ARCHIVE: Croydon Athletic v Ashford Town. Ryman League Division 1 South. 2005-6 season.

Croydon Athletic        2       Ashford Town   0

from Your Milton Keynes Correspondent

It’s not the ground itself that makes this a bummer of an away trip. There’s always a friendly welcome, the clubhouse bar is good, the catering is quite OK and the main stand at Mayfields provides plenty of shelter. It’s getting to the ground that is the ball-aching bit. From the M25 there is a slow crawl up the A23, which gets even slower once you’ve passed the old Croydon Aerodrome. Then there is the maze of residential streets to negotiate, with their speed humps, and cars parked on both sides of the road, with all the guess-work as to which streets might be one-way. When you’ve found which cul-de-sac – (which in French literally means “arse-hole of bag”) – leads to the narrow lane which takes you around the back of the estate to the ground, you then have to pick your way between the large, rain-filled pot-holes which make the whole place look like Basra on a wet Monday afternoon. I remember that, last season, the small car park was full, so we parked on the grass behind the stand. No such problems this time, though, as, with a crowd of only 60, there was plenty of room between the puddles.

That corresponding game last season was almost exactly a year ago, and there were some striking parallels between the relative positions of the two teams then and now. On the morning of both matches, Croydon Athletic were eight places above Ashford. Last season, The Rams were in 12^th place, with 19 points from 15 games, whilst this morning they were 10^th, with 13 points from eleven. We, on the other hand, were third-bottom with 11 points from 15 games on the morning of last season’s game, whilst we started today in 18^th place, with nine points from eleven.

It’s no surprise, however, that there were fewer similarities in the Ashford Town personnel for the two games. Last season’s game at Mayfields came during the brief Terry Fenwick era, and only three of the 16 players named in our squad then – the two Thorogood brothers and Tom Adlington – are still involved today. Interestingly, James Hall and James Evans were today’s only survivors from last season’s fixture for the home side, in spite of there having been no change in the club’s management team.

There were one or two surprises in the team that was announced over the tanoy by a man with pink hair. In fact, the one major shock was that, having been a starter in each of our last ten games, and having been Man of the Match against Bromley in the previous game, Terry McCann was relegated to the subs bench, being replaced in central midfield, alongside RJ Boorman, by Eddie Achoko. This was apparently a purely tactical move, as Terry had no injury worries, and this gave Eddie the opportunity for his first start since having to slum it with a modelling assignment in Spain. The other slight surprise was that there was a return to the side for Kenny Jarrett-Elliott, who was used on the left side of midfield, in front of Ian Ross, who retained his place at left-back. Sol Henry was the wide right player in midfield. Tom Adlington is still troubled with a groin injury, but was able to take his place at right-back, with a little assistance from Deep Heat. (Keep that hot spray away from those bollocks, Tommy !). In the centre of defence there was the reassuring sight of Marc Cumberbatch and Lynval Duncan, in front of regular ‘keeper Sean Glover. The biggest blow today was the absence of striker Steve Humphrey, who had work commitments, so Joby Thorogood returned to partner Shaun Bradshaw in a 4-4-2 formation.

There was plenty of midfield talent on the bench, in the shape of Terry McCann, Anthony Pace (who’s having to show the patience of a saint !), Gary Clarke and Jazhel Bonaparte. Mark Banks was the only defensive option. On the subject of midfielders, Joffy was, as usual, in attendance with moral support for the boys. He continues to work on strengthening his injured knee in training, but is at least two weeks away from being able to make a return. (This is the longest that Joffy has ever gone without being booked !). Gary Croxton was also a member of the meagre crowd, as was Joint-Manager John Cumberbatch, who was officially suspended, having received a red card during a recent home match. John had to maintain a distance of 15 metres from the Ashford bench throughout the game.

