Ashford United 2 Tunbridge
Wells 3
From Ashford United’s Milton Keynes Correspondent
Ashford
United’s final fixture of 2012 was a Kent Senior Trophy Second Round tie
against local Kent rivals Tunbridge Wells – an eagerly awaited match-up that
had already been postponed twice due to the unusually wet weather that the
whole country has been experiencing recently. Hopes were high that the pitch
would be playable, after Homelands had staged Ashford’s 7-2 pasting of Lydd
Town on Boxing Day, just three days previously. However, the go-ahead that was
given early on Saturday morning was far from a formality, with there being some
concern as to the safety of under-foot conditions. As it turned out, Steve
Hackett’s pitch, which looked a picture, as ever, with barely a blade of grass
missing, presented no problems.
This first-ever Kent Senior Trophy tie to be played at
Homelands was a welcome distraction from Ashford’s Kent Invicta League
campaign, after a run of seven consecutive league games. It also provided the home
side with a fifth opportunity this season to be measured up against Step 5 opposition.
So far, the record had been defeats at the hands of two solid mid-table Sussex
County League sides, in Lingfield and St Francis Rangers, and victories away to
the Kent Premier League’s Deal Town and Holmesdale, (who currently lie ninth
and 15th, respectively).
In spite of the latter two encouraging results, it was
expected that Tunbridge Wells would provide a sterner test. Although Wells were
no higher than eighth in the table, this morning, and a respectful 14 points
adrift of second-placed Erith Town, today’s visitors have looked a formidable
cup side, this season, particularly in the FA Vase. A very important upcoming
date for them will be a last-32 home tie against last season’s Vase winners,
Dunston UTS, which is a massive game, coming up on the 19th of
January. In addition, Wells have won the Kent Senior Trophy on four occasions,
most recently in 2006 and 2011.
A major boost for Ashford United fans was the availability
of leading goal scorer Mo Takaloo, after a three-game suspension – although
Manager Paul Chambers started Mo on the bench, possibly being influenced by the
fact that the team had managed to score seven in his absence, last time, with
Boxing Day’s striking duo of Gary Mickelborough and Sam Conlon having scored
four between them. Roy Guiver was also absent due to suspension, sitting out
the second of two games – but seemed happy enough with a pint in his hand, in
the bar. The other notable absentee for Ashford was Dan Morrison, who might be
out for up to two months, with a hamstring injury.
Those on parade, today, were Joe Mant, in goal, behind
a back three of Ben Jordan, Luke Cuthbert and Lee Coburn; Liam Whiting, Richard
Quigley, Adam Cuthbert, Ollie Finch and Kieran Byrne in midfield, and Sam
Conlon and Gary Mickelborough up front. On the bench, alongside Mo Takaloo,
were youngsters Jamie Collado, Jordan Wright and Tom Scorer, plus reserve
goalie Tom Carr.
Tunbridge Wells lined up as, in number order, Chris
Oladogba, Jason Bourne, Stuart Thorley, Jason Barton, Scott Whibley, Perry
Spackman, John Pilbeam, Keelan Mooney, Jack Harris, Carl Cornell and Josh
Stanford. So neither of Wells’ former Ashford Town favourites, Joe Fuller or
Richard Sinden, started the game, today – although Sinders was on the bench,
and, of course, it was a welcome return to Homelands for TWFC Manager Martin
Larkin, who previously did such a good job as Manager of Ashford Town Reserves.
Visiting goalie Chris Oladogba needed a last-minute
wardrobe adjustment, having to slip a white T-shirt over his yellow kit, once
it became clear that the home side was to play in the yellow & green away
kit. (With Tunbridge Wells in their usual all-red strip, it looked rather like
Norwich City v Liverpool, out there).
Given that the visitors are far and away the best
supported team in the Kent League Premier Division, and there were several
matches involving Kent clubs postponed, this afternoon, including those of
Hythe Town, Folkestone Invicta and Sittingbourne, the attendance of 222 was
slightly disappointing – and, coincidentally, the same as for the Lydd game, on
Boxing Day.
Some sensitive souls might have been deterred by the
weather. It was not particularly cold, for the time of year, but the stiff
breeze and the light rain made conditions not particularly pleasant. The clouds
of horizontal drizzle, under heavy, overcast skies, were plain to see in the
floodlights, which were switched on from the start of the match. Ashford played
into this drenching wind, which came from over the golf course, in the first
half.
It took just seconds for the visitors to reveal what
appeared to be their most potent weapon, almost immediately funnelling the ball
out to No.11 Josh Stanford, who looked to be a skilful winger. He immediately
gave the impression of being a potential handful for the Ashford defence – and
this first impression was not wrong !
The visitors did not, however, have their first sight of goal until the
sixth minute, when Keelan Mooney tried an optimistic shot from long range,
which was always going wide. Almost immediately, Ashford had a chance at the
opposite end. The Wells defence was surprisingly slow to react to a long ball
from the heart of the home side’s defence, and Sam Conlon latched onto this
before goalkeeper Oladogba. Having beaten the goalie, and the defence, to the
ball, Conlon probably should have steered the ball into the empty net, but he
put his shot wide. Nevertheless, Sam worked tirelessly throughout the ninety minutes,
and his pace was as likely as anything that Ashford possessed to trouble the
Wells defence.
