Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hopes hit by the cutting edge of Glass
Ashford travelled to Gore Court looking to make it back to back victories but the Sittingbourne hosts started and finished the stronger, winning the Kent/Sussex Regional 1 game 6-1.
Gore Court opened the scoring from a penalty corner, Aaron Glass burying the drag flick.
It wasn’t long before Ashford got themselves level though, Rob Playford firing a ball into the D and Oli Kent slotting in his first goal of the season.
However, Gore Court were more clinical in front of goal and Glass scored twice more before half-time.
Ashford started the second half on the front foot but they could not find a way past the keeper who made good saves from a penalty corner and from Rob Playford’s reverse stick shot.
At the other end, Glass again took his chances – scoring another two goals to take the score to 5-1.
Ashford just could not put the ball in the goal, even when a fantastic team move resulted in Kiagh Bridges rounding the goalkeeper and shot, Court cleared off the line.
The Sittingbourne side rubbed salt into Ashford’s wounds at the end with another penalty corner to make it 6-1.
Ashford 2nds slipped to a 5-2 defeat to Canterbury in Kent Area Division 1.
The home side fell 3-0 behind but Lewis Elgar and Adam Fox combined just before half-time to allow Elgar in for a goal.
Canterbury absorbed Ashford pressure well in the second half but managed to counter, scoring yet another goal.
The hosts pulled one back through Richard Wicker but Canterbury responded with their fifth goal.
Comeback kings Ashford 3rds, recovered from being two-goals behind at half-time for the third week running, defeating Holcombe 4-2 in Kent Open Premier A. Within the first eight minutes of the second half they were level at 2-2. Captain Matt Carter scored the first following a short corner.
The second came from another corner. Carter combined with Mike Wood who swept the ball home.
With 15 minutes to go James Logan found Carter in space just outside the circle, Carter spun on the ball with his first touch and passed to Luke Prior who swept home. Adam Mott wrapped up the scoring with the fourth goal after being set up by Prior.
After such a positive start to the Kent Open Premier B season, the men’s 4ths knew that their game against Old Williamsonians, one place above them in the table, would be the toughest yet.
This proved to be the case as Ashford battled out a 0-0 draw.
The first half was fairly even but as the game grew so did Ashford’s confidence, the home side creating the greater number of chances in the second half.
Up front it was a thankless task with Gary Maryan, John Browning and Jon Hellier putting in the hard graft for little reward.
Ben Smithermans made a return to the team and showed flashes of both skill and youthful exuberance. In the middle, David Finch and Charlie Wood did their best to distribute the ball as Ashford tried to play quick moving, attacking hockey.
An inspired move by skipper Simon Wood to move himself out wide at halftime proved positive. Sam Stevens had an excellent game on the right, showing why he will be such a positive influence.
Once again, wise heads proved invaluable at the back as Paul Curbow, Pete Boyd, Tim Woodhouse, Paul Brightling and Jamie Horton allowed few opportunities.
Ashford Crusaders lost 3-2 at Burnt Ash 6ths in the Kent Open Division 2. Ashford took the lead mid-way through the first half after Chris Foley dribbled along the base line and Mark Rooney deftly redirected the cross past the keeper.
Burnt Ash responded with an equaliser five minutes before the break and the hosts enjoyed a spell of dominance in the second half, bagging two goals. Despite Liam Skelton scoring from a short corner, Ashford could not convert late pressure into an equaliser.