Cray Wanderers 0 Ashford Town 4
from Your Milton Keynes
Correspondent
Yet
another match, in this grueling end of season for Ashford Town – this was the
lads’ third game in five days. After playing extremely well on Saturday, to
beat Molesey 1-2, virtually the same line-up failed to sparkle on Easter
Monday, two days later, reportedly looking tired and jaded during a poor match against
Whyteleafe that ended 0-0. For this Wednesday night game, therefore, I was
expecting very little, and expectations were dampened further at the news that we
had quite a makeshift line-up, with several players out due to injury,
suspension and work commitments. The loss of Walid Matata was expected, after
he was the victim of a brutal tackle on Monday; I hear that Walid actually paid
a visit to A&E this evening, such is the extent of his discomfort with the
ankle injury.
There
were chuckles all round when visiting Ashford Town fans learnt that our
emergency attack was to consist of Ambrose Kamara, who has previously played in
midfield for Ashford this season, and Jason Stuart, a striker making his first
start for us tonight, against the club he left only days ago; Jason has spent
the season playing for Cray Wanderers Reserves, having made just four
substitute appearances for the first team. Well, as that great poet Chuck Berry
once wrote, “It goes to show you never can tell” – cheerful resignation turned
to genuine delight, as Ambrose and Jason contributed hugely to what was almost
certainly Ashford’s best performance of the season so far.
In
fact, it was a night of surprises and contradictions, as there seemed to be no
sign of the tiredness that had apparently been the reason for the flat display
on Monday; Jake Whincup continued his transformation from fumbling wreck to
composed and assured goalkeeper, and Simon Glover, said to be “shot to bits”
physically, after a long, hard season, looked the freshest and fittest man on
the pitch !
What’s
going on with Gloves ? He has now played
every minute of Ashford’s last 36 games, including the Kent Senior Cup tie
against Folkestone and the FA Trophy Replay against Waltham Forest, which both
went to extra time – that’s 64 hours of football – yet he reckons that he feels
absolutely fine, and was an inspiration for 90 minutes tonight, both in
defence, and when carrying the attack to Cray. Clearly, Gloves is super-fit,
which almost certainly helps him to stay clear of injury, and it seems that,
the more he plays, the fitter he gets. Another theory bandied about tonight was
that the excellent playing surface (for the time of year) at Hayes Lane
On
any other night, Glover’s performance would have been a shoo-in for Man of the
Match, but there were many good performances out there for Ashford, against a
Cray Wanderers side that had its own problems with unavailability through
injury. Whilst the home side started the day in a very comfortable 12th
position, there was no hint of this being a surrender job – in fact, the first
half was very keenly contested, with chances at both ends, but Ashford
gradually got on top of their opponents, encouraged, no doubt, by the regular
supply of well-taken goals.
As
at Molesey on Saturday, the key to the performance appeared to be very strong
performances from the heart of the team – Joe Hitchings and Gary Clarke in
central midfield, centre-halves Asa Hall and Marc Cumberbatch, and an assured
display from Jake Whincup, in goal. All were brilliant tonight – and it’s
interesting to note that Marc Cumber is the veteran of the five, at the age of
22 ! I’ve already mentioned the
contribution of Captain Fantastic, who was at left-back this evening, but Ryan
Andrews also looked very much at home at right-back, and had a very good game.
To complete the roll call, Nick Wright showed flashes of real quality on the
right side of midfield, whilst not being foot-perfect for the entire game; Ian
Ross had a solid game on the left, adding to his incredible tally of “assists”
for the season when supplying the cross for the third goal.
We
basically had three fit players on the bench – Steve Rowles, Tom McGowen and
Kenny Jarrett-Elliott. Tommy Adlington and Anthony Allman provided bums on
seats, but were never going to take part. Tommy reckons that it’s not out of
the question that he might be fit to play at Burgess Hill on Saturday, but
Anthony is going to be struggling to make it back before the end of the season,
as he’s still having problems with that ankle.
With
Cray playing in amber shirts, black shorts and black sockies, Ashford were in
their green and blue home strip – and I’m pleased to announce that the new,
white numbers on the players’ back stood out resplendently in the Hayes Lane
floodlights !
One
thing that can be said about Ashford’s new strike-partnership is that it is the
classic combination of a big ‘un and a little ’un. Jason is little and strong,
and looks every inch a striker, confirming the good impression that he made at
Molesey when coming on as substitute for the last 13 minutes. Ambrose Kamara
looked out of place up front from the start, but is a huge bloke, and provides
a similar physical presence to that offered by Steve Sodje. Although Ambrose
somehow contrived to come second in every aerial challenge for the ball during
the opening minutes, he gradually got the hang of things, and he and Jason
eventually made a very effective combination.
