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#Post#: 569--------------------------------------------------
Ashford United 3 Sittingbourne 1
By: John Pease. Date: December 26, 2017, 10:56 am
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ASHFORD UNITED 3 SITTINGBOURNE 1
Bostik League South Division
Monday 26th December 2017
by John Pease.
We have been unable to get to Homelands since the game against
Hastings so it was no surprise to find that the Ashford squad
showed 6 changes from that event. I thought we had used over
sixty players this season but someone said it was now over
seventy. Say what you like about Ashford United but admit that
it never gets boring! Once again Gareth Williams was acting as
manager and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience.
Sittingbourne took to the field wearing yellow shirts and blue
shorts. Their squad included ex Ashford players Ben Davisson
who started at number ten and Chris Elliott who was on the
bench.
The game was barely six minutes old when Ashford were forced to
take off captain Joe Bingham and replace him with Rhodell
Gordon. The captain's armband was passed to Andrew Dalhouse.
This early change could have proved problematic but, instead,
gave us a chance to savour the strength and energy of the
replacement. The Bourne created the first chance when Miles
Cornwell fired just over the bar. Ashford responded in the
15th minute but, despite being put in a good position, Max
Watter's final ball was poor. Seven minutes later Andrew
Dallhouse headed wide following a free kick. This was a
strange first period with plenty of endeavour but precious
little in the way of goalmouth excitement. Thankfully, the
game burst into life in the 39th minute with a goal to Ashford.
The impressive Gordon released Shamari Barnwell into the left
hand sector of the Bourne area and he whacked the ball past
keeper Brooks. The visitors tried to respond as the half
closed but their only real effort was hooked over the bar by
Kane Phillip.
The second half proved far more exciting than the first. With
53 minutes gone Sittingbourne equalised with a super goal.
Full back Chris Webber collected the ball midway in the Ashford
half, pushed it forward and unleashed an unstoppable drive from
some 25 yards into the top left corner. Home keeper Michael
McEntegart had no chance. From the re-start Ashford attacked
and were awarded a penalty when Barnwell was needlessly fouled.
Up stepped Andrew Dallhouse to make the score 2-1. If we
thought the Bourne's goal was a good one we soon witnessed one
that was even better. With 58 minutes gone Ashford were
awarded a free kick some 30 yards out on the right. George
McLennan measured out a short run up and promptly fired the ball
into the opposite top corner with Brazil like precision. So that
was three goals in a crazy spell of barely five minutes.
McLennan nearly added another in the 66th minute when his shot
went narrowly wide following good work by Dalhouse.
Sittingbourne were trying hard to get back into the game but
were finding the home defence more than capable of snuffing out
most threats. Meanwhile, Rhodell Gordon was here, there and
everywhere winning tackles and setting up home attacks. This
started to draw fouls from the visitors leading to a yellow card
for Bourne's Webber and, a little later, Ben Gorham. I thought
Davisson was lucky not to join his new team mates. Home keeper
McEntegart made a fine save as we entered the last fifteen
minutes but was little troubled thereafter. Max Watters was
shown a yellow card for a silly foul on keeper Brooks but,
basically, Ashford saw out the remaining time with ease.
This was a well deserved and welcome win for the lads in green.
Perhaps we should always kick off at 1.00pm as a similar result
was gained against Guernsey back in September. I liked the
look of today's team as it showed more steel and guile than had
previously been on show. Another win against Shoreham will be
a massive boost to the club.
Ashford team was as follows:- Michael McEntegart, Cheick Toure,
Tommy Cooney, Kwabena Osei, Jon Difford, Ryan Richefond, Max
Watters, Joe Bingham (Rhodell Gordon – 6 mins), Andrew Dalhouse
(Ira Jackson – 77 mins), Shamari Barnwell (Matt Day – 89 mins),
George McLennan.
Subs not used = James Fitchett, Brandon Williams.
Attendance = 334.
M.O.M.? I had already picked Rhodell Gordon when he was
announced as the “Official” winner.
Must mention, in dispatches, Andrew Dalhouse who gave his all
and caused major problems to the Sittingbourne defenders.
#Post#: 570--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ashford United 3 Sittingbourne 1
By: philipbarham Date: December 26, 2017, 4:31 pm
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Thanks, John.
Yes, it seems to be coming together, doesn't it ? This was an
excellent result, against a team in or around the play-off
positions.
We have actually used 65 players, so far - which is an
astonishing number, and far too many, but The Management does
appear to be settled on the current squad. I notice that Pat
Kingwell is the only player remaining of those who started the
first game of the season - although John Difford and Brandon
Williams were used as subs in that first game.
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