ARCHIVE: Whyteleafe v Ashford Town. Ryman League Division 1 South. January 2006.

Whyteleafe         3       Ashford Town   2

from Your Milton Keynes Correspondent

Although we’ve had only two games so far in 2006, it’s already been a year of extreme highs and lows. From the euphoria of the 3-0 first-half performance against Dover, which culminated in that exhilarating third goal from Denver “Box to Box” Birmingham, the lads suffered the crushing psychological blow of that 93rd minute winner for the Metropolitan Police last Saturday. Nevertheless, the bottom line is that we collected three points from those two games, whilst, of our rivals at the bottom of the table, only Corinthian Casuals managed to get a point (and only one) during the same period, with Burgess Hill Town actually playing three games.

That, I’m afraid is the stark reality of our current position – we’re in a division within a division, involving four teams: ourselves (18 points from 25 games, at the start of today’s play), Burgess Hill Town (17 from 22), Corinthian Casuals (16 from 24) and Newport IoW (15 from 23). In theory, two of these teams are supposed to go down at the end of the season, but, with another restructuring happening in non-league football in the Summer, which will involve a whole bunch of teams being promoted from Step 5 to our level, the chances are that no more than one team will actually go down. Nevertheless, it’s always good to set your sights high, so we really should be aiming for 21^st position or better in this 23-team division. That means that we just need to make sure that we keep two of these three teams behind us. (We still need to play these three teams once; away from home each time).

The fact that we’re in another relegation battle in Ryman Division 1 – and not fighting it out for third place behind Beckenham and Maidstone in the Kent League – is due to events here at Church Road, Whyteleafe, on the last day of last season. Whilst Ashford were a few miles down the road at Horsham, getting thrashed 5-0, Whyteleafe saved our skin by getting a 3-1 result against Dorking, which relegated The Dorks, in our stead. In recognition of the debt that we undoubtedly owe The ‘Leafe, Mrs Milton Keynes Correspondent and I kissed the ground as we passed through the turnstiles.

As the name of the place suggests, today’s venue was deep in leafy Surrey (i.e. posh end – compared to South Ashford, at least). It’s a pleasant, tree-lined little ground at Church Road. It’s also what the Queen Mother used to describe as an “arse about face” ground, with the main stand (the “Gold Air Stand”) behind one goal, and a smaller stand with a few green and white seats, including club Directors’ seats, on the half-way line. The place has rather more terracing than some venues in Ryman Division 1, and is capable of holding more than the 176 that turned up this afternoon, (295 is Whyteleafe’s best crowd so far this season). The pitch was blighted with patches of bare mud, but that was hardly surprising, given the wet weather that’s been about recently.

There were a few “nice to see”s in the Ashford line-up. Firstly, it was nice to see Rossi making his 201^st appearance for the Club – having been told that he would never play football again, following that horrendous double-fracture of the leg, I’m sure that he doesn’t take playing for granted, so we shouldn’t either. Quite apart from that, three of Ashford Town’s last four goals have come about as a result of an Ian Ross cross or free-kick. It was also good to see Big Dave Wietecha back in goal – no disrespect to Sean Glover (who was apparently at fault to some extent for both goals against The Met), but Dave is an outstanding ‘keeper. In front of him, we had the now-familiar back-four of Rossi, Mark Banks, Tom Adlington and Jamie Smith. (Once again, the full-backs towered over their centre-back colleagues – but so too did the Whyteleafe forwards !). On the subject of defenders, it was good to see former captain and centre-half Peter Mortley on the bench. Peter has recently left Hastings United, reportedly on the grounds of the travelling he has to do from his Medway home, and has apparently re-signed for us.

