Kentish Express Ashford & District
Tie may be moved
Hanwell Town’s hopes of staging their FA Vase fourth round tie against Ashford United could be wrecked again by the weather.
The Spartan South Midlands club’s Reynolds Field pitch has to pass an inspection ordered by the Football Association later today (Thursday), otherwise it will be switched to Homelands. Even if deemed playable, a dire weather forecast tomorrow (Friday) could mean the game being called off for a third time, with United set to stage it on Saturday, Sunday or next Tuesday.
Any replay would then take place the following weekend.
The game was washed out for a second time last Saturday, following heavy overnight rain but Hanwell groundsman Adam Rowlands said: “We will be trying our damnedest to get it on.
“I have been doing the job for 10 years and it’s the worst season I have known for rain. It has fallen on 60 of the last 65 days and it has been frustrating.
“The pitch is in great condition and still 95% grass but we have clay underneath and our drainage system is 10 years old.” Hanwell secretary Clive Cooke added: “The pitch was playable last Thursday and we were ready to go, only for the rain to arrive again on Friday night.” United are already facing a mounting fixture pile-up with seven more matches scheduled for February, including a twice-delayed Kent Senior Trophy quarter-final at Phoenix Sports.
They also face six Southern Counties East League games including the trip to Corinthian, postponed this week, and re-arranged for Tuesday, February 25. Meanwhile, United are counting the cost of having three players sent-off in last week’s 4-4 League Cup quarter-final draw against Erith Town.
Top scorer, 12-goal Adam Cuthbert, faces a three-match ban, while Sam Fisher – dismissed after the final whistle – received two matches and Liam Whiting one. The suspensions all begin next Tuesday. Cuthbert and assistant manager John Ovard have also been ordered to appear before a Kent FA disciplinary hearing, after being reported by match referee Jason Down, following other incidents in the tie. Bromley Green appoint third manager this season – page 66