Survival bid hit hard by defeat

Ben Davis admits he is unsure what fate awaits Ashford men’s 1sts after a 3-2 defeat at fellow-strugglers Worthing on Saturday.

The result leaves them third bottom in Kent/Sussex Regional 1 with skipper Davis predicting ahead of the game that the winner was likely to survive the drop, while time might be up for the losers.

He said: “It still isn’t clear whether two or three will go down but we are still in trouble, four points adrift of Worthing with three games to play.”

Ashford came from behind twice before conceding the winner with 20 minutes left and even then still created several chances. Matt Reeve missed out on a penalty corner with almost the last play of the game.

Worthing went in front from a drag-flick, before Reeve made it 1-1, hammering home at the back post to convert Allan Dawson’s cross following a free break down the right.

Reeve was then inches away from getting a second with a chance from the top of the D, only for the West Sussex hosts to regain the lead when Ashford paid the price for leaving a home player unmarked on the penalty spot.

The game developed into a frantic affair and was low on quality for long periods but Ashford stuck to their task.

Ricky Johnson finished off Will Elgar’s flick following a penalty corner which sent the teams in 2-2 at half-time.

Ashford were disappointed with their first 35 minutes display, failing to match some of the hockey they have produced since the Christmas holiday resumption.

Worthing got their third following a crash ball into the D, with no pressure as the home player deflected it home diving at full stretch.

Ashford weren’t out of it, going close three times.

Elgar couldn’t control Stuart Wise’s cut-back to the penalty spot and Reeve saw a good chance smothered by the keeper.

The visitors continued to push hard until the final whistle, Reeve failing to make the right connection.

The men’s 2nds and 3rds are both facing the drop, sitting bottom of Kent 1 and 2 respectively.

The 2nds went down 6-3 at home to Marden Russets, while the 3rds were beaten 3-1 at Blackheath & Old Elthamians.

The 4ths lost 3-2 at home to Folkestone 4ths in Open Premier B.

Crusaders were the only men’s winners, 2-0 at Burnt Ash 6ths in Open Division 2, with goals from Mark Rooney and Tony Spain.

The 6ths went down 5-0 at home to Herne Bay 5ths in Division 4.

Ashford ladies suffered a double-defeat in East Women’s League Division 2 South East.

They lost 2-1 at Havering on Saturday and 2-0 at home to Burnt Ash in a re-arranged fixture the f o l l o wi n g day.

Two goals in each half condemned the 2nds to a 4-2 defeat at second-placed Bromley and Beckenham 3rds.

Despite the defeat, though, other results went their way to confirm their Kent 1 status.

The 3rds beat Gore Court 2nds 7-0 in Division 2 on Saturday, and drew 1-1 at Maidstone on Sunday.