Phoenix
Sports 1 Ashford United 1
(1-1 after 90 minutes)
(1-1 after Extra Time)
(Ashford
United win 3-2 on penalties)
From Ashford United’s
Milton Keynes Correspondent
The
final Saturday in February, 2014. The day that has very much marked the return
of non-league football in the South East, and in many other parts of the
country, after what has been widely publicised as having been the wettest
winter in 250 years. The Southern Counties East Football League has virtually
been mothballed for the past two months, with some football grounds having been
under water, and others waterlogged – but Ashford United’s bid for promotion
has had to wait for at least a further week, as today’s encounter was the last
Quarter-Final of the Kent Senior Trophy, against Phoenix Sports, in Barnehurst,
in the London Borough of Bexley.
The
day began with bright sunshine, in our corner of Central Bedfordshire, and it
was easy to forget that the flooding crisis that has ruined the lives of many
people, in the first two months of the year, was far from over. For some, a
fixtures backlog is the least of their worries.
To
retreat into the tiny world of non-league football, it’s quite amazing that,
with March nearly upon us, Ashford United, (and title rivals Whyteleafe), still
haven’t managed to get halfway through their 32 league fixtures. In fact, it
has been a quite remarkable season for a number of reasons. Firstly, those of
us with grey hair find it very difficult to get used to the idea that our team
sits on top of the league – of any league ! – but how has fate contrived to
enable us to approach the eighth month of the season without having played any
of the other teams in the top five ?!
Another extraordinary fact, which has meant that I have been restricted
to observing the club’s wonderful journey via a laptop, is that Ashford hadn’t,
until today, had to venture North of the Medway on a Saturday. With over half
of our SCEFL rivals being located in South London, that’s quite a thing !
Most
extraordinary of all, however, is the fact that Ashford United entered the New
Year still in contention in FOUR competitions. By this morning, the menu of
dreams had been reduced by half, with the lads having been narrowly squeezed
out of the SCEFL League Cup and the FA Vase – both times to a goal three
minutes from time, with an aggregate total of 17 players on the pitch at the
end of those two games – but the Kent Senior Trophy represented a good
opportunity for silverware.
It must be said that, in all four cup competitions
this season, United have had formidable obstacles placed in their path. It
seems a long time ago, now, but let’s not forget that the 2013-14 FA Cup run
was brought to an end by Peacehaven & Telscombe, the team that, at the
start of the day, sat four points clear at the top of Ryman Division One South
– (and that remains our only defeat away from home, this season). Erith Town
were always going to be a tough opponent, over two legs, in the League Cup,
and, with the FA Vase draw being regionalised in the Fourth Round, so that we
were protected from the really big guns of the Northern League, getting drawn
away to Hanwell Town, (P22, W20, D1, L1, in the Spartan South Midlands League),
was just about the hardest draw we could have had in that particular
competition.
The same might be said about the Kent Senior Trophy -
drawn away to Phoenix Sports in the Quarter-Final, with a Semi-Final away to
Hollands & Blair awaiting the winners. With Fleet Leisure beating West
Wickham, and Beckenham Town beating Bridon Ropes, in the other Quarter-Finals,
I’d stick my neck out and say that we were in the stronger half of the draw !
Being paired with Phoenix, and, potentially, with
Blair, did at least provide the possibility for Ashford to gauge how far they
had come, since those Invicta League beginnings. There’s little doubt that both
teams were better than us last season, with Phoenix Sports being deserved
champions, and H&B finishing eight points, and a place, above us, in
second. The season before that, those two clubs finished second and third, in
the same order, to Rochester United, (then Bly Spartans), with Ashford only
fifth. It should also be noted that Phoenix Sports went into this cup tie with
a 100% record against Ashford United, having beaten us 3-0 at the Phoenix
Sports Ground, and 1-2 at Homelands, in both of those seasons.
Optimism, in Ashford hearts, was fuelled by the belief
that we have a stronger squad now, than we had when we were failing to set the
world alight in the Kent Invicta League. Coming into this first season in the
SCEFL hoping that the group of players, which still contained the nucleus of
the Kent Invicta squad, would be good enough to hold its own at the higher
level, the current record of 14 wins from 15 league games has obviously been
heartening for all concerned, even given the quirkiness of the fixture list to date.
