Gravesham Borough v Ashford United. Kent Senior Trophy Second Round. 28th of November 2015.

Gravesham Borough 1                

Ashford United 4

 

From Ashford United’s Milton Keynes Correspondent

Kent Senior Trophy Second Round day, today – away to Gravesham Borough, of the Kent Invicta League. And that meant new team for Your Milton Keynes Correspondent, as well as a new ground and a new town, as this was my first visit to the town of Strood, which sits on the west bank of the River Medway, on the other side of the water to Rochester. Gravesham Borough actually ground-share, at Rede Court Road, with Rochester United, who were called Bly Spartans when they were our opponents in the Kent Invicta League during that inaugural 2011-12 season. (The suspicion is that Bly changed their name to “Rochester United” because Rochester is distinctly posher than Strood).

Ashford actually beat Bly Spartans at this ground in that season – 4-5, largely thanks to a late Mo Takaloo hat-trick, after we’d been 4-1 down and had a man sent off – but it didn’t stop our opponents from going on to become the first Champions of the Kent Invicta League. Today’s cup tie, however, was our first ever meeting with Gravesham Borough, since today’s hosts didn’t join the Kent Invicta until after Ashford had been promoted to the Southern Counties East League. In those days, Gravesham Borough were called Fleet Leisure, but changed their name at the start of the 2014-15 season. It’s a club that was founded in 1927, and originates from the Bowater pulp and paper company, which grew rich from supplying paper to the London newspaper industry.

The good thing about travelling to Strood is that there is no necessity for the usual trek across London on the Underground. Instead, I had a five-minute walk from Euston to St Pancras, and then caught the smart Javelin train all the way to Strood. (It’s the service that goes to Herne Bay, but stops at a number of Ryman Division One South locations on the way). Strood station is right on the banks of the Medway – unnervingly so, in fact, in these days of rising sea levels. The 30-minute walk to the ground then took me along the town’s High Street, and then up the A2 – “up” being the operative word, given that it’s all uphill, and steep, from the river.

Rochester United Sports Ground, on Rede Court Road, is right on the edge of town. Only one of the four sides of the ground is developed, and here there is a tea bar, a bar, the dressing rooms and a decent-sized stand, with four rows of grey seats. On arrival, the first priority, after grabbing a cup of tea, was to find a sheltered spot away from the stiff, chilly breeze - this turned out to be in front of the thick belt of trees on the opposite side of the ground to the stand. The pitch was lush and green, but, in time-honoured non-league fashion, had a pronounced slope, which ran in a diagonal direction down to what was Ashford’s “left back” corner flag in the first half. (Ashford actually played both up the hill and into the wind for the first 45 minutes).

Manager Danny Lye had been quoted, during the week, as saying that he intended to rest a few players for this game, to give some of the fringe players a run out. However, the starting eleven appeared to be pretty much at full strength, to me: Big George in goal, and a back four of Chris Elliott, Pat Kingwell, Jack Healy and Luke Cuthbert; Dan Stubbs and Mickey Dalton in central midfield, with Ryan Palmer wide on the right and Josh Woolley wide left; and the experienced pairing of Paul Booth and Shaun Welford in attack.

It was on the bench that Danny Lye had taken the opportunity to find room for some youngsters – namely Clark Woodcock and Callum Whitmore – but more about them later. The other subs were goalkeeper Nick Luen, Mickey Phillips and Seb Schoburgh.

There were two names of note on the Gravesham Borough teamsheet. One was Danny Hockton, formerly of Millwall, Stevenage Borough, Dover Athletic, Chelmsford City, Crawley Town, Margate, Bromley, Braintree, Maidstone and, most recently, Faversham, but today he was warming the bench with a No.16 on the back of his red shirt. The other was Keelan Mooney, who started (and finished) the game on the right wing for Borough, having made six appearances – with none lasting longer than 82 minutes – for Ashford United towards the start of the 2014-15 season.

In spite of Ashford’s strong starting line-up, I was expecting this to be a difficult game for the visitors. I have a healthy respect for the standard of the Kent Invicta League – mostly from bitter experience during our two campaigns in that league – and Gravesham Borough are one of the better teams at that level, lying fourth in the league this morning. I have to say, therefore, that I was very surprised at how comfortably Ashford eased their way into the Quarter Finals of this competition. The strikers always had plenty of time and space on the ball, and should really have scored more goals, and, in spite of the home side launching plenty of spirited attacks, Ashford’s defence had little trouble in giving goalkeeper George Kamurasi a fairly quiet afternoon.