In spite of The Rams’ relatively high league position, there were plenty of grounds for optimism for the Ashford faithful, as the home side came into today’s match having lost six of their previous eight league games, including the previous three – although the two other games in this period had seen them score victories over two of the division’s better teams: Cray Wanderers and Tooting & Mitcham. To add to all this, Mrs Milton Keynes Correspondent saw two magpies on arriving at the ground, so hope, as they say, was springing eternally.

Such hope soon became guarded confidence, as our heroes made an encouraging start and controlled the game for the first half hour. The thing about having possession and controlling the game, of course, is that you need to convert such superiority into a goal or two, and Ashford failed to do this. The front two generally failed to link up with their flicks and lay-offs, and neither was effective during this period – or throughout the game, for that matter – in spite of plenty of effort from the pair. Joby was, understandably, a little ring-rusty – not that I actually had a look at his ring, you understand ! – and Shaun was shorn, shaven-headed, without his familiar braids, so this might have had some sort of “Sampson effect”.

Ashford put pressure on the home goal from about the fourth minute. Sol Henry won a free-kick on the left side of the field, and this was floated long, to the far post, by Ian Ross. This was put behind for a corner. Sol, who, unlike his brother Thierry, probably won’t be signing for Barcelona, took the kick, but failed to get past the first defender. Ross and Kenny Jarrett-Elliott combined to keep the pressure on The Rams’ defence, and Rossi’s cross to the near post found Joby Thorogood’s right foot, but The Hobbit could do no more than side-foot the ball wide.

Having previously offered no more than a blocked shot by big No.9 Joe Sheerin, in the 15^th minute, the home side had a free-kick in a threatening position, near the left corner flag, in the 20^th minute, following a foul by Lynval Duncan. This was curled towards the far post, and Sean Glover, back-pedalling, had to touch the ball behind for a corner. The resulting kick passed harmlessly through the Ashford penalty area, and RJ Boorman was able to bring the ball away through an unpopulated midfield. “Arj” spread the ball left, to Henry, but Sol’s cross was intercepted at the near post. Two minutes later, RJ again sprayed the ball out to the left flank, this time finding Joby with a long, raking pass, but Joby’s attempted cross went harmlessly through Croydon Ath’s area. (Incidentally, does anyone actually know what a “raking pass” is ?  I’ve no idea, but it sounds right).

It was in the 23^rd minute that Bradshaw and Thorogood did actually link up effectively, but an interchange of passes between the two ended with Joby shooting tamely wide. A minute later, Kenny J-E’s quick footwork earned Ashford a free-kick. This was taken by Sol Henry, whose right-footed cross was aimed at Marc Cumberbatch and Lynval Duncan, at the far post. Lynval got up well, to win the header, but the ball was cleared.

Although Croydon’s Ronnie Green looked lively and skilful on the right wing, Shaun Glover was untroubled in the Ashford goal, and it was very much against the run of play that The Rams took the lead, in the 31^st minute – and, as so often happens with this young Ashford side, they never really regained their confidence, or played the sort of controlled football that they had done in the first 30 minutes, after going behind. To make matters worse, this was a bit of a soft goal. A speculative cross was headed down by a Croydon Ath striker, between Tom Adlington and Sean Glover, and, as ‘keeper and defender seemed to momentarily hesitate, Eben Allen nipped in between them and side-footed the ball into the net.

Things very nearly got a whole lot worse, just a minute later. A corner from the right was floated into the Ashford area, and big centre-half James Hall rose to head the ball goalwards. Marc Cumberbatch blatantly stuck out an elbow, and Mr Venamore immediately pointed to the penalty spot. It would have been no surprise if the ref had also immediately waved a red card in the Skipper’s direction, but, for some reason, no card was shown. (This might have been because the official had left his cards on his kitchen table, as there wasn’t a single card shown to either side today). Croydon captain James Evans stepped up to take the penalty, and Sean Glover kept his side in the game by saving, low to his right.