This morning, we sat four points clear of Phoenix Sports, who were second, with
six games in hand of them – which is a sign of some tangible progress.
Further cause for optimism has been engendered this
week, with two very serious signings being made, in the form of Dave Cook and
Pat Kingwell, from Hythe Town – both played in Tuesday’s 1-4 victory at Deal.
Ashford have benefitted from some very useful signings using the dual
registration system, but these are two permanent signings – in which case, this
is a major statement of intent in terms of the club’s determination to win the
League Championship at the first attempt. Both players are close to being at
the peak of their powers, being aged about 30, and are – sorry, were – arguably
Hythe’s best players. Pat Kingwell had won Hythe’s Supporters’ Player of the
Year award for the past three seasons, and Dave Cook had been the club’s top
scorer in four of the past five seasons, which, for a midfield player, is a
major recommendation.
Both new signings were in Ashford’s starting line-up,
today, a line-up that showed plenty of quality and experience, backed up by a
very strong bench, which included Kieran Byrne, Gary Mickelborough, Buster
Smissen, and Ollie Finch. It’s hard to understand, therefore, why
this Ashford United side rarely showed any creativity going forward, and was
second-best to the home side for most of the game, certainly in terms of
possession and chances created. After what was generally thought to be Ashford’s
worst performance of the season, it was certainly quality that saw them through
to the Semi-Finals of this competition, but this was quality that we knew we
already had – in the form of Joe Mant, a very special young goalkeeper, who was
responsible for keeping his side in the game for two hours, before pulling off
the crucial saves in the penalty shoot-out that decided this tie.
My own little theory is that we scored too soon, this
afternoon – in the third minute – after which there seemed to be an over-emphasis
on staying strong and solid, to protect the lead. The scorer of the goal was
Jimmy Dryden, which ended a run of two and a bit games without scoring, which,
by Jimmy’s standards, is a serious drought. A free-kick was curled into the
penalty area, from the right, and cleared – but only as far as Sam Conlon, who
headed the ball goalwards. Dryden was in front of goalkeeper Dean Nash, and his
flicked header was enough to divert the ball into the net.
I remember Pat Kingwell playing at centre-half, as a teenager,
for Ashford Town, some time ago, but he was used very much as the front target
man, today. He was, predictably, strong in the air, and was effective as a
hold-up man when the ball was at his feet – but, I’m afraid, I thought he
always looked like a centre-half playing up front. Sam Conlon and Jimmy Dryden
both played off, and just behind, the big man, with Dryden spending more time
in the wide left midfield position than I would have liked. The midfield engine
room consisted of skipper Gary Clarke, Dave Cook and Tom Scorer. Cook looks a
big, strapping lad, for a midfielder. He showed plenty of class and strength,
when on the ball, but probably played too deep to really influence the side
going forward. The back four, from left to right, consisted of Liam Whiting, Jordan
Miller, Ben Jordan and Luke Cuthbert, who was playing against his former club.
It was a shame that suspension prevented his twin brother, Adam, from also
making a return to the Phoenix Sports Club – but it was good to see Adam
present at the ground.
It was obvious, even before the kick-off, that this
Ashford side had a general height advantage over the home team, and this
certainly appeared to influence the visitors’ game plan, particularly in the
first half, when they were playing with the stiff breeze behind them, and with
the setting sun in the Phoenix goalie’s eyes. Centre-half Jordan Miller seemed
to go up for every set piece, and he was, on one occasion, the target for a
Rory Delap-style throw-in from Jimmy Dryden.
The first real chance for Phoenix came in the 16th
minute, and this very nearly resulted in an equaliser. Andy Constable, newly
signed, after a brief spell at Tunbridge Wells, and having previously been a
prolific goal scorer for Erith & Belvedere, rose well to meet a cross that
came in from the right side of the field. His header was on target, and would
have sailed in, just under the Ashford crossbar, if Joe Mant had not saved
brilliantly, tipping the ball over, for a corner. The young ‘keeper then did
well to palm a deep cross out for another corner, before saving well, with his
feet, at the near post, after the second cross had found a Phoenix player
beyond the far post.