There is plenty of competition for places in midfield at the moment, and the promising RJ Boorman also had to be content with a place on the subs’ bench. The preferred central defensive pairing is currently Denver Birmingham (now fit enough to complete 90 minutes of late) and Gary Clarke, with J-P Collier on the right, and Sol Henry on the left. Emmanuel Sackey also had to make do with a place on the bench, with Nathan Thomas and Anthony Pace being other midfielders unable to make the first team squad. With Joby Thorogood starting a four-game ban, Shaun Bradshaw partnered Adrian Stone up front, (Adrianho carrying the Club’s yellow livery for the first time, with Whyteleafe playing in their usual Celtic strip). The bench was completed by Kennickson Jarrett-Elliott and Sean Glover.

There was something of a Bromley reunion here, as Kevin George was named in the Whyteleafe side, having been released from Bromley in the same cull that has enabled Adrian Stone and John-Paul Collier to return to Ashford. (I now understand that Adrianho is with us on a month’s loan, but presumably this loan-period can be extended when it expires).

In damping, overcast conditions, Ashford started the better of the two teams, and ran the game for the first ten minutes. Our one shooting chance during this period came after Adrianho had shown good skill to win a corner, on the right. Skipper Ian Ross came across to take it, his cross falling to Shaun Bradshaw – Bradders hit his shot into the ground, and it bounced up for a comfortable catch for ‘keeper James Wastell.

Whyteleafe’s first real venture into Ashford’s half of the field came after ten minutes – and it took this long for Jamie Smith to lunge in with his first reckless tackle. Smudger is obviously a very talented footballer, but his disciplinary record has been appalling since he joined us. Having been sent off for two yellows in the previous match, against the Met Police, he again attracted the referee’s attention. The resulting free-kick, from wide on the left, was floated into the Ashford area, and was nodded down by a Whyteleafe forward, but this was easy for Dave Wietecha to gather.

In the twelfth minute, Shaun Bradshaw had a glimmer of a chance when he almost latched onto a fairly innocuous ball from deep midfield – it just needed him to get a toe to the ball, but he couldn’t make the vital contact, and the ball went harmlessly through to James Wastell.

After creating some promising situations with a corner, and a free-kick in a forward position, Ashford then went behind, in the 16^th minute. Mark Banks, who has been looking quite solid at the back since establishing himself in the side, appeared to be in control of a long ball from the ‘Leafe defence, chasing back towards his own goal. Unfortunately, he fluffed the tap back to Dave Wietecha, and presented a great chance for a Whyteleafe forward. (I wasn’t on great form when it came to identifying the opposition’s players today – mainly because the black numbers on the hooped shirts were not decipherable beyond a distance of about ten yards !). Big Dave made the first of a number of great saves, but ‘Leafe skipper Lee Sidwell was there to hammer in the rebound.

A minute later, there was the first sign of ill-feeling on the field, when an incident involving Jean-Paul Collier led to a push & shove session that involved most of the outfield players. To say that J-P got booked for a foul is incorrect – he actually got booked for kicking an opponent in the back of the legs, after his victim had passed the ball. Whether it was as a result of something that had been said to him, or a previous challenge, J-P was clearly peering through a red mist of some kind, and a yellow card, at least, was inevitable. Whyteleafe’s Gareth Graham was also booked, presumably for his part in the ensuing ruck.

Collier’s yellow card really should have acted as a warning to him to watch his step for the rest of the game – which is what they’re for, after all – but, three minutes later, he dived in with a late, reckless and brainless tackle, right under referee Haines’s nose. It was almost as if he had a train to catch, as the red card was automatic. As travelling fans, we get used to players making mistakes, with some struggling to make the grade at this level, and with some not being as fit as they might be, and we tend to take such things with a pinch of salt, but this was very hard to accept. John-Paul’s actions appeared to be those of a player who had absolutely no regard for the interests of the Club. Worse than that, he let his team-mates down badly, as they were now a goal down, a man down and with still 70 minutes to play. The lads have enough on their plate at the moment, and having had to play with nine and ten men in recent matches hasn’t helped their cause.