Jason,
of course, had something to prove to his former club, and tore around the pitch
like a terrier on heat for the whole 90 minutes. His opposite number, Junior
Baker, turned in a similar performance, and probably for similar reasons, as
this was a rare start for a player who had been used as a substitute for most
of the season. The pair of them were certainly the most energetic men on the pitch
during an open and entertaining first half.
After
Cray ‘keeper Grant Hall had spent fully three minutes receiving treatment,
after a clash with Ambrose Kamara when going down for a 50/50 ball – Ambrose
was still coming second, but this one was a photo-finish – it was Baker who
created the home side’s first opening, in the ninth minute. Attacking down the
left flank, he beat Marc Cumberbatch near the corner flag, and found Lewis Wood
in the penalty area, with a deep cross, but Wood’s fierce volley flashed across
the face of goal. A minute later, Michael Power, who looked Cray’s best player,
before becoming a little disheartened towards the end, had possession through
the inside-left channel; he cut in, transferring the ball onto his right foot,
but sliced an ambitious shot well wide. No action required from Jake Whincup
yet, then.
Power
had a much better chance in the 15th minute, which stemmed from a
rare error from Asa Hall. Asa’s attempted headed clearance rather went up in
the air, and behind him, and Power latched onto this, getting in behind, and
only having the ‘keeper to beat. His shot from eight yards was on target, but
Jake saved well with his knee. The corner from the left was deep, beyond the
far post, and Junior Baker – is that his name, or his job description ? – got
up well, above the defence, but his downward header went wide.
It
was after about 18 minutes that Ambrose Kamara won his first challenge in the
air. As if to prove that the penny had finally dropped, he then won another
one, flicking the ball forward to Jason Stuart, in the penalty area. Jason made
room for a shot, which was blocked; the ball then broke to Simon Glover, on the
left side of the penalty area, but Gloves’ firmly-struck shot went across the
face of the goal.
In
the 20th minute, Gareth Graham, who had earlier been booked for a
foul on the Ashford captain, sent a cross into the penalty area, which Jake
Whincup did well to punch clear. This set up a counter-attack, led by Ian Ross.
He spread the ball out to the left, where Gloves carried it forward. The ball
was then worked along the edge of the Cray penalty area, before Jason Stuart
sliced a shot well wide. Apparently, though, his shot took a deflection, as
Referee Ian Fissenden awarded a corner – this was taken by Rossi, on the right,
but Fissenden blew up for a foul as the in-swinging cross came over.
The
Junior Baker had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 26th
minute, thanks to a brilliant cross-field ball by Wands skipper Ross Lover. The
pass found Baker in behind the Ashford defence; he controlled the ball well,
but wastefully pulled a hurried shot across the face of the goal. A minute
later, young Joe Hitchings, who looks much older than 16 when he out on the
pitch, did well to win the ball in a forward position. He laid the ball off to
Jason Stuart, who returned a pass, and Joe’s attempted curler into the top, far
corner of the net, from 20 yards out, went just wide.
The
opening Ashford goal came in the 28th minute, and started from a
good ball forward by Nick Wright, to Ambrose Kamara. Ambrose flicked the ball
on to Jason Stuart, who became the 19th individual goal-scorer for
Ashford this season when he stabbed the ball past ‘keeper Grant Hall. The curse
of the ex-player strikes again !
We
really should have gone further ahead in the 29th minute. Both Asa
Hall and Marc Cumberbatch went up for a free-kick, right on the edge of the
Cray penalty area, to the left of centre. Nick Wright, who has become Ashford’s
chief dead-ball deliverer, sent in a pin-point cross, which he virtually put on
Ambrose Kamara’s head, but Ambrose, in a central position, and from about six
yards out, headed the ball wide, when it seemed easier to score.
The
balance of play continued to be fairly even, and Junior Baker continued to be
very lively. In the 38th minute, he latched onto a long kick from
Grant Hall, but shot wide from long-distance. He then forced Ryan Andrews into
conceding a corner, on the left. This was taken by Ross Lover, deep into the
Ashford penalty area, and Junior again headed wide, in almost an exact repeat
of the chance he missed in the 15th minute. Baker was again in
action in the 42nd minute, with Lover again being the provider, with
a through-ball into the penalty area – this time Marc Cumberbatch came to
Ashford’s rescue with a saving tackle, and was even awarded a free-kick, as
Junior followed through.
A
minute later, it was the visitors on the attack, with Joe Hitchings spreading
the ball wide to Nick Wright – he won a corner, as he attempted to go through
on goal. The corner was taken by Rossi, into a crowded goalmouth; Grant Hall
was nowhere, but the ball bounced off a knot of players, and into the fortunate
‘keeper’s hands.