Ashford’s play was a little ragged for the rest of the half, often featuring the long, high ball up to the front two – Joby did the best he could, but was usually beaten to the header by a distance of about two feet. The scoreline stayed at 1-0, but not before there was a scare, with a minute to go before half-time. A quick one-two on the edge of the Ashford area enabled Eben Allen to get the wrong side of Tom Adlington. This forced Tommy into conceding a free-kick – actually grabbing his man around the neck – in a central position, on the edge of the area. The ball was laid back to defender Stephen Gibson, but he was able to do no more than blast the ball past the angle of post and bar.

Athletic, playing in maroon & white shirts, and maroon shorts and socks – with Ashford kitted out in their Kermit green home strip – started the brighter of the two sides in the second half, but the first chance fell to the visitors. After a harsh free-kick against Ian Ross had come to nothing, it was Rossi himself who led the break. He set Joby Thorogood off through the inside-left channel, but the chance ended with Joby cutting inside and pulling a weak shot wide of goal, from outside the area.

In the 49^th minute, a good block from Lynval Duncan gave the home side a corner. This resulted in a deep cross, from the right, and James Hall was again an aerial threat, heading powerfully for goal, but just over the bar. The action was fairly end-to-end in the opening minutes of the second half, and Ashford were themselves on the attack two minutes later. The ball was fed, from defence, through to Joby, who spread the ball wide to Sol Henry. The No.11 made ground down the right flank, but his cross went straight at Luke Garrard, in the Croydon goal. After 54 minutes, Allen and Green combined in an attack down the right, but there was good defensive cover from three Ashford defenders, with Marc Cumber eventually blocking the ball out for a corner. Again, the home side played to its aerial strength by floating the ball into the Ashford area, and big Adrian Toppin, a fireman, rose to crash the ball against the bar. The bar was still vibrating five minutes later !  A minute later, the ball was at the other end, and Ashford had a corner. This was taken, on the left, by Rossi, aiming for Ashford’s own aerial threat, Lynval Duncan. Although Lynval won the header, his attempt was blocked, and the ball ran loose in the Croydon six-yard box. Joby Thorogood was first to react, but his shot was also blocked, for another corner. This was then easily cleared.

It wasn’t until the 58^th minute that we actually had our first shot on target, and this was easily gathered by Garrard – Joby laid the ball back to Eddie Achoko, whose shot from outside the area was blocked, and then bobbled through to the ‘keeper. This was to be the nearest Ashford would come to scoring for some time.

The home side, after substituting skipper James Evans, who had got a knock, with Darren Dobinson (that’s not a misprint !), on the hour mark, and big Joe Sheerin with Daniel Lombardo, after 65 minutes, created a couple of chances in the 70^th and 72^nd minutes, thanks mainly to the ever-threatening Ronnie Green. For the first of these, Green got the better of Ian Ross, only for Marc Cumberbatch to win the ball off him at the expense of a corner (which came to nothing), and he then skinned both Rossi and Kenny Jarrett-Elliott, to put in a dangerous cross-cum-shot. A Croydon Athletic striker almost got to the ball before the advancing Sean Glover, but the flag had already been raised for offside.

With 15 minutes remaining, Tim Thorogood made the first of his three substitutions, putting Jazhel Bonaparte on in place of Tom Adlington. This might have been partly influenced by Tommy’s groin injury, but the change also coincided with a switch to a 3-5-2 formation, Lynval Duncan now playing in the middle of a back three. A minute later, however, this was effectively a back two – Marc Cumberbatch had gone upfield to take a free-kick, and found himself stranded out of position once the attack had broken down. The Croydon break ended with a deep cross from the left, with Ronnie Green pulling the ball back from beyond the far post, only to see that there was no maroon shirt in the Ashford penalty area, so Sean Glover had plenty of time to gather the ball safely.

Ashford managed to quarry out a chance from nothing, in the 78^th minute. Adrian Toppin tried to do what all defenders do from time to time – let the ball run out for a goal-kick, using his body as a shield, (don’t you just hate that ?!) – but RJ Boorman persisted with his challenge, and somehow managed to get a toe to the ball. This caused the ball to run loose in the six-yard box, and Joby Thorogood was there to hit the ball against the foot of the post.

