Kentish Express Ashford & District
Men fail to hold two-goal lead
Hockey
Ashford men’s 1sts threw away a 3- 1 l ead against Old Williamsonians to lose Saturday’s Kent / Sussex Regional 1 game 5-3.
The visitors took the lead through player-coach Harry Roberts who stepped up and dragflicked high into the net from a penalty corner.
Ashford responded with a fine team move involving several players, and pass and move hockey resulted in Chris Spain squaring to Andrew Hill to equalise.
Soon after Spain scored himself, Ricky Johnston winning a long foot race, beating the keeper and squaring for Spain to slot home.
The lead became 3-1 when Ashford won a penalty corner, Oli Kent scoring with a low dragflick.
However, there was still time in the first half for Roberts to score his second when he beat his man, rounded the keeper and slotted past a man on the line.
The second half began much like the first ended, Ashford in control but Williamsonians a danger with the long ball to Roberts.
Old Wills drew level with goal from a penalty corner and it got worse for Ashford when an aerial ball was thrown forward.
Ashford’s defender won it but when trying to play a pass, got caught and the Rochester side found their way into the D and scored to make it 4-3.
The final nail in the coffin came when another long ball was sent forward, Ashford again won it well but the ball ricocheted to an unmarked Williamsonians striker who squared to another to score the final goal.
Ashford 3rds’ recent claim to be comeback kings was commandeered by Saturday’s opponents Gravesham & Wellcome, who recovered from being 3-1 down to earn a 3-3 draw in Saturday’s Kent Open Premier Division game.
Ashford made the first breakthrough when, from a well-worked short corner routine, Matt Carter found Mike Wood, who slotted home.
Gravesham soon equalised but Ashford took the lead again when another short corner was converted by Carter.
Ashford then extended their lead to 3-1 when Wood struck home from a tight angle.
The home side continued to pile on the pressure in the second half and Carter found himself with two opportunities that he was unable to convert, and it was the same story for Luke Prior.
Gravesham were able to catch
Ashford out twice to draw level.
Matt Goodwin had a great chance to get all three points but struck narrowly wide.
Ashford Crusaders beat Folkestone Optimists 7ths 3-0 at home in the Kent Open Division 2.
Andy Pitt opened the scoring when he guided a cross from the right wing into the bottom corner and the same player made it 2-0 in the second half coverting Luke Middleton’s cross from the baseline.
Liam Skelton grabbed the third after a neat one-two with Chris Foley.