ARCHIVE: Waltham Forest v Ashford Town. FA Trophy Preliminary Round. 2006-7 season.

Waltham Forest     1       Ashford Town   1

from Your Milton Keynes Correspondent

Today’s game was all about redemption for our boys – whether or not they could redeem themselves after their tame surrender to Godalming Town last Saturday. There have been several candidates for Ashford Town’s worst ever performance, in recent months, and last week’s display was right up, or down, there with the worst. Against a team bottom of the league, and without a win this season, we managed to lose 3-0; in the process, we failed to achieve a shot on target against a defence that had let in EIGHT the previous Tuesday. The previous horror show in the same category was at home to Molesey, when we lost 0-4, but the lads bounced back with a 0-1 win at Hastings, just two days later.

Whether we could show the same bouncebackability here in Walthamstow was really what was at stake this afternoon, and rather overshadowed the fact that this was a cup-tie in a major competition, the FA Trophy, with the winners due to go to either Croydon Athletic or Hastings United in the next round. This was in spite of the fact that this competition is potentially a decent money-spinner for the Club, especially in the context of home gates that continue to plummet. It’s ironic that, off the field, the situation for the Football Club continues to improve, with long-term debts being systematically reduced, and more sympathetic landlords of The Homelands replacing the Big Bad Wolf and his cronies who had plagued us for so long. Quite simply, though, if the team – that’s The Management and the players – can’t get its act together on the field, then even (more of) the most die-hard supporters will lose patience, and disappear, and, as so many non-league clubs have discovered to their cost, it’s not easy to get people back through the turnstiles once they’ve found something else to do on a Saturday afternoon.

As I wrote in my report on last Saturday’s game, the team has already proved that it’s well capable of beating better opposition that Godalming Town (with the greatest respect to our conquerors), and I’m convinced that the difference between success and failure depends to a large extent on the mental state of the players. Whatever Tim Thorogood and John Cumberbatch said to the lads before the Godalming game, and whatever the players said to themselves, they obviously felt, deep down, that victory was merely a formality. Unsurprisingly, they came unstuck.

One thing about today’s opponents, Waltham Forest, was that they were certainly not better opposition than Godalming Town. Like The G’s, they are bottom of their division, Ryman Division 1 North, without a win this season. They’d also scored just eight goals in eight league matches, (but let’s not forget that Ashford have only scored five in seven, in spite of having registered a couple of wins). So a very similar task to the one we faced last week; surely the lads wouldn’t go out with the same attitude ?!

If there were parallels between performances on the pitch, to date, by Godalming Town and Waltham Forest, today’s setting was a complete contrast to that of the previous Saturday. Instead of posh, leafy Surrey, this was distinctly urban Walthamstow E17; instead of bordering on a golf course, Waltham Forest’s ground is on the South side of the North Circular, opposite Walthamstow’s famous greyhound stadium. The Armadillo Football Stadium is set at one end of a larger footy complex – and there were two minor games going on when we arrived – which is in turn set in a very residential area, with the pitched bordered by housing on two sides. (Any decent clearance went into someone’s back garden – a bit like Essella Park, in the old days). This was quite a nice facility, a low stand with about 200 blue and black seats being the main feature. There was shallow terracing at each end of the ground, with a steel & scaffolding shelter for the whole width of the pitch. The pitch was surrounded by a single white railing, but this was hidden behind a three- to four-foot high corrugated steel fence. The playing surface looked pretty good, but there was a curious hump in the middle of the six-yard box that Simon Overland occupied in the first half.

This was a rare and welcome opportunity for Your Correspondent to make a journey to a ground that is actually North of the Thames. Situated near the Southern end of the M11, the total journey time from MK was an hour and twenty minutes, even with the horrendous road-works on both the M1 and M25. Twigging that, given the residential nature of the venue, there would be few places to get some decent scran, we adjourned for lunch early, nipping off at Junction 26 of the M25, and utilising the Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey. This, it has to be said, was one of our more up-market match-day stop-offs. The place was full of waist-coated staff, and there was Soames & Gilchrist soap and piano music in the toilets; (I actually felt a bit sorry for the pianist, being stuck in there all day). I also felt a little under-dressed, in my scruffy beige denims (made out of one of John Cumberbatch’s old suits), but the visit did the job, and we were soon on our way again.