The game appeared to be over, as a contest, after the visitors went two goals up in the first quarter of an hour – but the margin might easily have been wider during this period. In the opening seconds, the Borough offside trap was beaten, with Ryan Palmer being set free down the right wing. His low cross found Shaun Welford in the six yard box, but the Player-Assistant-Manager’s attempted flick with his heel was well saved by ‘keeper Ollie Dewey, diving low at the near post. In the eighth minute, a foul on Shaun Welford gave Ashford a free-kick, near the right touchline. Left back Chris Elliott tends to take the majority of Ashford’s dead-ball kicks (and throw-ins), and, on this occasion, his left-footed ball into the area broke to Shaun Welford, whose powerful shot was blocked at point-blank range. The ball fell to Paul Booth, who attempted to place a curled shot inside the far post, but his effort was just wide.

Ashford’s opening goal came in the tenth minute, occurring just after a short period of Gravesham Borough pressure. Paul Booth, who stood out as a class player, this afternoon, particularly when he had the ball at his feet, beat one defender, before threading the ball into the path of Ryan Palmer. Once through on goal, Palms had no problem with sliding the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.

Palmer was also involved in the second Ashford goal, which was scored in the 14^th minute. Not for the only time, this afternoon, he found himself in possession of the ball and with plenty of space to run into, on the right. After one step-over, he squared the ball to Paul Booth, who had as much time as he wanted, in the Gravesham area, to look up and place his shot in the far corner of the net. The ball certainly got a nick off Shaun Welford on its way in, and it wasn’t clear whose goal it was – but Boothy pointed to Welford during the fairly under-stated goal celebration, and it was later confirmed that it was Shaun’s goal.

Ryan Palmer appeared to give the home side problems every time he had the ball, and the team in all red – (think Liverpool v Norwich City) – didn’t cope with him at all well. At times, Ryan resembled the Pied Piper, as he carried the ball around the field, with defenders following in his wake, much to the frustration of the Gravesham manager. Josh Woolley also saw plenty of the ball, and looked lively, but without achieving the same success as Palmer.  One of Woolley’s best moments came in the 17^th minute, when he carried the ball down the left wing, cut inside and then beat right back Andy Pierce, to get to the by-line. Josh managed to get in his cross, but it was headed behind by Dan Nash, for a corner.

Although they were being comfortably held by Ashford, Borough were putting together plenty of nice moves, and probably launched more attacks than Ashford in the 30 minutes after the visitors’ second goal, but all they had to show for their first-half endeavours was a low, long-range shot from Luke Adams, in the 20^th minute, which was easily saved by Kamurasi.

Ashford’s next clear chance didn’t materialise until the 31^st minute, when a through ball from Dan Stubbs presented Shaun Welford with a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Dewey did well to save Welford’s shot. The ball broke to Paul Booth, who once again had the luxury of time to control the ball and wind himself up for a shot, but the Gravesham Borough defence blocked his effort. Two minutes later, Booth had another opportunity, but his turn and shot, from just outside the area, went just over the bar.

In the 36^th minute, however, Booth made no mistake, and this was very definitely his goal. Josh Woolley initiated the attack when he intercepted a clearance. He found Ryan Palmer, who slid the ball behind the Borough defence, and into the path of Booth. The Player-Coach easily rounded the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. That was Booth’s 15^th goal of the season – but I have lost count of the number of goals that Ryan Palmer has set up. (We don’t use the American term “assist”, in this establishment, just as we avoid terms like “rooky” and “soccer”, and refuse to celebrate Halloween).

Ashford had a succession of corners, in the first half, with the home side not winning their first corner until the 44^th minute – and then the situation merely led to an Ashford break, from which they nearly scored. Dan Stubbs did brilliantly to carry the ball across the field and out of his own half, hurdling two scything attempts to foul him. He laid the ball forward to Josh Woolley, who progressed the move down the left wing, and then ran on to take the return pass, deep inside the Gravesham half. Stubbs then spread the ball wide to Shaun Welford, whose attempt to place the ball into the net bounced off the top of the crossbar.

This is the first time that I have seen Dan Stubbs, and I was impressed. He drove the team on from midfield, moved the ball well, whether he was passing it or carrying it, and generally seemed to know what he was doing. I reckon he was Ashford’s Man of the Match, this afternoon.

