick-off, was of course very appropriate.

The match began in steady drizzle, and was covered by both Stephen McKentishfootball, on his web-site, and the man from BBC Radio Kent. Ex-Ashford Manager Tommy Sampson was also in attendance, with Horsham YMCA’s match at Bourne Park having already been called off.

As previously noted, John Cumberbatch’s Ashford side is capable of high-tempo, one-touch football, and there was evidence of this style as early as the first minute of the game, when Kenny Jarrett-Elliott’s confident back-heel initiated a one-two with Simon Glover. Kenny’s attempted cross from the left was cut out, for any early corner, but Anthony Allman’s resulting corner failed to find an Ashford head.

Cray, playing in orange shirts and black shorts and sockies (so that our boys once again turned out in the green & navy blue home strip), managed a weak, long-range shot on target, in the third minute, through Jamie Wood (who, incredibly, scored his 100^th goal for Wanderers last Saturday), but Jake Whincup was right behind it. Three minutes later, Ashford had another corner, this time taken by Kenny Three Names, on the right; although The Coleman managed to deliver a flick-on with his head, the ball again failed to find an Ashford player in the box.

Ashford’s opening goal came in the seventh minute, and it was the combination of Kevin Lott and Walid Matata that set up the chance. Lott started things off by winning the ball in midfield, with a great tackle; his diagonal pass then sent Matata off on a run through the inside-right channel. As is always likely to happen when Walid gets the ball in a dangerous position, he was fouled, so winning a free-kick just outside the penalty area, to the right of the goal. Strangely, given the location of the kick, there was no left-footer standing over the ball, ready to whip it into the area; however, this was not required, as Matt Carruthers curled a low shot around the wall, and just inside the near post. Wands’ ‘keeper Steve Northwood got a hand to the ball, but could do no more than divert it into the corner of the net. This was a quality strike from Matt, and appeared, at the time, to be his first goal for Ashford during his current spell, to add to the 26 he’d scored previously.

The home side had two opportunities to equalise in the eleventh minute. First, the Ashford defence failed to clear a ball from their own area, and were saved when a firmly-struck shot from Jamie Wood was blocked by Anthony Allman, and then Barry Gardner rather scuffed a long-range shot well wide of goal. (It rather reminded me of a comment that Tim Thorogood made, a few years back, that Barry “couldn’t finish a bag of crisps”).

Ashford went further ahead, just a minute later – and this time it was a goal of pure class from Walid Matata. He picked the ball up in the centre of the Cray half; he turned, took the ball forward a few paces, and then let fly with a low shot that saw the ball nestle in the same corner of the net that it had been in after Matt’s free-kick. It was an effort that no other player on the pitch would have had the audacity to attempt, but Walid executed it to perfection – it’s only after years of watching players at this level scuff shots wide or balloon them over the bar that you appreciate the sight of a striker doing the job properly. Apart from the unexpected joy of seeing Ashford leading 0-2 after only twelve minutes, there was genuine pleasure among the Ashford faithful that Walid had scored his first goal for the Club, having had what’s reported to have been an excellent goal rubbed out by the weather, at home to Hastings, last Saturday. As we now know, alas, Walid was again to be disappointed, so, like Matt Carruthers, is still officially yet to get off the mark for us this season.

Ashford now had their tails up, and, in the 14^th minute, Walid showed his ability to initiate moves when he sent Kenny Jarrett-Elliott off down the left wing. Kenny, who particularly seems to have benefited from Walid’s arrival, squared the ball to George Fenwick, in the centre. George considered taking a shot at goal, but instead spread the ball right, to Luke Coleman, who also appeared to have a shooting chance, but he sent in a chipped cross to the far post, which went harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

In the 19^th minute, Simon Glover went on a run down the left touchline, and was upended by Jamie Wood – to describe Wood’s act as a “challenge” would over-dignify it, as he merely kicked Gloves on the shin. Anthony Allman, whose performance today also deserves to be mentioned in dispatches, took the free-kick, but his long, hanging cross was well caught by Steve Northwood.

In the 20^th minute, Walid Matata showed another great piece of skill. Starting on the right touchline, and from a standing start (!!), he drifted past two Wanderers defenders as if they weren’t there, and again induced a foul, just outside the area. This was again taken by Matt Carruthers, but from a position a little further to the right to the free-kick that had earlier led to his “goal”; this time, Matt put in a cross, which went harmlessly through for a goal-kick.

It was at about this time that news filtered through that Bromley’s own game today, away at Staines, had been abandoned after only 13 minutes – but there still appeared to be no prospect of the game being called off at Hayes Lane, as the pitch was still perfectly OK, in spite of the rain continuing to fall.