Ashford’s team showed two changes to the one that started against Godalming – Marc Cumberbatch made a very welcome return in the centre of defence, alongside Dan Tanner, and Joffy Thorogood replaced Kenny Jarrett-Elliott wide on the left. Kenny’s position on the bench was largely due to the fact that he is struggling with an injury at the moment, and I gather that there is a similar story with Barry Crawford, who also started as a sub. George Fenwick was back, but also started on the bench, after his absence last week, with young Joe Hitchins completing the line-up of subs. So the line-up was (in 4-4-2 formation): Overland, Adlington, Ross, Cumberbatch, Tanner, Joby Thorogood, Allman, Clarke, Joffy Thorogood, Glover (capt.) and Sinden.

Although the game kicked off late, at 3.05pm, it was worth waiting for, as this was always a keenly-contested and entertaining game. It was also played in warm sunshine, with just a few wispy clouds in the sky (where else ?), and a steady breeze. (Commiserations to readers in the South Atlantic, where it was no doubt blowing a bastard). There was plenty of urgency and midfield effort from both sides during the opening skirmishes, and the first opportunity fell to Ashford, in the sixth minute. A long, quickly-taken free-kick by Anthony Allman went deep into the home side’s area, looking for Joby Thorogood, darting in from the right, in a move that was to be repeated several times during the match. On this occasion, Joby failed to control the ball, and it ran through to goalkeeper Jason Willis. A minute later, Joby did well to win a corner. This resulted in a deep cross, from Ian Ross, which found the head of Marc Cumberbatch, but there was no power in the header, and the ball went first-bounce into the ‘keeper’s arms. (Although neither side was aware of it at the time, this was a dress rehearsal for Ashford’s goal, which came later in the half).

The home side, playing in Derby County colours of white shirts, black shorts and white sockies, with “The Stags” printed on the back of their shirts, managed to create an even better chance, in the tenth minute. With Dan Tanner having been caught upfield, when pressing forward, we were a bit short-handed at the back, and Victor Renner worked a nice one-two on the edge of the Ashford area, to put himself through on goal. He got his shot on target, from close range, but Simon Overland made a good save.

Waltham Forest just about shaded it, in terms of coherent, attacking play, in the first 15 minutes, but Ashford, playing in their home strip (because the black shorts of the new away kit would clash with those of the home side), worked an opening in the 18^th minute. A move on the edge of the Forest penalty area, from right to left, involving Marc Cumberbatch and Gary Clarke, found Richard Sinden, in a bit of space. Sinders’s effort was either a cross or a shot or neither, and it flashed across the face of goal.

Three minutes later, Joby Thorogood attempted a cross from the right, but this was blocked, and we had a corner. This was again slung across, swinging in, by Ian Ross, and this time Marc Cumberbatch met it running, and stuck the ball in the net with an uncontested header.

This was a very important goal, in the context of a game between two struggling teams, as neither side wanted to be the first to fall behind – and, sure enough, the home side’s confidence immediately appeared to drain away. Our boys looked to press their advantage, and had a free-kick, in the left corner, in the 23^rd minute. Anthony Allman dinked the ball in low, into the goal-mouth, but nobody in a green shirt read his intentions, and the ball went straight to the ‘keeper.

I was quite impressed with Anthony today. He ran the show for us in midfield, and looks to be a well-matched partner for Gary Clarke in the centre; Gary also played well today, in his usual role of battling and ball-winning. Anthony took charge of most of the dead-ball situations, certainly those on the left side of the field, and had another opportunity to put a dangerous ball in, from a free-kick, in the 26^th minute, after Victor Renner was rather harshly penalised. Again, the ball was chipped into the goal-mouth, with Jason Willis looking a little uncertain; both Marc Cumberbatch and Joby Thorogood stole in in front of him, but neither could provide that vital touch.