Things might have gone downhill very rapidly from here, following Collier’s dereliction of duty – in the First World War he would’ve been shot ! – but, surprisingly, Ashford hit back almost immediately, with an equaliser. It was a well-taken goal, but it certainly involved some slack defending from the home side. A free-kick from the half-way line from Ian Ross was floated into the Whyteleafe area – this found Adrianho in plenty of space, and he had time to control the ball and square it to Shaun Bradshaw. Bradders also had time to steady himself, and planted the ball into the corner of the net.

That meant that four of Ashford Town’s last five goals had come about as a result of an Ian Ross cross or free-kick.

One thing that can be said about Ashford’s reaction to going down to ten men is that the two-man attack was generally maintained; Jamie Smith tended to push up into the right of midfield whenever possible, leaving three at the back in a 3-4-2 formation. This defence did, however, find itself under pressure for much of the remainder of the game, especially in the lead-up to half time. In the 24^th minute, Mark Banks had to concede a corner when coming across with a saving tackle – Dave Wietecha demonstrated that there is at least some height in the Ashford defence, when he rose to easily collect the resulting cross. A minute later, Ian Ross conceded a free-kick on the Ashford left. This was floated long to the far post, and long-haired No.10 Andrew Martin – think of Francis Rossi in his prime, circa 1973 – got up high above Ashford Town’s Rossi, and did just about all that could be expected of him, with a good, downward header. This “finish” deserved a goal, but Dave Wietecha did well to make a great save, one-handed, low to his right. After some fairly boorish behaviour from some football clubs in this league recently, and in a game where ill-temper was never far below the surface, I’m delighted to report that Andrew Martin sportingly shook Big Dave’s hand, to congratulate him on the save.

Whyteleafe weren’t to be denied for long, though, and they regained the lead in the 35^th minute – but once again it took them two attempts to get past Dave Wietecha. Gareth Graham, who looked to be the home side’s inspiration in midfield, sent in a dangerous, curling cross to the near post, from a free-kick. Dave did well to keep the ball out, in the first instance, but Bobby George was there, on the oche, to knock in the rebound.

In the 42^nd minute, Jamie Smith (unusually, it must be said) gave the ball away, with a misplaced pass, and the Whyteleafe midfield immediately sprang out to attack, quickly outnumbering the Ashford defence, four against three. Sol Henry did well to get back goal-side of the ball, holding the attack up and eventually winning a free-kick. Solly had a really good game defensively today, looking strong when in possession, and often tracking back to help the defence. (The fact that he never threatened as an attacking force, not giving the merest hint that he might put in a cross from the left, was one of the reasons for few chances being created by the visitors this afternoon).

Andrew Martin – anyone remember Mario Kempes, who played for Argentina in the seventies and eighties ? – showed himself to be a quality player, with 45 minutes on the watch. He chased a ball down the right wing, to the corner flag, turned and beat two Ashford defenders, beat another one to find himself inside the Ashford penalty area, and then saw his shot well saved by Dave Wietecha. Although he didn’t get onto the scoresheet, Martin was later named as Man of the Match, and this was well deserved.

So 2-1 to The ‘Leafe at half time, and, although Ashford generally played OK, particularly in midfield and in defence, it was significant that James Wastell, in the home goal, hadn’t actually made a save in the first half.

Whyteleafe had the first chance of the second half, winning a corner, as early as the 47^th minute, after Sol Henry had done a good covering job for Ian Ross. The corner was floated deep, beyond the far post, and Andrew Martin was there with a volley on the turn, but his effort flashed just over the bar.

Rossi – I’m referring to the Ashford captain again here – was the next yellow-shirted player to pick up a yellow card. This was for a late tackle, in the 51^st minute; nothing vicious or vindictive, but it was late. The energetic Gareth Graham took the free-kick, a short distance from the left corner of the Ashford area, and faced by a three-man wall. Graham’s cross skidded dangerously through the Ashford six-yard box, and behind, and must have touched a defender, as a corner was given. Graham came across to the right to take the corner himself, but Ian Ross headed clear.