The first half ended with Borough being awarded a free-kick, with about a minute of added time having been played, halfway inside the Ashford half, and to the right of centre. Keelan Mooney sent in a high, curling cross which found Andy Pierce, but the defender’s header sailed high over the crossbar.

As the referee blew for half time, Gravesham centre-forward Baff Adbaye was on the ground, receiving treatment, and he didn’t come out for the second half, being replaced by Jeffrey Omoregie. But it was Ashford who had the first chance of the second period, and Ryan Palmer was again the creator. Attacking down the right wing, in the 49^th minute, he sent in a low cross that found Shaun Welford in the centre, about eight yards out, but Shaun rather scuffed his shot, and the ball popped up into the hands of goalkeeper Dewey.

Two minutes later, Danny Lye felt comfortable enough, with the three-goal lead, to be able to make a substitution, and replaced Luke Cuthbert with young Callum Whitmore, at right back. Ginger-haired Callum looks about 14, but he also looks like a footballer, and seemed to slot into the team very comfortably. He certainly was not to blame for the Gravesham Borough goal, which was scored in the 54^th minute. The opportunity for the home side came about because Ashford lost the ball in midfield. The ball was threaded through to Jeffrey Omoregie, who got to the ball quicker than the nearest Ashford defender, (who was either Pat Kingwell or Jack Healey – they are very similar in build and appearance). Omoregie had plenty still to do, but he took a touch and slotted the ball past George Kamurasi, to make it 1-3.

Ashford should have equalised almost immediately, when a long throw from Chris Elliott, which he used increasingly as the half wore on, caught the Gravesham defence napping, sending Paul Booth clear, down the left wing. Booth pulled the ball back to Ryan Palmer, who had time and space in the centre of the penalty area, but somehow managed to hit the ball over the bar. In the 57^th minute, another long throw from Elliott was laid off to Palmer, who was again in a central position. This time, Palms squared the ball to Josh Woolley, whose low shot went straight at Ollie Dewey, in the Gravesham goal.

Ashford’s three-goal advantage was restored in the 59^th minute, and owed a lot to an error by one of the Gravesham central defenders. He really should have cut out an attempted through-ball aimed at Shaun Welford, but somehow allowed the ball to squirm away from him, into Welford’s path. With just the goalkeeper to beat, Welford’s initial shot was saved, but he was able to control the rebound and eventually stuck the ball in the net.

That was Shaun’s 17^th goal of the season, as he continues to just edge ahead of Paul Booth. It was also Ashford’s 24^th goal in the last six games, and 17 of them (that’s 71%) have been scored by Welford, Booth and Palmer. Overall, that trio has scored 65% of Ashford’s 54 goals this season.

Danny Lye responded to the fourth goal by ending Paul Booth’s impressive shift, replacing him with Seb Schoburgh.

To the credit of both sides, the game was played at a high tempo right to the very end – but it was Ashford who created the majority of the chances. On the hour mark, Josh Woolley attacked the Borough penalty area, at pace, from the left, and it took a block from two Gravesham defenders to stop him. From the resulting free-kick, on the edge of the penalty area, Ryan Palmer went for goal, but his effort deflected off a defender’s head, for a corner. Five minutes later, a booming clearance from Pat Kingwell skidded off the head of a back-pedaling Dan Nash, and fell nicely into the path of Seb Schoburgh. Bearing down on goal from the right wing, and with just the ‘keeper to beat, Schoburgh saw his shot well saved by Dewey. In the 69^th minute, Josh Woolley attacked down the left wing, sending in a low cross which found Ryan Palmer, in the centre; Palmer’s shot was blocked, the ball spiraling just over the bar.

Ashford’s third substitution was, I thought, the most interesting. Clark Woodcock replaced Josh Woolley, in the 70^th minute, and is clearly a similar type of wide, attacking player to Josh, although he took up a position on the right side of midfield. I would say that Clark looks about 14½, but, like Callum Whitmore, he looks every inch a footballer. He’s quick and athletic, and seemed to be confident on the ball. If there are more young lads like Clark and Callum in Ashford’s youth set-up, then this is good news for the Club’s future.