A minute later, Tommy Adlington, who was so ugly as a baby that his mother refused to breast-feed him, (saying that she just wanted him as a friend), sent in a great long ball to Simon Glover, which found Gloves with both space and time in the Waltham Forest area. He checked, and turned, and tried to chip the ‘keeper, but Willis did well to just get a palm to the ball. I thought that all of the Ashford back four were outstanding today, with Marc and Dan solid in the middle, and the two full-backs providing some quality balls from deep. Rossi always provides great service with his left foot – and was, of course, responsible for yet another “assist” in this game – but Tom Adlington was more productive in this area than usual. He launched another great ball forward, for Richard Sinden to chase, in the 34^th minute; this caused panic in the Waltham Forest defence, and was hurriedly hoiked clear.

After Darren Duporte had hit a free-kick, awarded after Marc Cumberbatch had controlled the ball with his arm, around a two-man wall, but straight to Simon Overland, Ashford were on the attack again. A decent passing movement in midfield was ended when Ryan Oliva was late on Richard Sinden, in the 38^th minute – this caused the referee to produce his yellow card for the first time in what was never a dirty game. Anthony Allman floated another dangerous ball into the Forest area, and this was again allowed to go all the way into the six-yard box – Joby Thorogood was there to just touch the ball into the net, but the lino was flagging for off-side.

The home side, winners of the Essex Senior Cup last season, gradually recovered their composure after going behind, and it must be said that they finished the half very strongly, putting the Ashford goal under siege for the final ten minutes before the interval. A Liam Sango corner from the right, in the 41^st minute, was headed out by Tom Adlington, at the near post, but the ball was soon crossed in again. The ball bounced around in the area, and Simon Overland had to take the ball just under his own cross-bar – he was shoved over the line, but the goal was never going to be allowed to stand.

Two minutes later, Sango took another corner from the right, and this time crossed it deep, beyond the far post. Simon went out to fetch the ball, but his 6’6” frame couldn’t get near it – however, the defence stood firm, blocking any attempt at a shot, and bundled the ball out for a corner. With 44 minutes on the clock, but with some first-half injury time to come, Liam Baptiste tried a shot from well outside the area, which went well wide. Soon after, Dan Tanner, who was feeling distinctly rough for the duration of the game, conceded another corner, which was headed behind for yet another – finally, the ball was headed away, and we could all breathe again.

The half entered its 49^th minute, and Ashford did actually end the period in the opposition’s half. Joffy did well to win possession, near the left corner flag, and pulled the ball back to Gary Clarke, who tried quite an audacious chip for goal – this would have gone in if Jason Willis had not tipped the ball over, for a corner. Anthony Allman’s resulting cross actually went straight to Willis, at which point the ref blew his whistle for tea & biscuits.

I was delighted, at half-time, to bump into today’s match sponsor – Ottaway & Associates Ltd (Quality, Safety and Environmental Consultants). Not only is Chris a born & bred Ashford boy, but I hadn’t seen him and his Dad for some 33 years !  Users of the Club’s Forum might know him as “The Old Fart”, but I remember him as the boy in the Ashford Town kit I used to kick about with in Victoria Park.

There was, alas, all too little time to reminisce about Ashford’s great side of the seventies – Sillett, Morton, Street, Coventry etc etc – as the second half was soon under way, with Waltham Forest having put Danny Kenny on, as a wide, right-sided player, during the interval. Kenny (that’s the home side’s Kenny) soon made an impact, as, in the 51^st minute, he supplied a deep cross into the Ashford area, which Danny Gabriel headed wastefully wide at the far post. A minute later, Simon Glover became the first of three Ashford players to be booked, when he rather went over the ball in a tackle – at which point Waltham Forest made their second substitution, with Ryan Hall replacing Darren Duporte.

In the 56^th minute, a period of pressure from the home side ended with Ian Ross carrying the ball out of defence. He fed the ball infield, to Anthony Allman, who slid the ball forward into the path of Richard Sinden. Richard managed to get his shot in, but this went well over the bar. Sinders worked hard up front, but hasn’t scored since the Bromley game; as someone who’s used to scoring goals, he needs to hit the net regularly, and he was just showing signs of getting a little deflated out there today. Nevertheless, he was back in action again a minute later, when Tom Adlington fed a good ball through to him along the right touchline. Sinders sent in a long cross to the far post, which he actually seemed to over-hit, but Joffy managed to make something of it, getting up to nod the ball back into the six-yard box. Unfortunately, Jason Willis got there ahead of Simon Glover.

