Kentish Express Ashford & District
HOCKEY ROUND-UP: BRIGHT START FIZZLES OUT
Ashford men’s 1sts failed score in the league for the first time this season, losing 2-0 at home to Worthing in Kent/Sussex Regional 1 on Saturday. An 11th league defeat, leaves Ashford eighth in the table and dangerously close to being dragged into a relegation scrap in the final three games of the campaign.
Ashford, who welcomed back Will Spain and Ben Dawson, started brightly.
They controlled much of the early possession through Kiagh Bridges and Ricky Johnston.
Worthing took the lead following a short corner and the visitors were happy to sit on their 1-0 lead, frustrating Ashford with long spells of possession.
In the second half, Ashford struggled to create chances, their best opportunity fell to Andy Hill, who put his drag flick just wide.
Worthing doubled their lead, a goal deflected in by their captain, James Wookey.
From then on Ashford flooded forward but could not muster a clear shot at goal.
Ashford 3rds maintained their unbeaten record and promotion push in Kent Open Premier A with a 6-2 win at home to Old Bordenian 3rds. On his return to the club, former Ashford player Sam Handley bagged a hat-trick. He set up two early chances before Matt Carter scored the opening goal from a short corner routine.
Old Bords responded with two goals of their own but Handley equalised before half-time. A change was made for the second half, top scorer Matt Goodwin slotting into a back four.
Handley doubled his tally when he was set up by Carter and then became provider when he fired the ball into the circle for Mike Wood to deflect the ball past the keeper.
In was then Wood’s turn to create a goal, playing the ball in for Dylan Page to score. Handley got his third of the game when he fired home from the top of the circle after Alex Roach had laid the ball back.
Old Bordenians had only once chance in the second half due to solid performances from keeper Nathan Morris, Ben Davis, Toby Body and Goodwin.
After two good results in Kent Open Premier B, Ashford 4ths were brought crashing down to earth – losing 4-2 to Sutton Valence.
The visitors struggled to get hold of the midfield and were only kept in the game by some excellent shot stopping by Jack Taylor.
However, against the run of play Ashford took the lead. Following some good exchanges on the right, the ball ended up with Pete
Boyd at the top of the circle, who calmly slotted past the oncoming keeper.
The hosts equalised just before the break from a short corner and scored three more goals in the second half.
The only positive in the second period for Ashford was a well taken goal by Matt Cooper.
■ Ashford ladies’ 4ths defeated Gravesend 2nds 4-1 in a Kent Division 4 game played in torrential rain. Gravesend took an early lead, and despite losing striker Linda Charlton to injury Ashford responded with an equaliser from Elaine Miller. Ashford pulled ahead through a strike from Alice Browning, and Flo Wood made it 3-1 after dribbling down the line into the D and beating the keeper with a wonderful strike.
In the second half, Browning made sure of the win with her second goal.