Gravesham Borough also made a substitution, in the 75^th minute, when Oscar Saxon replaced Luke Adams, but it was the substitute who had been introduced at half time, Jeffrey Omoregie, who really should have doubled his, and Borough’s, score, just two minutes later. Ashford captain Pat Kingwell showed that he is human, like the rest of us, when he made a rare error, his complete miss-kick presenting Omoregie with a golden opportunity to make the score 2-4. The big No.15 did the most difficult thing, in taking the ball around George Kamurasi, only to then put his shot wide. Three minutes later, another Gravesham substitute, Chris Carcary, forced Kamurasi into the indignity of having to make a save, diving to his right, with a shot from outside the penalty area, but chances were rare for the home side, as Ashford continued to look comfortable.

So it was looking like being the perfect Saturday afternoon for Danny Lye, with the team winning, and with no injuries or yellow cards – but that scenario was very nearly shattered, in the 84^th minute, when Seb Schoburgh fouled George Snelling. The Gravesham Borough centre back clearly took a far dimmer view of Seb’s tackle than the referee did, and there was a brief session of “handbags”, which was out of character in a game that had been played in a very good spirit. The referee had little hesitation in sending Snelling off, for what must have been a very clear instance of retaliation, which was also spotted by the lino. The home side restarted the game with a free-kick, but there was no yellow card for Schoburgh.

Ashford’s final chance came in the 88^th minute. Dan Stubbs capped an excellent personal performance by chipping the ball over the Gravesham defence and into the path of the reprieved Seb Schoburgh, who squared the ball to Shaun Welford, in the centre. A score of 1-5 would probably have been a fairer reflection of the balance of play, but Welford chipped the ball over the bar, from about 15 yards out.

So ended a disappointing afternoon for the Kent Invicta side, but league leaders Glebe flew the flag for the KIL, with a 2-3 victory at Beckenham Town. Sheppey United became the second Kent Invicta club to make it through to the last eight of the Kent Senior Trophy when they beat West Wickham – the other sides through to the Quarter Finals are Erith Town, Erith & Belvedere, Holmesdale, Corinthian and Canterbury City, (for whom Jamie Bosio made his début).

Erith & Belvedere v Ashford United. Southern Counties East Football League. 14th of November 2015.

Erith & Belvedere       2       Ashford United 2

 

From Ashford United’s Milton Keynes Correspondent

This Saturday’s entertainment was provided by a trip to Park View Road, home of Conference National League side Welling United. Erith & Belvedere’s long-term ground sharing arrangement with The Wings provides us with the rare opportunity to see our heroes play on a nice, flat pitch, at a big, posh stadium – and my preferred vantage point is in Row 11, at the back of the larger of the ground’s two stands. That provides a great view of the pitch, which is tightly hemmed in between the A207, at one end, and a bank of trees, at the other.

This is also a fixtures that entails a 20-minute walk from Welling Station, along the length of Welling’s gun barrel-straight High Street, which offers as many opportunities to have a takeaway, have a coffee, have a bet or have your nails done as a man could wish for. And the temptation was far too much – so I entered William Hill’s very welcoming establishment, for an each-way accumulator and a pee, (with one being far more successful than the other). I was only there for a short time, but, in that time, not one, but two nice, young ladies asked me whether I would like a cup of tea or coffee. Betting shops these days are a far cry from the smoke-filled dens that I frequented in my distant youth.

Glancing through my match reports archive, it appears that this was my third visit to Park View Road – and I am (still) yet to see my boys win. The first game I saw here was, according to what I wrote, the subject of my 90^th match report, and the first report on an FA Cup game. The match took place during the 2007-8 season, when visitors Ashford Town were the established Ryman League club and Erith & Belvedere were the team from the Kent League, which, at the time, was the league to which we were always desperate to avoid relegation. The Deres were convincing 2-0 winners over Clive Walker’s side, on that occasion. My other visit to this stadium was last season’s league game, when striker Alfie May, in the middle of a purple patch, scored two goals in a 4-0 victory for the home side. Both clubs have since been very much changed in terms of both their playing staff and management team.