In the ninth minute, Kieran Byrne showed good pace
himself, charging down the left wing, in splendid isolation, but with only Gary
Mickelborough to aim at in the middle. Disappointingly, Kieran planted the ball
straight into the arms of the ‘keeper.
The early exchanges were characterised by both sides
launching plenty of long balls – some of them aimless – and the home side’s
next chance came in the form of another shot from long range. Liam Whiting has
made a name for himself, during his time with Ashford, as a scorer of
spectacular, long-range goals, and had produced another screamer, on Boxing Day
– but this time his low shot was well saved by the competent-looking Chris Oladogba,
who got down well at the near post. A minute later, Josh Stanford played the
ball into Jack Harris, in the Ashford penalty area, and Harris went to ground
under a challenge, but won no more than a corner. This was taken by Jon
Pilbeam, on the left, playing it short to Perry Spackman, at the near post.
Spackman played the ball back to Pilbeam, and then connected with Pilbeam’s
cross with a looping header, which went well over the bar.
In the 24th minute, Josh Stanford played an
inch-perfect, diagonal ball into the path of Carl Cornell, deep inside the
Ashford area. This appeared to be typical of the work of Martin Larkin’s side,
and the Ashford defence had to constantly be aware of this threat. On this
occasion, Joe Mant did well to swiftly come out to smother the danger. A minute
later, Keelan Mooney picked up a clearance from Oladogba, and put an excellent
through-ball into the path of Cornell – and it was Lee Coburn, this time, who
was there with the saving tackle.
Both sides gave the ball away more often than the
respective managers will have liked, and there was not much to choose between
the two sides, in the first half. The visitors looked dangerous when having the
ball in advanced areas, moving the ball quickly, and looking to pick their
passes carefully. Ashford showed some good passing movements, from time to
time, but mostly in midfield, with little threat on the Tunbridge Wells goal.
The home side had a half-chance in the 29th minute, when Oladogba
came for a free-kick, taken from the far touchline, but never looked like
getting there. The ball fell to Luke Cuthbert, who side-footed his shot well
over the bar. Ashford had another opportunity from a free-kick, in the 34th
minute, after a good move had ended with Lee Coburn being flattened by Stuart
Thorley. Kieran Byrne, who has been known to score direct from a free-kick,
aimed a low, hard shot, which beat the red defensive wall, but the ‘keeper once
again got down well, to save. Liam Whiting managed a diagonal shot, from long
range, in the 39th minute, but his effort went wide.
As the breeze dropped noticeably, towards the end of
the half, Tunbridge Wells took the lead, and it was rather against the run of
play. In the 42nd minute, a long, cross-field ball was slightly too
long for Josh Stanford, at the far post, but the left-winger had enough desire
to retrieve the ball before it went out of play. He found Carl Cornell, in the
Ashford area, who smashed the ball into the net, from close range.
With a minute remaining in the first half, Gary
Mickelborough connected with a cross from the left, but his weak header was
easily gathered by the ‘keeper – so Ashford trooped off, at the interval, a
little unfortunate to be a goal down.
Whereas the visitors’ best work in the first 45
minutes had tended to come from the left, Wells opened the second half with a
threat from the right, through Jon Pilbeam, (who was later named, on the Wells
web-site, as their Player of the Match). Pilbeam whipped in a hard, low cross,
along the Ashford six-yard line, but two red-shirted players converging on the
Ashford goal failed to make a connection.
Ashford continued to press forward, but, in truth,
looked less threatening up front in the (continued) absence of Mo Takaloo, and
also appeared to miss the aerial presence of Roy Guiver at set pieces. There
was an opportunity, however, in the 51st minute, when a deep cross
from the right was well met by Liam Whiting. He headed the ball into the centre
of the area, where Sam Conlon attempted an ambitious overhead kick, which was
always going up and over the bar.
Shortly after Scott Whibley had headed a Tunbridge
Wells corner over the bar, at the near post, in the 57th minute, Sam
Conlon had a much clearer chance – the best that Ashford had had, to date. He
latched onto a long ball from the Ashford back four, using his pace to sprint
clear of the visitors’ defence – but his shot, with the outside of his right
foot, was always curling wide of the far post. The constant threat posed by
this Tunbridge Wells side was once again demonstrated, as play was quickly
switched to the other end. The Ashford defence appeared stretched, as a slick
and measured passing movement found Jon Pilbeam in the penalty area, but his
shot was blocked.
Just past the hour-mark, Kieran Byrne was replaced by
Jamie Collado, as Paul Chambers made the first of his three substitutions. It
was a surprise switch, as Kieran had played well, and had pushed well forward,
on the left, during the second half – but it was good to see Jamie having a
decent opportunity for the first team.
In spite of the change, it was not long before the
Tunbridge Wells lead was doubled. The home side continued to press forward, and
had a free-kick, near the Wells by-line, in the 64th minute. This
rather resembled a short corner in hockey – but the chip into the goal mouth
was cleared. Two minutes later, an Ashford corner, again from the right, led to
another quick break by Wells, who very soon had a two v two situation. Ashford
were again indebted to the alertness of a defender, as Luke Cuthbert put the
ball behind for a corner, (but only just wide of Joe Mant’s left-hand post).
