ARCHIVE: Kingstonian v Ashford Town. Ryman League Division 1 South. August 2006.

Kingstonian      2       Ashford Town   1

from Your Milton Keynes Correspondent

The first match of a new season, and most Ashford Town fans are approaching the 2006-7 campaign with all the optimism of a South Lebanon china shop owner. That’s mostly down to habit, but I reckon we can afford to be a little more hopeful than that. For a start, the squad that Tim Thorogood has assembled this time has little in common with the hastily arranged collection of (mostly) untried youngsters that we started with last season. The twenty-strong first-team squad is full of experience, and includes a number of players with a track record at Premier Division level or higher.

The strengthening of the squad has been most noticeable in the defence department, and you could argue that we’ve almost too many central defenders available at the moment. There’s vast experience in the form of Stuart Playford, Graham Porter and Peter Mortley, with the promising ex-Glasgow Rangers pro Barry Crawford (“The Hun”, as a Celtic fan would doubtless call him) also likely to have plenty of games in the heart of defence. (That means, of course, that two other centre-backs – Marc Cumberbatch and Dan Tanner – might expect to be played mostly out of position again this season). With hardy perennials Ian Ross and Tommy Adlington at left- and right-back, that gives the defence a very solid look about it – which is a start. Then, if all else fails, we’re fortunate to have the back-up of an excellent goalie, in Simon Overland, who is on a season-long loan from Conference club Dagenham & Redbridge. Simon has been narrowly preferred to Dave Wietecha, who performed heroically in the second half of last season.

Tim Thorogood deserves credit for providing himself and Joint-Manager John Cumberbatch with a decent squad of players to go to war with this season; the slight downside, of course, is that there can be no excuses if things turn out like they have for the past two seasons.

I’m intending to attend all of Ashford’s league and cup away matches this season. That is what was stipulated in my Community Service Order. The only condition is that I must buy a match-day programme at each game, to prove to my Probation Officer that I don’t miss any out. (It’s a good job that it was a first offence, as the Judge might have made me watch some home games as well).

Another change for this year is that Mrs Milton Keynes Correspondent and I have invested in a job-lot of medals, to be presented to the “MK Man of the Match” at each away game; the player accumulating the most medals during the season will be presented with the Milton Keynes Bowl at the end of April, as last season. I’m not a rich man – mainly due to my extravagant wifestyle – but we’ve managed to get some quite nice medals, complete with presentation boxes, in Club colours. Of course, we don’t expect these to be coveted with the same ardour as FA Cup Winners’ medals – it’s just a little sign, in these lean times, that somebody cares, (and I must give Mrs MKC the credit for coming up with this particular idea).

It was good to be back at Kingsmeadow again. Today’s hosts, Kingstonian, are now the tenants of AFC Wimbledon, (who shouldn’t be confused with former FA Cup winners MK Dons), at what passes for a big, posh stadium at this level. Having missed the two matches here against AFC Wimbledon the season before last, this was just our second visit to Kingsmeadow – the previous occasion being for our scintillating 2-4 victory on a Monday night last February. That was the night when Joby Thorogood played out of his skin, scoring two first-half goals, J-P Collier scored two wonder goals, and Big Dave Wietecha had a blinder, without which we might easily have lost the game 8-4.

It was always going to be too much to hope that the team’s performance, and the match, could live up to that previous encounter, but it wasn’t a bad game either: goals disallowed, own goals disallowed, goals allowed, a sending off, a rash of bookings, open goals missed and both teams hitting the woodwork. And all in front of a crowd of 305, (surprisingly small, taking last season’s average of 350 as a benchmark).

The first words of praise should go to whoever is responsible for the pitch here, as it looked an absolute picture – lush, green and as immaculate and flat as a bowling green. In fact, I’ve seen worse subutteo pitches. I’m not sure what our very own Lawnmower Man thought about it, as I didn’t get a chance to ask him – but we know that he’s been working like a Trojan on the Homelands pitch, to get it looking something like a football pitch, with little or no help from the elements.