Ashford appeared to be pretty much at full strength, today, with Ryan Palmer returning after a three-week lay-off with a knee injury. After Nick Luen’s appearance in goal for Tuesday’s 3-4 extra-time victory in the SCEFL League Cup, George Kamurasi was back in goal, behind a defence that had captain Pat Kingwell and Luke Cuthbert in central defence and Adam Cuthbert and Chris Elliott on either side. With the return of Palmer, Manager Danny Lye was able to deploy his preferred midfield strategy, with two attacking wide men, in Palms on the left and Ellis Green on the right; Mickey Dalton and Jack Healey formed the central midfield partnership. With Shaun Welford and Sebastian Schoburgh up front, and Nick Luen, Danny Lye, Josh Woolley, Paul Booth and Tom Fagg on the bench, the only notable absentee was usual skipper Mickey Phillips. New signings Nicky Humphrey and Dan Stubbs, who both played all 120 minutes of Tuesday’s cup tie at Lordswood, were also absent. (I notice that both Nicky Humphrey and Danny Lye were in the Ashford Town team that lost, here, in the FA Cup in 2007).

The two names in the Erith & Belvedere line-up that jumped off the team-sheet that was, very helpfully, pinned up on the door of the turnstiles were those of the much-travelled striker Jamie Wood (brother of Lewis) and John-Paul Collier, who I believe is now The Deres’ Assistant-Manager. I have fond memories of J-P from his time as a promising midfielder for Ashford Town. If anybody asks me to name the best goal that I have seen scored by an Ashford player, I usually mention the first of J-P’s brilliant goals in a 2-4 win away at Kingstonian; here’s what I wrote, at the time:

“J-P Collier picked the ball up just about in the centre of the Kingstonian half; he ran at the defence, ghosted past two players, transferred the ball onto his right foot and slotted it into the corner of the net. Think of the young Michael Owen’s goal in the World Cup against Argentina !”

…..and his second wasn’t too shabby, either:

“…another wonder goal from J-P Collier. This was another solo effort, very much like his first, but this time he picked the ball up just inside the Kingstonian half. With the home side pushing forward, there was space to run into, and J-P needed no second invitation. With a diagonal run from the right-hand side of the pitch, it was Michael Owen / Argentina Time again, but the finish, from outside the penalty area, and with his left foot, was more akin to Geoff Hurst’s third in 1966. (“They think it’s all over”, an’ all that). There was also something about 1966 in the celebration that involved the whole Ashford squad and management team after the goal. Mrs Milton Keynes Correspondent almost wet her knickers when the ball hit the back of the net. It’s moments like these that make it worth traipsing out to God-forsaken corners of the country like Banstead and Croydon !”

That was the 2005-6 season. Thanks, J-P – happy days !

Back to the World of Dreams, and the biggest worry today was the weather forecast, given the biblical amounts of rain that were being forecast for the country – eight inches, FFS ! – as a result of the arrival of Storm Abigail. It was certainly a wet march to the ground, and, on arrival, I noticed that the furrow parallel to the touchline, made by successive linesmen, was, ominously, already full of water, but, in spite of steady rain persisting throughout the 90 minutes, there was never a doubt about the game being completed.

So it was a rain-soaked scene, just prior to kick-off, as the two teams and the officials stood to observe a minute’s silence marking the first anniversary of the passing of Deres’ Director Martin Tarrant, but also commemorating those whose life has been taken during the global conflicts of the last hundred years and the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris of the past 24 hours. To show solidarity for more recent events, a small boy released a clutch of red, white and blue balloons. (The Paris attacks had nothing to do with religion, of course – they were about vengeance, and the response will probably be more vengeance, when someone gets a large amount of high-tech, highly explosive French ordnance on their head).

The two teams’ approach was evident from early on, in this game, with the home side trying to play nice, passing football on the rain-soaked deck, and Ashford playing to their strength by getting the ball out to their wide men at every opportunity. But sloppy play in the Ashford defence put them under pressure in the opening seconds. Left-back Chris Elliott sliced an attempted clearance, and, as Pat Kingwell stepped in to tidy things up, another Ashford defender got in his way. The ball broke to Erith striker Ashley Robinson, who, in spite of appearing to carry plenty of poundage, looked to be the home side’s best player, and caused problems for defenders every time he had the ball. On this occasion, he attempted to curl a right-footed shot around the goalkeeper, but George made a good save, diving to his left.

The visitors, in the new, daffodil yellow and Lincoln green away kit, had a succession of chances to score, from about the eighth minute. First, Shaun Welford rose, beyond the far post, to meet a deep cross from an Ellis Green free-kick, but could do no more than put the ball behind for a goal-kick. A minute later, Ryan Palmer did well to win the ball, after Deres’ ‘keeper Rilwan Anibaba, formerly of Beckenham Town, was a little careless with a short pass to a defender. Palmer attempted to cross the ball into the goalmouth, but rather sliced his effort – and the ball found Ellis Green, just outside the penalty area, who volleyed the ball just wide, with his left foot.