Jason Goodchild scuffed a weak shot wide of the post, two minutes later, but the next chance came at the other end. Denver “Two Cities” Birmingham did well to win a corner, on the right, in the 56^th minute. This was taken by Ian Ross, aiming for the head of Adrianho, at the near post; the Bromley Brazilian got half a head to it, but, after a brief scramble in the Whyteleafe penalty area, the ball was cleared.

Adrianho had a much better chance three minutes later. Running onto a long ball from defence, he got a touch to take the ball past the goalkeeper, but a Whyteleafe defender, running back, was able to clear the ball from the gaping mouth of the goal.

‘Leafe manager Stuart Massey made his first substitution in the 61^st minute, replacing Gareth Graham, who had been hobbling a little, with Tony Martin – probably with the instruction that all Ashford players intruding into the penalty area should be shot in the back !  Similarly, the Ashford bench – with Tim Thorogood now back from Las Vegas – brought off Gary Clarke, who seemed to be carrying a knock of some kind, and replaced him with RJ Boorman, in the 65^th minute.

As the home side continued to press forward, Bobby George managed a weak shot straight at Dave Wietecha, in the 66^th minute, and then, two minutes later, a headed clearance from Tom Adlington fell to the feet of Kevin George, and the ex-Bromley man’s shot was deflected wide for a corner. The resulting cross was drilled, all along the ground, to Leigh Douce in the heart of the penalty area, and the centre-half sweetly (get it ?) side-footed the ball into the corner of the net. This looked bad, defensively, as the ball was allowed to travel a long way without a defender getting a foot to it, but this also looked to be a training ground set-piece, so you have to give the attacking team some credit for that.

At 3-1, and with ten-man Ashford having created so few chances, that looked to be the goal that wrapped up the points for Whyteleafe, but, for the second time in the match, the boys scored when everyone least expected them to. In fact, it was just a minute later that they pulled the score back to 3-2. A great, diagonal ball from RJ Boorman – a bit of a trade mark, really – was chased into the right corner of the pitch by Denver Birmingham, and the Colorado city won a free-kick, near the corner flag. Ian Ross went across to take the kick, and curled the ball deep into the area. Sol Henry got as high as he could, and aimed a looping header towards goal. This should have been an easy tip-over for Whyteleafe’s ‘keeper Leigh Wastell, but he did no more than deflect the ball onto the bar – he flicked his hand at the ball again, as it dropped, but the ball plopped embarrassingly into the corner of the net. This was a comical gaff from a normally reliable and well-respected ‘keeper, but all gifts are gratefully received by Ashford Town at this stage of the season. The goal was actually credited to Solomon Henry, so, at long last, after 40 hours and 14 minutes of football for Ashford this season – and with his brother scoring a hat-trick for Arsenal this afternoon - Solly has finally broken his duck.

It also meant that five of Ashford Town’s last six goals had come about as a result of an Ian Ross cross or free-kick.

Wastell’s uncharacteristic horlicks appeared to be contagious, as Dave Wietecha did something very similar at the other end, in the 73^rd minute. Dave looked to have a similarly easy task to tip over a curling cross, from a free-kick near the by-line, but he failed to make the necessary contact, and the ball skidded off the face of the bar. RJ Boorman picked the ball up and cleared.

Whilst there was plenty of time left for Ashford to grab an equaliser, this never looked likely to happen, and a fourth goal for Whyteleafe was far more likely. In the 75^th minute, a speculative long-range shot was deflected behind for a corner, which Ian Ross headed clear. Two minutes later, a good run down the left wing resulted in a cross to Andrew Martin, at the near post, but a great volley from the No.10 flashed just over the bar. In the 81^st minute, a through-ball from midfield split the Ashford defence, and presented Jason Goodchild with a one-on-one with Dave Wietecha, in the Ashford area, but big Dave did well yet again, saving at the midfielder’s feet.