The second important announcement, for all you girls out there, is that of the new colour of the First Team kit. It’s certainly a lot darker than the bright Kermit green that we’ve been used to in recent seasons. The nearest I can get to describing it is to suggest “bottle green”, with navy blue shorts that are a distinctly darker shade than last year – almost black.

Having dealt with the important issues, now what about the team news ?  Well, with Graham Porter unavailable due to work commitments, and Peter Mortley both injured and on holiday, it was good that we have more central defenders than Soft Mick. It was slightly surprising, however, that Marc Cumberbatch lined up alongside skipper Stuart Playford, with Barry Crawford and Dan Tanner both on the bench. Tommy Adlington and Ian Ross completed the experienced back-four, in front of Simon Overland. With Gary Clarke, the Manager’s Player of last Season, still on holiday, there was quality in central midfield in the shape of Simon Glover and Anthony Allman, with Joffy Thorogood on the right, and Kenny Jarrett-Elliott on the left. The signing of George Fenwick has now given The Management options up front, as he is a big target man who can be mixed and matched with the two little ‘uns. On this occasion, the little ‘un chosen to start with Fenwick was Joby Thorogood, with Richard Sinden named as a substitute. The bench was completed by midfielders Steven Wade and (16 year-old) Joe Hitchings.

Ashford made a good start to the game – and the season, following some indifferent pre-season performances – playing at a high tempo, and closing the home side down. The first 15 minutes of the match were fairly even, with Kingstonian, playing in their distinctive red & white hoops, limited in this period to a half-chance for Scott Corbett, which was blasted high and wastefully over the bar. The main concern for the visitors was that Ian Ross picked up a yellow card as early as the seventh minute, for a late tackle. This seemed very harsh, especially at this stage of the game. Rossi was certainly late, but he appeared to be going for the ball, made very little contact with his man, and, as they say, got there as soon as he could.

Ashford’s first glimmer of a chance came in the 17^th minute. George Fenwick, a big, strong lad like his father, Terry, but with Ginger hair (presumably from his mother), laid the ball back to Simon Glover, who side-footed a neat through-ball for Joby Thorogood to run on to – unfortunately, as so often happened last season, Joby mistimed his run, and was palpably offside.

Ks’ Dean Lodge, a right-winger, looked to be their most likely source of an opening in the early stages, and, in the 18^th minute, went on a twinkling run down the right. He managed to turn, and get round, Ian Ross, but his dangerous cross went through the Ashford penalty area, and out for a goal-kick. Another important weapon for the home side was long-throw specialist Richard Taylor. The big defender’s first of several attempts at one of these “crosses” came in the 20^th minute, but Tommy Adlington was there to clear.

Nevertheless, Kingstonian were beginning to get on top at about this time, and applied some sustained pressure on the Ashford goal. In the 22^nd minute, they had a corner, on the left, which Lodge took, right-footed and swinging in. This was flicked on by the head of Scott Corbett, but an Ashford toe got to the ball, to deflect it clear. It might have been as a result of this increasing pressure, or merely because he likes doing it, but, a minute later, Tom Adlington got himself booked for a late challenge. Whilst Rossi’s yellow card was certainly harsh, there was no doubt about this one. Tommy came flying in like Superman; the only difference is that the man in the blue & red aerobics kit leads with a gloved right hand when he flies through the air, whilst Tommy led with his right boot. This was an easy decision for the ref.

In the 24^th minute, Taylor launched another long throw into the Ashford six-yard box. Joffy Thorogood was there to side-foot the ball into the corner of the net, but the referee had already blown the whistle for some pushing, so preventing a very special own-goal from going into Ashford Town folklore.

Three minutes later, Ashford missed a golden opportunity to go ahead. Joby Thorogood battled to get on the end of a through-ball, but was beaten by a combination of ‘keeper Luke Garrard and a defender. The ‘keeper then had the simple task of hoofing the ball away, from just outside his penalty area, but instead fluffed it straight to George Fenwick. All George had to do was to lob the ball into the empty net, but instead sliced it high and wide.