With
46 minutes on the watch, Michael Power had the ball near the left touchline,
twisting and turning in front of Marc Cumberbatch; on this occasion, he got the
better of Cumber, and managed to get in a cross, but Junior Baker’s weak header
was wide. There was still enough injury time left at the end of the first half
for Baker to receive a (quite accidental) whack in the face from Simon Glover’s
arm, in the penalty area, before Ashford went into the break 0-1 up, after an
entertaining first period. This time there was no prospect of any waterlogging
of the pitch, on a still, mild evening.
A
report wouldn’t be complete without some celeb-spotting at half time. George
Wakeling was part of the crowd of 137, obviously doing some scouting on behalf
of his Tooting & Mitcham side, who we play in the last game of the season,
as was John-Paul Collier, who I think is now playing for Thamesmead, currently
near the top of the Kent League. J-P scored two wonder goals in the glorious
2-4 victory at Kingstonian last season, which was, off the top of the head, the
last time Ashford
Town
On
the WAGs front, I can provide a detailed description of Simon Glover’s sister,
who is Steve Rowles’ paramour, on request.
Junior
Baker continued to be in the thick of things at the start of the second half.
Within a minute of the restart, a Cray corner, awarded after Simon Glover had
fluffed an attempt to see the ball out for a goal-kick, under pressure from
Adam Young, came in from the right. Baker rose with Marc Cumberbatch, and
Cumber must have got the final touch, as another corner was given, on the other
side of the pitch. This time, Baker slipped his marker, and got a free header
to the ball, from about four yards out, but Jake Whincup made a point-blank
save.
Two
minutes later, a rather whistle-happy ref gave Ashford a free-kick for a foul
on Joe Hitchings, about 30 yards from goal. Nick Wright was always going to go
for goal from this range – he took his time to measure up his effort, but then
skied the ball well over the bar. Shortly after, we had another free-kick –
this time as a result of Jason receiving a smack in the face, just inside the
centre circle. This time it was Ian Ross who launched the ball into the Cray
penalty area; the ball was initially won by Marc Cumberbatch, and then fell to
Ambrose Kamara, but Ambrose took one touch too many, and the chance was gone.
He did, however, have the opportunity to go in hard on the goalkeeper – in case
he didn’t get him properly early in the first half.
In
the 55th minute, the ref’s whistle went again, this time for a foul
by Asa Hall, in the back of Michael Power, on the half-way line. The resulting
ball into the area found Power, who had lost his marker – he controlled the
ball well on his chest, but Jake was quickly off his line, and made a good
block. Two minutes later, a free-kick was awarded for a little foul on Rossi,
who took the free-kick himself, pumping it long, into the Cray area, but
Ambrose Kamara was unable to get any direction at all onto his header.
Ashford’s
second goal, scored in the 61st minute, came about as a result of a
good, sustained attack. Simon Glover was the main instigator for this, feeding
the ball into the penalty area, and then getting to the by-line and chipping
the ball into the centre. Kamara had the first attempt at goal in this move,
but his shot was blocked; eventually the ball broke to Nick Wright, on the
right of the area, who showed good composure in controlling the ball and steadying
himself, before making room to fire the ball into the corner of the net.
Ashford
were now on fire, and, a minute later, Nick led a break, moving forward with
good pace, from the half-way line. He put in a diagonal ball, looking for
Ambrose Kamara, but a Wanderers toe put the ball behind for a corner. Rossi put
in a good, curling cross, into the six-yard box. The home defence failed to
clear this, and it fell at the feet of Asa Hall, who gratefully smashed the
ball home. That made it 0-3, with Asa becoming Ashford’s 20th
individual scorer this season.
In
the 65th minute, Jake Whincup had to be alert to come out of his
area, to intercept a through-ball, and booted the ball into touch. As he was
now nearer the half-way line than his own goal, he kicked the rebound away, to
give himself time to get back – Mr Fissenden obviously felt that this was
cheating, so showed Jake a yellow card !
To
their credit, Cray continued to press for a goal, and, in the 67th
minute, Michael Power went haring off after a ball played through the
inside-right channel, chased by the tireless Simon Glover. Power got to the
ball first, near the by-line, and then showed a great piece of skill to
back-heel the ball, and give himself space for a left-footed cross. He managed
to find Junior Baker, in the centre, but Baker’s finishing again failed to
match his effort levels, as he headed well wide. The home side came close
again, in the 70th minute, after being awarded a free-kick two yards
inside the Ashford half. Full-back Danny Whelan sneaked up late for this
set-piece, and a flicked header on found him at the far post, but Jake Whincup
made another good, point-blank save. (The lino had already flagged for offside,
but Jake didn’t know that).
