Kentish Express Ashford & District
ASHFORD MEN’S HOCKEY ROUND-UP: UNBEATEN START CONTINUES
Ashford men’s 3rds recovered from the shock of conceding two early goals to draw 2-2 draw at Old Bordenian 3rds in Kent Open Premier A on Saturday.
Ashford, joint second in the table, remain unbeaten so far this season. Old Bordenian scored twice in the first 10 minutes, but Nathan Morris then took charge of his defence. After conceding, Ashford won a number of short corners and Matt Carter was denied twice by some outstanding goalkeeping. Mike Wood also had a chance from a corner but the Old Bords keeper blocked the shot.
Matt Goodwin stepped up for the next corner and got Ashford the goal they deserved.
The equaliser in the second half came when Ashford won a long corner. James Logan played a firm ball into Matt Carter who found Goodwin with a first time pass. Goodwin, through on goal, rounded the keeper and flicked the ball home. Ashford 1sts lost 3-2 at Worthing in Kent-Sussex Regional 1.
After a goalless first 25 minutes Worthing scored two quickfire goals. Ashford came out after the break as they have for most of this season, playing far better than they did in the first half.
Unfortunately they went 3-0 down when a penalty corner was converted.
However, Oli Kent flicked low into the bottom right corner for 3-1 and Ashford added a second soon after, Kent again from another penalty corner, this time through the keeper’s legs.
Ashford 2nds surged to 3-0 half-time lead and went on to beat Holcombe 2A 6-2 in Kent Area Division 1.
They took the lead through Allan Dawson. Man-of-the-match Aston Spinks then added a second through a neat solo effort. Several short corners later and a superb drag from Will Spain saw Ashford go into half time 3-0 up.
They added a fourth goal straight after the break with a neat finish from youngster Tom Clayson. Holcombe, taking advantage of poor clearances, scored two quick goals, but Ashford responded when Ben Dawson set up Adam Fox to make it 5-1. With a few minutes to go Spain added his second and Ashford’s sixth.
Ashford 4ths returned to winning ways, with a 1-0 victory over Sutton Valence in Kent Premier Open Division B. Valence had the better of the chances in the first half, but were unable to convert.
In the second half the strength of Jonathan Marsh and Simon Wood in the midfield began to show, with Wood scoring the only goal of the game.
Ashford Crusaders lost 2-0 at Blackheath Dynamos in the Kent Open Division 2.
Blackheath dominated the first half but were held off by stubborn Ashford defending. Ashford’s attacking opportunities were limited to a couple of breakaways. Blackheath opened the scoring at the start of the second half. In search of an equaliser, Ashford began to pose the Blackheath defence problems. Blackheath doubled their lead towards the end of the half to secure the win.