Ashford’s previous goal in competitive football had been Ian Ross’s Beckham-like free-kick against Molesey, in the final game of last season. Rossi had the opportunity to add to that, in the 29^th minute, when he lined the ball up just outside the Kingstonian area. His first attempt was scuffed straight into the base of the Ks’ wall, and his follow-up shot, from the rebound, was deflected behind for a corner – which was easily cleared.

On the half-hour mark, a good save by Simon Overland, at the other end, gave Kingstonian a corner, on the left. Dean Lodge once again came across to take this, right-footed. Simon came out to intercept the cross, but only half got it away – after a brief goal-mouth scramble, Danny Morris hit a powerful shot over the bar. There must have been a deflection, as a corner was awarded, this time on the right. This resulted in a cross from Kingstonian captain Martyn Lee, which our own skipper, Stuart Playford, got a head to just before Overland’s attempted punch. The referee’s whistle went, to award Ashford a free-kick, before another scramble in the penalty area could develop. Whilst it’s early days for Simon in the Ashford goal, he did seem to be less than commanding in his own area, which is slightly disappointing, given that he’s a big lad, and comes to us with a big reputation. Much, of course, will depend upon him developing an understanding with his defenders, as the season develops – especially with Stuart Playford, who was a tower of strength at the back this afternoon.

Simon’s opposite number, Luke Garrard, also had one or two dodgy moments. In the 33^rd minute, a free-kick from Anthony Allman, which was floated deep into the home side’s penalty area, should have been comfortably gathered by Garrard, but he instead managed only to punch the ball straight up into the air. The ball was chipped back into the area, and Garrard had to catch it right underneath his cross-bar, under pressure from George Fenwick.

A minute later, Kenny Three Names led a break, picking the ball up just inside the Kingstonian half. Kenny spread the ball right, to Joby Thorogood, who was just outside the penalty area, but Joby took too long to decide what to do with the ball, and the chance was lost.

The game took a dramatic turn in the 37^th minute. Joby Thorogood ran onto a bouncing through-ball – onside, for once – and although he got to the ball just ahead of the ‘keeper and a defender, and poked the ball into the Ks’ penalty area, the on-rushing Garrard got enough of a hand to the ball to deflect it away from Joby. After consulting his lino, the referee concluded that the ‘keeper had actually handled the ball outside the penalty area. Given the current rules on these matters, the official had no choice but to send Garrard off. I always think that this is a ridiculously inflexible and disproportionate rule, given the amount of holding and shirt-pulling and other deliberate cheating that goes on all over the pitch, but the result was that Kingstonian were immediately reduced to ten men. The consolation for the home side was that they had a substitute goalie on the bench – Steve Windegaard – who actually looked more assured, especially with crosses, than Garrard had done. His first task, however, was a fairly straightforward one, saving a tame, curling shot from Anthony Allman, from the resulting free-kick, which went straight to him.

From being on top, Kingstonian were suddenly on the back foot, playing just one striker (Danny Morris) up front, with No.9 James Rose being sacrificed in the immediate reshuffle. In the 39^th minute, another in a succession of fouls on Joby Thorogood gave Ashford a free-kick, in a central position, just outside the Ks’ penalty area. This was taken quickly by George Fenwick, but this was a rather wasted effort, as the ball trickled straight to the ‘keeper. Two minutes later, Joby Thorogood, complete with a very severe “No.1” hair-cut, was again given a chance of a run at goal. His shot from outside the area was saved, but he managed to pick up the rebound himself; his resulting cross being put behind for a corner, on the right. Ian Ross’s in-swinging cross was headed clear, from inside the Kingstonian six-yard box.