The
balance of the game gradually swung towards the team with the three-goal
advantage – as it’s probably easier to feel fatigued when you’re three down,
than when you’re three up – and Asa Hall got on the end of a long Ian Ross
free-kick, in the 71st minute, but his header looped over the bar. I
should also put on record the fact that Gary Clarke had a shot on goal (!!),
which he pulled wide, in the 73rd minute.
This
rare event was the prelude to Ashford’s fourth goal – and it was probably the
best of the lot. It started with a long ball forward, from defence, which
Ambrose Kamara flicked on with his heel, with an unlikely deftness that was
reminiscent of Steve Sodje’s Cristiano Ronaldo moment at Molesey. This great
touch sent Jason Stuart clean through on goal. He rounded the ‘keeper, and
gleefully tucked the ball into the empty net.
Four-nil
still wasn’t enough to dampen Cray spirits, though, and they came forward in
search of a goal in the 77th minute. They won a throw-in, after Asa
Hall had needlessly kicked the ball into touch, when he had the opportunity to
turn and pass the ball – this was a feature of Asa’s play in what was otherwise
a very good performance from the loanee from Birmingham City, and it would be
no surprise if this tendency for safety first were Steve Bruce’s influence
! A long throw into the Ashford area
broke to Andy Martin, who had earlier replaced Adam Young, in the 72nd
minute, and Martin’s side-footed effort went inches wide of the post, with Jake
beaten. Two minutes later, Lewis Wood attempted a curling shot, from outside
the area, that was hoofed away by the right foot of Asa Hall, but there was no
way of telling whether it would have gone in or not.
The
pass of the match came in the 81st minute, and it was supplied by
Ryan Andrews, out on the right. Nick Wright made a darting, diagonal run, and
Ryan showed good vision to slip a pass, inside the full-back, into Nick’s path.
It looked like a fifth goal was on the cards, with just the goalkeeper to beat,
but Grant Hall saved well.
Although,
as previously noted, Jake had a good, confident game tonight, he did have one
or two adventures. One of these was in the 83rd minute, when he
failed to come out for an up-&-under. The ball broke to Andy Martin, who
was able to turn and shoot, but Jake made a good, redeeming save. He also did
well to stop a long-range shot from Ross Lover, going down to his right, a
minute later.
Just
prior to Lover’s speculative effort, John Cumberbatch took the opportunity to
rest a couple of his heroes, pulling off Joe Hitchings and Marc Cumberbatch,
and replacing them with Tom McGowen and Steve Rowles, (with Steve becoming the
41st player to be used this season).
Two
minutes before the end of normal time, Jake Whincup’s well-deserved clean sheet
was under threat when Grant Hall’s clearance found Michael Power completely
unmarked, and Cray had a two-v-two situation with the Ashford defence. Whilst
Power was in loads of space, he had Simon Glover to beat; he back-heeled the
ball into the path of Andy Martin, but Gloves managed to get across to block
his shot.
A
minute of injury time had been played when John Cumberbatch replaced Ian Ross
with Ken Jarrett-Elliott, after which Jake Whincup was soon in action again,
dashing out of his area to effect a headed clearance. Kenny actually got into
the action in the fourth minute of added time, carrying the ball down the left
flank, and then feeding the ball inside to Nick Wright – Nick’s right-footed
effort just curled around the far post.
The
referee eventually blew his whistle with 96 minutes on my watch, to complete
what was undoubtedly a great win for Ashford – and it was good that Tim Thorogood,
Mark Jenner and Tony Betteridge were all there to see it. I have long since
stopped worrying about relegation, mainly because I’ve faith in Sir Anthony
Kempster’s informed guess that only one team will be relegated from our
division at the end of the season, but this win puts us six points clear of
second-bottom Godalming
Town
The
comments in the bar afterwards from the Cray contingent included “How on earth
is that team near the bottom of the table ?”, and “I thought your goalie was
brilliant – he was my Man of the Match”. Well, Jake was certainly on the
short-list for our MoM Award, but so were Gloves, Clarkey, Joe, Asa, Marc, Ryan
, Jason and Uncle Tom Cobley an’ all. We felt that Jason had to get the medal,
for his tireless running and enthusiasm, and for his two goals against his old
club – and nobody disagreed with that.
The
boys have the luxury of two days off now – then it’s another three games in
five days, starting with the trip to Burgess Hill on Saturday, then the Kent
Senior Cup Semi-final on Monday, and then Fleet away on Wednesday.
Man of the Match
(to go towards
the Milton Keynes Bowl)
Jason Stuart
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