The occasional ill-temperedness of the first half appeared to have died down, but, seemingly from nowhere, things “kicked off” again in the 85^th minute. A free-kick was awarded to Ashford, and the two players involved appeared to get into a bit of a tangle. Well, one thing led to another, and soon there was a mass scrum. This was the usual sort of thing – much pushing and shoving; some players trying to make peace, but actually making things worse; some players trying to make war, but being unable to get a clean punch in. The best box-to-box run of the entire match came from the linesman on the far side, who sprinted three-quarters of the length of the pitch – presumably to tell the referee that he saw everything !  Anyway, after several minutes of discussion and delay, the result was a yellow card for the not-so-sweet Leigh Douce. After further debate, Jamie Smith was shown a yellow card – his second of the match – and, as night follows day, a red. It appeared to be a harsh decision for Smith to be singled out, from all the players who were involved in the incident, but it later emerged that he was yellow-carded for throwing a punch. If that’s the case, then Jamie can have no complaints, and should be thankful that it was not a straight red, to follow his yellow card in the first half. Being sent off for the second successive match, I’m not sure how long his “holiday” will be, but I assume this will mean a lengthy ban. (Mortley to come back into the centre of defence, enabling Tom Adlington to return to his right-back position ?). It also meant that Ashford Town continued with this very poor disciplinary record; we’ve now failed to finish with eleven players in three of the last four games, having collected no fewer than five red cards in that time. This could well prove costly when the suspensions start.

The home side shouldn’t get too sanctimonious about this, as they were very fortunate to finish with all their playing personnel on the field – in this most recent incident I distinctly saw a right hook thrown by an arm in a green & white hooped sleeve, and left-back Chris Head also threw a punch, in the first half, which was not spotted by the officials.

When the football eventually restarted, Ian Ross’s free-kick went harmlessly through the Whyteleafe penalty area, and beyond the far post, but there was a further lengthy delay to enable treatment for both James Wastell and Shaun Bradshaw, who had accidentally clashed in mid-air as Bradders challenged for the ball.

With 91 minutes on the clock, but with the expectation of plenty of injury time, Adrianho, who, like Bradshaw, had worked hard up front throughout the game, got caught in possession on the half-way line. Whyteleafe immediately sprang out from midfield, and Tommy Adlington and Mark Banks soon found themelves wide-eyed and outnumbered – six against two. Again, though, Sol Henry got back well to defend, and further losses were avoided.

When the referee’s final whistle went after only four minutes of injury time, it was something of a surprise, but Whyteleafe looked more than capable of running down the clock, as necessary.

Ashford weren’t thrashed 4-0; we weren’t out-played; we weren’t out-classed; nobody threw the towel in. The truth, though, is that, whilst the majority of the players had a good game, the opposition goalkeeper wasn’t called upon to make a save in anger. Ashford were actually quite flattered that the scoreline was so close, with our second goal being an absolute gift. So, after just one away win in 2005, the first away match of 2006 has resulted in defeat. Today’s result must have been quite a relief for Whyteleafe, as this was their first win in the league since the 22^nd of November.

The overwhelming mood amongst the players and management after the game appeared to be one of disappointment that the job had been made harder by the actions of a deserter after only 20 minutes of the game. Not that there was much opportunity for post mortems after the game; with a clubhouse packed with players and supporters wishing to talk footy, all conversations were drowned by a pub band that decided to embark on an unwelcome practice session in the bar. (This was not the calibre of artist that would get Steve Monk falling over himself to make a booking for Ashford Rocks – one of the old standards murdered was The Who’s “Substitute”, but Anthony Pace wasn’t present to be able to appreciate the joke). I’m not sure who gave permission for this racket to be made at this time and in this place, but, whoever it was, they have no understanding of the grieving process that we fans need to go through immediately after a defeat.

In the current situation, no report would be complete without it being put in the context of how the other teams in the relegation mini-league got on: whilst Burgess Hill Town won at home, both Newport and Corinthians lost, so the overall damage was minimal, I suppose. Our next opponents are Tonbridge Angels, at home (!).