In the 23^rd minute, Anthony Allman again took responsibility for a free-kick, after George Fenwick had been fouled in the centre circle, when challenging for the ball in the air. Anthony’s cross into the Wands’ area was met by the head of Marc Cumberbatch, and broke to Kenny Jarrett-Elliott, but Kenny could do no more than stab the ball behind, for a goal-kick. In the 26^th minute, shortly after the home side had made an enforced substitution – Jamie Wood hobbled off, to be replaced by big striker Gary Abbott, with Lewis Wood dropping back into midfield – Kevin Lott initiated another attack, by spreading the ball wide, to Walid Matata. Walid’s cross was deflected, but still found Kenny J-E, whose shot was blocked. The ball broke to Simon Glover, who dribbled the ball into the Cray area, and pulled the ball back from the by-line; Steve Northwood intercepted this cross, but needed two attempts to gather the ball safely.

As the half-hour mark approached, the home side began to come into the match more, and it began to look like there might be a goal at either end. In the 28^th minute, Cray had a corner, on the left, but this was headed clear by Matt Carruthers – this immediately started an Ashford break, involving Kevin Lott and Walid Matata, but this broke down when George Fenwick was rather carelessly caught offside. Kenny Jarrett-Elliott tried a long-range shot, which went tamely through to the ‘keeper, before Cray launched an attack, in the 35^th minute. Lewis Wood spread the ball wide, to the right, for Gary Abbott to chase. Abbott sent in a good, low cross, which Jake Whincup intercepted at about the penalty spot – the ball squirmed from his grasp, but Jake recovered well, and gathered it at the second attempt. A minute later, George Fenwick, from a deep position, found Matata, wide on the left. Walid then fed the ball in to Kenny, who had taken up a good position, inside the penalty area; he might have turned and shot, but he instead laid the ball back to George, whose shot from just outside the area was only just too high.

In the 37^th minute, Andy Martin had a chance to mark his debut with a goal, when he burst clear of the Ashford defence, but he pulled his shot well wide. A minute later, Tommy Adlington did well to beat Martin in the air, (especially if you consider that he was giving away at least six inches in height), and was unlucky to see the ball break nicely for the opposition – this enabled a dangerous-looking through-ball to be played, for Lewis Wood to run onto, but Simon Glover then showed good strength and composure, and cleared the danger.

The Ashford defence was again under pressure in the 40^th minute, when having to deal with a goalmouth scramble; eventually, it was Luke Coleman who did well to block a shot, and Anthony Allman effected the clearance. Two minutes later, it was again the experienced Gary Abbott who was at the centre of a Cray attack. Lewis Wood spread the ball wide to Abbott, on the right, and made his way into the centre, untracked by the Ashford defence. Abbott managed to find Wood with a cross, but the ball was cleared before he could get in a shot.

There was still time, before Referee Nigel Lugg blew what was to turn out to be the final whistle, for Kenny Jarrett-Elliott and Barry Gardner to have a long-range shot, at both ends, but Kenny’s well-struck effort was always going wide, and Jake Whincup was well behind Barry’s skidding attempt. Luke Coleman also had a curling effort saved by the ‘keeper, late on, but possibly the most significant event in the dying moments of the game was George Fenwick pulling up lame with what looked to be a back-related injury. This occurred in the 45^th minute, so George was helped off into the dressing-room by Mo Alvi, and Ashford played the remainder of the half with ten men.

The players trooped off with the rain falling steadily, but with still no thought being seriously given to the possibility that the game might be called off. Seconds later, however, the rain began to absolutely hose down – I know this, as it coincided with Mrs Milton Keynes Correspondent sending me off in the downpour to fetch a cup of Bovril from the burger stand. (This I did, of course, unquestioningly). This simple act of obedience was itself quite an event, as the pretty young thing who served me had never made a Bovril before – I’m very glad that she asked me whether I wanted any milk with it !  (Can someone please remind me to ask the Inland Revenue for a refund on my share of the tax payers’ money that was spent on her education ?!).

The upshot from all this is that, by the time I had returned to the main stand with the cup of rain-diluted Bovril (no sugars), there were now several places on the pitch where there were, for the first time, patches of standing water – the goalmouths had also turned into little lakes. Before I reached the stand, the ref and his two officials had, ominously, emerged from the changing rooms with some footballs, to test whether the balls could roll on the surface. With the deluge having eased to steady rain again, the Three Wise Men left the field, and returned, almost immediately, with the two managers, John Cumberbatch and Ian Jenkins. After a very brief discussion, the managers shook hands, and that was that.

I don’t think there was much doubt about what the decision was going to be, once the puddles had started to form on the pitch. I heard the man from BBC Radio Kent describe the decision as “ludicrous”, which I think was well wide of the mark – I reckon the decision was about the only one they could take, although I was a little disappointed that they didn’t give it some time, and maybe fork the pitch to see if some of the surface water could be dispersed. Of course, as Sod’s Law decrees, the rain had just about eased by 4.10pm, but the decision had been taken by then, and the surface water still remained.

I’d like to be optimistic, and hope that reports of the state of Sittingbourne’s pitch are grossly exaggerated, and that Ashford can convert some of the progress they’ve made with recent performances into points next Tuesday, but I don’t really expect to be taking any time off work next week.

So off we went, splashing through the puddles of the car park, stopping briefly at Frankie & Benny’s for that dessert – well, it’s an ill wind indeed that blows nobody any good.