Martin Larkin substituted Jack Harris with Richard Sinden – five goals for
Ashford Town and Ashford United, between 2005 and 2011, but at a rate of a goal
every 3.25 games – before the resulting corner could be taken, and the
shaven-headed No.15 had a hand in his team’s second goal. Joe Mant looked a
little vulnerable beneath the initial cross, just managing to get finger tips
to the ball. Josh Stanford picked up possession on the far side of the pitch,
and carried the ball cross-field, with a diagonal run. He fed Sinden, in the
area, who laid the ball out wide. The resulting cross was headed down, into the
net, by Carl Cornell, and it was 0-2.
The second Wells goal was timed at 69 minutes, and, a
minute later, Paul Chambers finally introduced Mo Takaloo into the game,
replacing Richard Quigley. This was a signal that the home side was not just
going to roll over, with a shrug of the shoulders, and accept defeat – and this
was one of several positive things to emerge from this match.
I don’t think Mo Tak will claim to have played a major
part in Ashford’s first goal, which came in the 73rd minute, but it
was his first touch of the game which started the move which led to Ashford
having two players over, on the right side of the visitors’ penalty area. A
diagonal ball found the wider of these two, who sent in a low, hard cross,
which Gary Mickelborough bundled in, from point-blank range. This was no more
than Gary deserved, as he had worked hard and held the ball well, leading the
line with Sam Conlon.
The home side’s next chance came in the 77th
minute, and this came as a result of goalkeeper Chris Oladogba making a
complete hash of a goal-kick. He fluffed the ball to the nearest player – which
was one Mohammed Takalobighashi – and it seemed odds-on that Mo would now
equalise. He took the ball on for a few strides, but then surprised most people
by shooting early – but Oladogba still had to make an excellent save, diving to
his left, to prevent the ball from nestling in the bottom corner of the net.
In the 79th minute, a shot from Tunbridge
Wells’ Jason Barton, from outside the penalty area, was deflected wide, by an
Ashford head, for a corner. A minute later, a great long ball from deep inside
the Ashford half, by Liam Whiting, was well controlled by Sam Conlon, inside
the visitors’ area, but the ball was taken off his toes, and put behind for a
corner. In the 83rd minute, it was Gary Mickelborough’s turn to have
the ball nicked from him, when in a good position, in the area, but Ashford
were not to be denied their equaliser. The resulting corner was whipped into
the goal mouth, with pace, and was thumped into the net with what looked to be
a great header. Eventually, the PA system announced that this was an own goal –
and, later, this was “credited” to Jason Barton.
So Ashford were deservedly level, and the prospect of
Extra Time, and maybe settling the tie with “kicks from the penalty mark”,
became a distinct possibility.
Just a minute later, and the impressive Jon Pilbeam
attacked the Ashford defence through the inside-right channel – and Liam
Whiting did well to put the ball behind for a corner. The resulting attempted
cross was a poor one, and the first man at the near post, Adam Cuthbert, was
easily able to side-foot the ball clear. But Adam wasn’t finished. He chased
the ball towards the touchline in front of the main stand, won a tackle, and
then put Sam Conlon clean through on goal – but Sam was flagged offside.
Disappointingly, for the home crowd, having done the
hard work by coming back from a two-goal deficit, against higher-league
opposition, Ashford conceded a goal with just two minutes of normal time
remaining. It might have been due to a lapse in concentration among the home
defence, but the Ashford left looked very exposed, as Richard Sinden found Jon
Pilbeam in plenty of space. The Wells No.7 had a free run on the Ashford goal,
and could probably almost see the whites of Joe Mant’s eyes as he slotted the
ball home, to make it 2-3. Paul Chambers’ immediate reaction was to replace
Ollie Finch with Tom Scorer, but it made no difference, as Tunbridge Wells had
secured a Quarter-Final tie, at home to Cray Valley Paper Mills, in a
last-eight that lacks any Kent Invicta League teams, (which is slightly
surprising, given Hollands & Blair’s heroics in winning the Trophy last
season).
At this point, there were probably more positives than
negatives to be taken from the game for the home side, in spite of the team’s
efforts ending in defeat, and elimination from the last of the season’s cup
competitions. The boys showed good spirit to come back from two goals down,
both Gary Mickelborough and Sam Conlon looked the part, up front, and there
rarely looked to be a whole division between the home side and what is
certainly one of the better sides in the Kent Premier League. However, there
was to be one major negative to come, as the game moved into the little time
that needed to be added for stoppages. The influential Ben Jordan launched into
a typically whole-hearted challenge, which the young ref, who generally had a
very good game, had no hesitation in interpreting as being dangerous – so he
produced a red card from his pocket, and Ben now joins Liam Whiting in waiting
to begin a suspension for being sent off. Both players will be sorely missed,
for however long they are going to be absent, as Ashford now focus their
attention on gaining promotion, in what remains of the league campaign.