Ashford’s real chance to take control of the game came from the penalty spot, in the tenth minute. Pat Kingwell showed class and composure when bringing the ball out of defence, and found Ryan Palmer, wide on the left. Palmer squared the ball infield, to Seb Schoburgh, whose brilliant turn beat two Deres players and took him into the penalty area. The third defender brought him down, and Referee James Hurst had the easy task of awarding a penalty. Shaun Welford didn’t do much wrong with the “kick from the penalty mark”. He hit the ball firmly and low, to the ‘keeper’s left, but Anibaba got down well, to make a good save. At the time, this didn’t appear likely to have been such a costly miss, as nothing had happened, to this point, to suggest that the home side might take a 2-0 lead at half time – but, in hindsight, Anibaba’s save provided a major turning-point in the game.

The first chance that Erith & Belvedere created came in the 13^th minute, and J-P Collier was very much the architect, from midfield. He spread a great pass, on the turn, out to the left wing, which completely wrong-footed Chris Elliott, and then almost finished the move, sliding in, about six yards from goal, but narrowly failed to make contact.

In the 19^th minute, The Deres’ No.7, notable for both wearing gloves (Grrrr), and, listed as Andreas Felipe Losada Tobon, being the first footballer I’ve seen to have four names, went close. His low, long-range effort from the right had George Kamurasi diving at his near post, but the ball was always heading for the side-netting. Five minutes later, however, it was Andy Four Names who became the first player to beat George in open play, after six hours and 24 minutes in goal for Ashford, when he put Erith & Belvedere 1-0 up. The opening was created by some excellent play, involving a one-two, between Ashley Robinson and Jamie Wood, which teed up a chance for Enoch Akosah. The midfielder hit his shot well enough, but it was met with a great save from Big George – but the ball went straight to Tobon, who smashed the ball into the net.

The game was fairly even for the remainder of the half, with Ashford giving plenty of possession to Ellis Green, on the right – but it has to be said that Erith & Belvedere defended extremely well, and effectively nullified Green’s threat. Ashford’s best chance during this period came when Adam Cuthbert helped Ellis out, on the right, in the 29^th minute. The right-back’s cross found Shaun Welford, but the big No.9, not for the only time this afternoon, shot wide.

In the 34^th minute, George Kamurasi fluffed a clearance, when well outside his penalty area. The ball was controlled on the ample chest of Ashley Robinson, who really should have seen the chance to lob the goalkeeper early – but he dwelt for a vital few seconds, and the lob that he eventually attempted was, in any case, well wide. But the reprieve for Ashford was only temporary, as the same player was presented with another chance, about ten yards nearer the visitors’ goal, in the 42^nd minute. The culprit, I think, was Jack Healey, who was caught in possession, in a deep position, by Robinson. This time, The Deres’ No.10 made absolutely no mistake, firing an unstoppable shot high into the Ashford net.

So it had been a half in which Ashford had missed the few chances that they had created, and there were too many individual errors which had given away possession. The home side, on the other hand, had defended well, and they had looked after the ball better, and so were value for their lead at the interval. And still it rained.

Rather surprisingly, the second half was entirely different, as there was very little offered by Erith & Belvedere, who seemed more intent on running down the clock than anything else. I don’t know whether this was due to fatigue, or because they were, frankly, surprised to be in front, but the story of the second period was all about whether Ashford could convert enough chances to get something out of the game.

A good, flowing move, from right to left, in the 47^th minute, found Chris Elliott in the proverbial acres of space. He drilled his diagonal shot across Rilly Anibaba, but the ‘keeper made a good save – and Elliott had, in any case, been flagged offside. A similar move, just a minute later, found Ellis Green (who had switched wings) on the left; he fed the ball inside to Chris Elliott, but, this time, the former Folkestone full-back sliced his shot wide.