Ashford’s key objective during this period of play was to stick a goal in before half-time, before the home side could regroup and properly organise themselves to play with ten men. Not only did our boys fail to do this, but they also went in at the break a goal down, as a result of a soft goal given away in the 43^rd minute. A hopeful ball aimed at lone striker Danny Morris, who looked a fairly forlorn and isolated figure amongst the four green-shirted defenders, really should have been dealt with. It is Marc Cumberbatch who needs to put his hand up here, as he allowed Morris to latch onto the ball, and to get on his “wrong” side, before slotting the ball under Simon Overland.

The Ashford Management’s reaction was swift and decisive, as bold changes were made at half-time. We switched to a 3-4-3 formation, Richard Sinden coming on as a third striker, with George Fenwick mostly playing just behind the front two. Tommy Adlington switched to playing on the right side of midfield, with Joffy moving into the centre, alongside Simon Glover. The man who was made to make way for the extra striker was Anthony Allman – this was a pity, as he had looked a neat and accomplished player in the first half.

Kingstonian persisted with Danny Morris on his own up front, so there was every chance that Ashford would have licence to press forward.

The most likely source of creativity with this new formation appeared to be through Tommy Adlington, on the right, and it was Tommy who sent in a short, chipped cross, aiming for George Fenwick, in the 52^nd minute, but it was a defender’s head that got to the ball first. A minute later, it was Fenwick himself who slid a ball through to Richard Sinden; Sinders’s shot, from just inside the penalty area, beat the ‘keeper, but rebounded back from the far post. In the 55^th minute, Kenny Jarrett-Elliott took a throw-in, on the left, to Simon Glover. This time, the through-ball put Joby Thorogood in behind the Kingstonian defence, but Joby’s shot, from outside the area, went into the side-netting.

There was then a little flurry of free-kicks and yellow cards, as the tackles flew in. Michael Brady was late on George Fenwick, in the 57^th minute, which gave Ashford a free-kick in a promising, central position. Joby touched the ball to Simon Glover, but Gloves’s shot was charged down. A minute later, Joby was yellow carded for a challenge on Brady, as the Kingstonian No.5 made a clearance. This, again, was a bit of a harsh one, as Joby went for the ball, and got about half of it, but the referee and lino between them decided that it was worth a booking. (This is the sort of incident that might, a little while ago, have caused any one of the Thorogoods to go over the top with a protest, and so get himself sent off, so it was good that Joby accepted his punishment without over-reacting). A minute later, Richard Sinden, with his back to goal, was kicked up in the air, from behind, by Michael Brady. Given what had happened a few seconds earlier, the ref had no choice, in the interests of consistency, but to show Brady the yellow card. Funny, though, how the home fans thought that this was merely another example of the referee mindlessly picking on their players, whilst they had just been calling for Joby to be sent off. (Football fans, eh ?!). The resulting free-kick was floated long, into the Kingstonian area, but, after a brief scramble, was cleared.

Given that the ref was now drawing his card from his pocket like Wyatt Earp, the next booking was pretty stupid. Joff Thorogood, who’d given his usual, wholehearted display of good tackling, mixed in with giving the ball to the opposition, fouled Martyn Lee, near the left touch-line, in the 62^nd minute. Lee then picked the ball up, and chucked it, in fairly gentle fashion, at Joffy, hitting him on the head. This was all fairly innocuous stuff, but it’s something that will get a player booked about 99% of the time, so Lee picked up the softest yellow card of the season so far. There was a bit of a let-off for Ashford shortly afterwards, as Simon Overland failed to come out to intercept the cross from the resulting free-kick. A Kingstonian head came flying in, and planted the ball into the corner of the net, but the “goal” was disallowed – I can’t really confirm the reason, but the ref appeared to be signalling for hand-ball.

Apart from this incident, it had been mostly Ashford pressure during the second half, with Richard Sinden having made an immediate impact. It was no surprise, therefore, when Sinders (named as “Richard Sinders” in the match-day programme) stuck home the equaliser, in the 64^th minute. George Fenwick picked the ball up in the centre of the Ks’ half, and put Richard through on goal, and the substitute never looked like missing, shooting the ball past the advancing goal-keeper.