Before limping off after 49 minutes, Sam Conlon had
looked to be Ashford’s liveliest, and most skilful, player, and he had a sight
of goal in the 20th minute. Dave Cook fed the ball forward to him,
and he created a chance for himself by dinking the ball over the head of his
marker, and turning – but his shot was always going wide. A minute later,
Phoenix’s pony-tailed Aaron Watson intercepted a cross-cum-shot, hooking the
ball against the post – but the lino was already flagging for off-side.
Ashford then had a couple of long-range shots from
Jimmy Dryden, and one from Jordan Miller – all comfortably saved by Dean Nash -
to show for their efforts in the remainder of the first half, but it was the
home side that generally finished the first 45 minutes on the front foot. A
good attacking move by Phoenix, in the 34th minute, ended with
right-back Ryan Andrews sending in a cross, but Sam Corne’s glancing header
went wide. Almost on the stroke of half time, a long ball found Andy Constable
in the Ashford penalty area. With the ball dropping over his left shoulder, Constable
showed great technique to volley the ball cleanly, but Joe Mant was unfazed,
catching the ball just in front of his face.
A few minutes before this, Aaron Watson had collected
a headed flick-on from Constable, turned and shot just over the bar. Seconds
later, however, he was felled when the ball hit him in the face. It seemed a
fairly innocuous incident, but Watson was unable to come out for the second
half, being replaced by top scorer Ricky Freeman. I heard someone say that Watson
was having problems with his vision, as a result of the blow in the face.
When Sam Conlon’s match ended, in the 49th
minute, he was replaced by Ollie Finch, who adopted a very deep role, almost as
a fifth defender. But nobody in the Ashford defence was marking Andy Constable,
in the 52nd minute, when the Phoenix No.10 had a free header, about
ten yards from goal. It was always going to be difficult for him to get enough
power in the header, but he should have hit the target; instead, he put his effort
wide. Constable had another opportunity, just two minutes later, as Phoenix
Sports continued with their spell of pressure. Enoch Adjei went on a mazy run,
down the right wing, and found Constable, in the penalty area. Constable’s shot
was a good one, on target, but Joe Mant pulled off another excellent diving
save.
The two corners that resulted came to nothing, but the
home side soon managed to equalise, in the 58th minute. Dave Cook conceded
a free-kick, near the right touchline. The cross was high and long, and seemed
to be in the air for long enough for the Ashford defence to deal with the
danger – but defender Chris Hill met the cross with a header, and Joe Mant
could do no more than to push the ball onto the far post, on its way into the
net.
Soon after drawing level, Phoenix won another
free-kick, in a dangerous position, wide on the right. Andy Constable again met
the ball, above the Ashford defence, but did so with an out-stretched hand, and
was probably fortunate to get away with just a yellow card.
Kieran Byrne replaced Tom Scorer, in the 63rd
minute, taking up a position on the left side of midfield, and Ashford’s first
substitute, Ollie Finch, was yellow-carded for a foul on Richie Hamill, in the
67th minute – but it was in the 70th minute that disaster
nearly struck for the visitors. Somehow, the normally solid Ben Jordan managed
to get himself caught in possession in his own penalty area (!), by Alex
Nelson. The Phoenix No.6 had all the time in the world – maybe too much – to either
slot the ball past Joe Mant, or square the ball to Andy Constable, but he
hesitated, and was soon closed down by the Ashford defence. In the 73rd
minute, following a corner on the left, there was an almighty scramble in the
Ashford penalty area, but, once again, a collective defensive effort ensured
that there was no way through for the home side.
Gary Mickelborough battled hard, up front, after he
replaced Jimmy Dryden, in the 78th minute, but it was the home side
that continued to dominate possession, and created the most chances.
The best chance for Phoenix to steal the win in normal
time again fell to Andy Constable, and this came as late as the 88th
minute. He did well to lay the ball off, and then set off, into the penalty
area, to take the return pass. He was through on goal, in the inside-left
position, and had time to set himself for the shot – which he pulled across the
face of goal. A minute later, the Ashford defence was caught napping, at a
corner, which was played short to Richie Hamill, on the corner of the penalty
area. The left-back, who looked a very good footballer, hit his left-footed
shot sweetly, but another great save from Joe Mant denied the home side. So it
was 1-1 after 90 minutes, with extra time required.