Danny Lye made an early substitution, in the 50^th minute, replacing Seb Schoburgh with Paul Booth, and then, in the 57^th minute, Erith’s Zak Henry was helped off, to be replaced by George Reed – who was yellow-carded for a foul on the hard-working Mickey Dalton, just a minute later. But there was a more explosive incident on the hour-mark, which resulted in Ryan Palmer being booked. Typifying Ashford’s spirited approach in the second half, Ryan flew into two consecutive tackles, in the midfield area. Neither carried any malice, but he made the second one with two feet. It wasn’t one of those that players make with both feet together, which usually results in a red card. It was one of those tackles made with first one foot, and then the other, with the feet well apart. It was a foul, and a yellow card was probably the correct decision, but, given that Palmer’s momentum and the wet pitch caused him to go through the player, it did give rise to a brief scrum, which involved both goalkeepers.

Ashford continued to press, and Shaun Welford was off target yet again, in the 64^th minute. This was a “Route One” attempt from a throw-in. One potent weapon that Ashford United now have is Chris Elliott’s Rory Delap-style throw – OK, it’s an Ian Hutchinson throw, for the old-timers – but Shaun put his header wide.

Ashford’s endeavour eventually paid off in the 67^th minute, and came about as a result of a well-worked passing movement that began from the back. Chris Elliott fed the ball down the left touchline to Paul Booth, whose low cross found Ryan Palmer, beyond the far post. The ball was slightly behind Ryan, but he had time to get the ball from under his feet, turn and stick the ball past Anibaba, for his fifth goal for the club.

The goal prompted the home side to replace Tobon with Danzel Gayle, immediately, and J-P Collier with Liam Wright, a few minutes after, but these substitutions made no difference to the flow of the game. With The Deres no longer offering any sort of attacking threat, Ashford could attack with complete impunity, and, in fact, in the 79^th minute, Danny Lye was able to throw on a third centre-forward, Tom Fagg, in place of Ellis Green, (who, a minute earlier, was rather harshly booked for a stupid, but innocuous, trip). Unfortunately, things did not go to plan for young Tom, as he received a kick almost as soon as he had jogged onto the pitch – and limped off after only four minutes, to be replaced by Josh Woolley.

So, could Ashford equalise, in the time that remained ?  Well, Shaun Welford had a golden opportunity in the 80^th minute, when a long, high, curling cross from Chris Elliott, almost from the halfway line, found him unmarked, just inside the Erith & Belvedere penalty area - but the centre-forward completely miscued his header, putting the ball well wide, to the obvious disbelief and disappointment of both men.

Ashford also had chances with a free-kick attempt from Ryan Palmer in the 78^th minute and a long-range shot from Mickey Dalton in the 84^th minute, but Anibaba was able to save both efforts. In the 87^th minute, Paul Booth tried to latch onto a huge clearance by Big George, which went all the way to the edge of the Erith & Belvedere box. The advancing ‘keeper got to the ball just before Booth’s outstretched leg, and appeared to be caught as he made his clearance. Anibaba was one of several players, at about this time, on the home team to go down with an apparent injury, as time started to run out for Ashford, (although, to their credit, nobody in a blue & white shirt resorted to the “old chestnut” of “cramp”).

As full-time approached, and as Ashford became increasingly desperate, resorting to longer and longer balls forward, it was a case of how many minutes Mr Hurst would add on at the end of the game, to allow for the home side’s delaying tactics. To his credit, and Ashford’s advantage, he must have played four or five minutes of stoppage time, because the equaliser came in the 94^th minute. Another long clearance from George Kamurasi once again managed to find Paul Booth, but the home defences scrambled the ball away. But the ball was played back into the crowded penalty area, and, this time, amongst all the confusion, Shaun Welford poked the ball over the line. So the big man salvaged something from what had otherwise been a game that he would probably prefer to forget – he had ended a largely frustrating afternoon for the Ashford fans with an exciting finish, and he had scored his 13^th goal of the season, to maintain his excellent strike rate.

There was a further delay, with yet another Erith & Belvedere player down injured, which probably ensured that there would be no time for a further goal – and Mr Hurst probably said to himself that “if they thought it was all over, it is now”, and promptly blew for full time as soon as the home side had kicked off.

It had finally stopped raining by the time that I trudged back to Welling Station, reflecting on a game that Ashford should have expected to have won. Logging onto the SCEFL web-site, waiting for the 17.39 train back to Charing Cross, I discovered that, very unusually for a game involving Ashford United, the park View Road attendance of 42 had been the lowest in the SCEFL, this afternoon. It also soon became apparent that it had been a very good day for Greenwich Borough, as, not only had Ashford dropped two points, but also Hollands & Blair had been held to a 1-1 draw and Erith Town had lost.