There were a couple of wobbles at the other end shortly after this goal. In the 65^th minute, Marc Cumberbatch was carelessly caught in possession, in his own half. Cumber managed to avert the danger by deliberately obstructing his man, and was lucky not to get himself cautioned, given that he was the last man; however, the damage was no worse than a free-kick. The kick was floated into the Ashford area by Dean Lodge; Stuart Playford got up to meet the cross, but the ball came off the back of his head and bounced on top of the cross-bar.

Ks made their second substitution in the 69^th minute, with Steve Potterill replacing Michael Brady. Two minutes later, the home side was on the attack, again through Dean Lodge, but Ian Ross stretched to put his whipped cross behind for a corner.

With those of us in the air-conditioned Press Box now struggling to scribble down all of the game’s events, as chances came one after the other, for both sides, there was a chance at the other end. Kenny Three Names squared the ball to Joby Thorogood, in the 73^rd minute, and Joby’s shot, from long-range, went across the face of goal, but with the goal-keeper being made to scramble a little.

The card-count might have gone up further, in the 74^th minute, when Ian Ross was late with a tackle on the half-way line. It looked ominous for Rossi, who was on a yellow card, as the referee called him over for an interview, but, fortunately, this was just for a (probably final) word of warning.

Ks’ Coach Stuart McIntyre used his third and final substitution in the 76^th minute, with Damian Panter replacing the hard-working Danny Morris as the lone striker. A minute later, Kingstonian scored the winner. A long throw from Richard Taylor, into the Ashford area, really should have been cleared by the Ashford defence. Instead, it fell at the feet of a Kingstonian striker. Although the original shot was well saved by Simon Overland, diving to his left, the ball then rebounded off Scott Corbett, and into the net. It seemed a fairly soft goal, as the ball might have rebounded anywhere, but the initial error was in the defence not making a regulation clearance in the first place.

Whilst this was all very deflating – against ten men, remember – Ashford tried hard to get back on terms. With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Stuart Playford lobbed a through-ball out of defence, for Richard Sinden to chase, in the inside-right channel, but Sinders’s cross just eluded George Fenwick, at the far post. We really should have grabbed a deserved point in the 85^th minute, though. A long cross from the left should have been an easy take for the home side’s substitute ‘keeper, but, under pressure from both George Fenwick and one of his own defenders, he dropped the ball at the feet of Richard Sinden. This was an open-goal opportunity that players and fans alike dream about, but Sinders rather snatched at the chance, and blasted the ball wide. I can’t tell you how much he missed by, as this was one of those misses that makes you jerk your head away in horror – but he missed ! 

Dan Tanner came on for Kenny, on the left side of midfield, for the final three minutes of the game, but the home side managed to run down the clock until the final whistle, (their ‘keeper, Steve Windegaard, being booked for time wasting). Ashford’s final opportunity to salvage a point came in the 91^st minute, when Rossi squared the ball to Marc Cumberbatch, who had space to run into. He tried a nothing-to-lose shot, from long range, but this went just over the bar, to complete a fairly ordinary 91 minutes for young Marc.

I don’t think that we had been expecting to get much from Kingsmeadow, before the game, but, given the way that the game unfolded, this was definitely an opportunity missed. Kingstonian will probably be there or thereabouts at the end of the season, but this will almost certainly not turn out to be one of their best performances, and they didn’t show a great deal of attacking ambition, once they’d been reduced to ten men.

With Michael Brady being named as Man of the Match for the home side, there were plenty of candidates among the Ashford side for receiving the medal from Mrs Milton Keynes Correspondent. Stuart Playford was very solid at the back, Kenny Jarrett-Elliott tried hard on the left, and didn’t do much wrong. We also considered the claims of Richard Sinden, who looked like a goal-scorer from the moment he came on today, and could’ve had a hat-trick, but it was Tommy Adlington who just shaded it for MK MoM on this occasion – he did a good job both at right-back and on the right side of midfield today.

Man of the Match

(to go towards the Milton Keynes Bowl)

Tommy Adlington