Ashford Town 2-1 Kingstonian
ASHFORD BOLT MAKES K'S GO NUTS
The first return fixture of the season saw Kingstonian travel to Ashford in Kent to meet a struggling side who had failed to record a win since early September.
Photo: kingstonian.net
Changes following the disappointing Surrey Cup exit midweek saw Stephen Broad and Martyn Lee return to the side in place of Jon Coke and the injured Dean Lodge, whilst Adolph Amoako made his debut up front in place of Daniel Morris. Club captain Julian Sills meanwhile again found himself on the bench.
The home side fielded a couple of recognisable figures in midfield - Simon Glover formerly of Dover Athletic and captain Anthony Allman, signed from Margate in the summer having previously played for Woking amongst others.
The game started as a cagey affair. In fact neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening half hour - longer than Luke Garrard got on his K's debut before being sent off for a save outside his area.
Ashford goalkeeper Simon Overland was saved outside the area in this game, though it was a defender's legs which blocked a low Stephen Broad drive in the opening exchanges.
And it was right on the half hour mark when the game suddenly burst into life, with the hosts delivering a corner which George Fenwick rose to head untroubled into the roof of the net.
The goal clearly shook both sides, though it was Kingstonian who posted an immediate response. Adolph Amoako threaded a ball to Martyn Lee down the left channel before the stand-in skipper crossed for Mazin Ahmad to retrieve. Ahmad's first touch brought the ball under control and his second placed it calmly past Overland to level the scores just a minute after the opener.
Photo: kingstonian.net
A five minute spell saw K's have a real go at their opponents, with most of the good work coming down the wings. A quick free kick by Lee almost gave Ahmad the chance for a second, but Overland was out quickly to deny.
Ahmad whipped in a cross from out on the right which Scott Corbett made a firm connection with, but the prolific midfielder's header fizzed past the near post.
The final couple of minutes of the half saw a flurry of goalmouth action, starting with Ashford calling Luke Garrard into action. Joby Thorogood sneaked in down the right side of the box before hitting a shot which was well kept out by the goalkeeper. The danger, however, was not over as the next move saw Anthony Allman curl in a cross from the left which sailed beyond Garrard. Only a spectacular Peter Schmeichel-esque flying save denied Adam O'Neill.
The last move before the interval saw an Ahmad cross shave the head of Amoako at the near post and just elude the lunge of Tony Reid at the back post, as the sides went in level at half time.
The start of the second half was far quieter than the moments before the break, but Kingstonian slowly probed away around their hosts' back line.
A neat ball from Scott Corbett set Mazin Ahmad down to the by-line, though his cut-back was well intercepted by Marc Cumberbatch coming off the near post.
Asher Hudson, seemingly in more than one place on the pitch at any given time, moved forward to drill a cross to Martyn Lee, whose first-time effort was well gathered by Overland by his upright.
Photo: kingstonian.net
Midway through the half and a reminder that Ashford have previously broken with ruthless effect against the K's. This time, Luke Garrard was able to tip the ball over to safety.
A long free kick at the other end saw a Danny Morris flick set up central defender Richard Taylor for an effort from around the penalty spot. However, the defender's stab at the ball flew wide of the target.
The incisive break came, for Ashford, with just four minutes remaining. A long ball was not dealt with by Taylor, leaving Adam O'Neill to sneak in and slot home what was to be the winning goal. One of O'Neill's teammates almost followed up with another a minute later, but a glorious opportunity was wasted as the final strike of the game rolled just wide across goal.
A game as disappointing in every manner as last season's visit to Ashford - it came during a slump back then and it just has to be hoped that this tricky run of results doesn't develop into a repeat for this season.
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Sat 4th Nov 2006 |
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The Homelands |
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207 |
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Isthmian League Division One South |
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Ashford Town | 2 |
Kingstonian | 1 |
Ahmad |
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1 | Luke Garrard | | |
2 | Asher Hudson | | |
3 | Steve Symes | | |
4 | Stephen Broad | | |
5 | Danny Lavender | | |
6 | Richard Taylor | | |
7 | Mazin Ahmad | | |
8 | Scott Corbett | | |
9 | Tony Reid | | 16 |
10 | Adolph Amoako | | |
11 | Martyn Lee | | |
12 | Jon Coke | | |
14 | Julian Sills | | |
15 | Yinka Salaam | | |
16 | Daniel Morris | | 9 |
17 | Stephen Windegaard | | |
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Ali Kazemi |
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