Our second substitution, made in the 80^th minute, caused a further re-organisation. Terry McCann was thrown on into midfield, in place of Ian Ross, so Kenny Jarrett-Elliott dropped back into the left-back position. (I am assured by a female member of the Club’s hierarchy, who shall again remain anonymous, that Terry Mac is “cute” – that presumably means that she’s more interested in his tackle than his tackling !). It has always been the latter that has impressed me about young Terry – but I have to concede that he’s about as creative as Hurricane Rita – and it was no surprise that his first contribution was to commit a foul, within a minute of coming on. This resulted in a free-kick near the corner flag, but Sean Glover was there to fist the ball clear.

The closing minutes of the game were a story of Ashford striving, in vain, for an equalizer. Jazhel Bonaparte did well to win a corner, in the 82^nd minute. This was taken by RJ Boorman, on the right, aiming for Lynval Duncan, beyond the far post. Lynval again did well to win the ball, heading it down into the goalmouth, but the Croydon defence managed to scramble the ball behind for another corner – which went right through the penalty area, without troubling the home defence. A foul on Joby Thorogood, in the 86^th minute, earned Ashford another promising free-kick; RJ again sent in a long cross, aiming for Lynval Duncan, but with no end-product.

The final substitution made by Tim Thorogood saw Shaun Bradshaw replaced by Anthony Pace, in the 87^th minute. This was Anthony’s fourth sub appearance of the season – he’s yet to start a game for Ashford – and meant that Jazhel Bonaparte was pushed forward to form a diminutive strike partnership with Joby. All three of these players were immediately involved in a slick move. Thorogood spread the ball wide to Pace, on the left, who then returned a pass to Joby, whose deft flick put Jazzy clean through on goal. Luke Garrard came out well, to save, in what was his only serious piece of work in the game, and the chance was gone. It would not have counted anyway, as the lino had flagged for off-side, (although I’m informed by a reliable source that Jazzy was certainly NOT off-side !). A rare, and speculative, shot by Sol Henry, on the 90 minute mark, which went just over the bar, was Ashford’s final attempt of the game.

Just as in the corresponding game of last season, when Mad Dog Holmes got himself sent off in the dying seconds for an appalling two-footed challenge, the match ended with a downer for the visitors; this time it was in the form of a goal which enabled Croydon Athletic to double their lead. A neat and patient move down the left flank, in the 93^rd minute, ended with an attempted low cross into the area. The ball ricocheted between two Ashford defenders and fell kindly at the feet of substitute Daniel Lombardo, who gratefully smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Cue the music: “Dee dee dee-dee-dee-dee, dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-deee ….”.

For all the changes of personnel and management over the past twelve months, the score ended up the same as in the corresponding fixture last season: 2-0 to Croydon Athletic. Whilst last November their victory elevated them to 6^th in the league, today’s win moved them up to 7^th – although they’ve played more games than every other team bar Ashford. The home side deserved the three points, but I must say that they were flattered by the margin of victory. After going behind, our boys never really looked likely to draw level, and, as it turned out, they would not have scored even with Mrs Milton Keynes Correspondent in goal for the opposition. (She would certainly have beaten Joby in the air !).

Although all of the defence – including Sean, in goal - played well today, our failure to score against this lot has to be very disappointing, as they looked a fairly ordinary side, in spite of their lofty position in the league. (They’ve still lost six of their last nine games, remember !).

Logging onto t’internet when I got home, after discovering that both Folkestone Invicta and Ramsgit had won their way through to the First Round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history – happy days ! – I learnt that both Banstead and Burgess Hill Town had won today, making our defeat at Mayfields all the more costly. We’re now just three points away from the relegation zone, with all four of the teams below us having played at least two games fewer than we have. Whilst nobody is, or should be, panicking just yet, it’s also a bit premature to start dreaming of mid-table safety and the possibility of promotion play-offs.