Ashford’s performance as a team improved, after the
short break, and the game was a lot more even for the next 15 minutes. In the
opening minutes of this period, Gary Clarke managed to get on the end of an
Ollie Finch cross, which came in from the right, but his header was well saved
by Dean Nash, diving to his right. The other Ashford chance worthy of note came
in the 104th minute. A kick-out from Joe Mant was flicked on by the
head of Kieran Byrne, into the path of Gary Mickelborough. GazMik struck a
sweet, low shot, which was deflected onto the post, and away for a corner. Byrne
just about had time to plant the corner into the side-netting before the ref
blew for the end of the first period of Extra Time.
After Phoenix Manager Steve O’Boyle had replaced Sam
Corne with the wonderfully-named Nytran Dixon-Baker, for the final 15 minutes,
both sides had a chance to take the lead. It was the home side’s turn first, as
a header, from a long cross, crashed against the Ashford bar, and down onto the
goal line. Was the ball over the line ?
It didn’t matter, as the lino had already flagged for off-side. Then,
Gary Mickelborough latched onto a bouncing through-ball. He showed great
strength to hold off the pursuing defender, but aimed a rather tame headed
effort at goal, when he might have been better advised to take an extra touch –
and Nash saved comfortably.
The home side again asserted, and finished the match
with the majority of possession, pressurising the Ashford defence – but, by
now, their work was showing signs of frustration and desperation, and their
efforts became increasingly speculative. Ricky Freeman tried a shot from well
outside the penalty area, which soared over the bar, and Richie Hamill tried
his luck with his left foot, but the ball deflected off a team mate, and went
harmlessly behind for a goal kick. Alex Nelson also had an effort from long
range, cutting inside, onto his right foot, but his shot was too high.
So, with the time approaching 5.30pm, the Referee put
his whistle in his mouth – (where else ?) – and brought the game to a penalty
shoot-out, which, for a long time, had seemed to be Ashford’s best chance of
progressing to the next round of the competition.
And this is how the drama unfolded…………
Dave Cook was the first man to step up, with Dean Nash
defending the goal in front of the bar and the dressing rooms. This was the
worst possible start for Ashford, in this mini-contest, as Nash saved low, to
his right. The prolific Ricky Freeman hit his penalty high, into the net, to
Joe Mant’s right, to consolidate the home side’s advantage. 1-0 to Phoenix
Sports.
It looked fairly ominous for the visitors when captain
Gary Clarke dragged his shot wide of Dean Nash’s right-hand post – but hope was
rekindled when Nytran Dixon-Baker followed suit, with an almost identical miss.
Still 1-0.
The excellent Kieran Byrne then showed how it should
be done, putting the ball into the corner of the net, sending the ‘keeper the
wrong way – but Andy Constable matched Byrne’s effort, sending Joe Mant the
wrong way, hitting his penalty firmly into the net, to Joe’s left. 2-1 to
Phoenix.
Liam Whiting, who had had a good game at left-back,
scored Ashford’s second penalty, hitting the ball straight down the middle,
before Richie Hamill, Liam’s opposite number, saw Joe Mant make the first of
two excellent diving saves. So it was 2-2, with one of the first set of five
penalties remaining, for each side.
Pat Kingwell calmly and assuredly side-footed the ball
into the corner of the net, so that, when Joe saved from Alex Nelson, diving to
his right, he earned Ashford a Semi-Final tie away to Kent Invicta League
leaders, Hollands & Blair.
Predictably, Joe was mobbed by his team mates – and the
bear hug he received from Manager Paul Chambers was as deserved as it was probably
unwelcome. No doubt there was an element of relief in the celebrations, as
Ashford’s young goalkeeper had contrived to give victory to the side that was generally
second-best on the day. However, after having been rather unlucky to be dumped
out of two other cup competitions in 2014, Ashford probably finally deserved to
have the rub of the green on this occasion.