The Stags’ equaliser came in the 58^th minute, and, ironically, given that they’d applied plenty of steady pressure on the Ashford goal since just before the interval, the goal almost came out of nothing. Victor Renner picked the ball up in about the middle of the Ashford half, and unleashed as sweet a shot as you’re likely to see at this level. The ball arrowed into the corner of the net, lodging between the net and the back stanchion. It was an absolute screamer, which even Brian Gambrill wouldn’t have saved. (Okay, so I’m still reminiscing about the seventies, but where’s the harm in that ?).

Of course, with Waltham Forest probably having been the better side for the past 25 minutes or so of play, the worry was that Ashford would struggle to raise their game again, but they did just that, and the rest of the match was fairly even. The Management’s reaction was to throw top scorer George Fenwick into the fray, in the 63^rd minute – but, predictably, this was in place of Richard Sinden, instead of the largely ineffective Simon Glover. (I reckon I’ve only seen about 25% of what Gloves can do, so far this season, and he’ll make a tremendous difference to the side once he finds his form).

In the 69^th minute, Ryan Oliva conceded a free-kick, and Forest set up a three-man wall on the edge of the penalty area. Rossi took the kick, and played the Allman role of chipping the ball into the goal-mouth – one of three Ashford players touched the ball into the net, from close range, but the goal was once again disallowed for off-side. (A totally unindependent eye-witness reckons that it was never off-side, but that doesn’t matter now).

In the 76^th minute, Anthony Allman was pushed to the ground as he was shaping up for a shot. This time, there were plenty of defenders, and green shirts, in the wall, but Joby Thorogood’s free-kick was deflected behind for a corner. Then, in the 80^th minute, Dan Tanner spread the ball wide to Joby, who rather pushed it past the defender and threw himself to the ground – but he won the free-kick. Rossi again curled the ball in, but this time it was too close to the ‘keeper, who was able to collect.

Gary Clarke, in defensive mode, conceded a corner, in the 83^rd minute. This was crossed in deep, and found Ryan Oliva, who got up, but headed wide. Clarkey was again on the ball two minutes later, spreading the ball wide, to the left, for Joff Thorogood to chase. A Stags defender came across with a good covering tackle, after which Joffy’s momentum caused him to clatter into his opponent. There was nothing malicious about this, but it was enough for our hero to receive yet another yellow card – he really must be close to receiving a special FA ASBO now. Joffy’s next act was to limp off, to be replaced by Kenny Jarrett-Elliott, in the 86^th minute.

Both sides pressed for a late winner, and Dan Tanner, probably gagging for a Lemsip by now, had to make a good block, with 88 minutes on the clock. The resulting corner, from the right, was cleared. A minute into injury time, an Ian Ross free-kick, from inside the Ashford half after an off-side decision, was hit long, into the Waltham Forest penalty area. Simon Glover almost justified the decision to leave him on the pitch, when he managed to get on the end of this, but his looping header went just wide of the far post. A minute later, Rossi set Marc Cumberbatch, of all people, off down the right; Cumber pulled the ball back from the by-line, but Joby Thorogood’s diving header went straight to ‘keeper Jason Willis.

Four minutes of injury time had been played – and it was 5.56pm – when Gary Clarke was booked for a late tackle. Forest had no choice, at this stage, but to put the free-kick into the area; this Danny Gabriel did, chipping the ball to the far post, but Simon Overland made a good catch. This was the final action of the match.

In the end, I think we were quite happy to leave Walthamstow with a draw. This was a much improved performance, compared with the previous Saturday, but there is still plenty of improvement left in this squad. There was talk, after the game, of the players being tired, which is a little worrying, given that the squad is now down to 16 players, and the replay comes up on Tuesday. (The winners will play away at Hastings, in a couple of weeks’ time). I suppose the merit of today’s performance will be defined by Tuesday’s result. If we win, we can then move on and try to recapture the form shown in early September; if we lose, then the story will no doubt be that “we can’t even beat Waltham Forest”, and heads, and attendances, will go down even further.

Man of the Match

(to go towards the Milton Keynes Bowl)

Marc Cumberbatch