Ashford Town boss Tim Thorogood
insists his side can "turn it around" and break free from the
Ryman League Division One drop zone, writes Stephen McCartney.
Recent display's have showed promise but defeats at Cray Wanderers (0-2)
and Ramsgate (0-3), in front of their highest league crowd at The
Homelands this season, puts the Kent club in a precarious position in the
table.
The club has struggled since their switch from the
Southern League two years ago, avoiding the drop by just one point last
term. This year, however, they've collected just 14 points and are
level on points with Newport IOW and Corinthian-Casuals at the foot.
But in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk,
Thorogood insists they can improve matters on the pitch in their last 23
games to maintain their Ryman League status.
Thorogood, who takes his side to Molesey on Saturday, said: "We can
turn it around because there's a good togetherness with the players and
you can see that.
"Several people have said we've got a good side here. We worked
our backsides off against Ramsgate and with very little reward, because at
the end of the day we had more chances, dominated the game for long
periods and that's something we haven't done all season."
Ramsgate strikers, Shaun Welford (2) and hungry substitute Steffan Ball
did the damage on Saturday, with Welford scoring his second with seven
minutes left and Ball netting late on after Ashford's top scorer (with six
goals) Joby Thorogood squandered three good chances in a good ten minute
spell earlier in the second half. Right-back Jamie Smith was sent off for
his second offence with 17 minutes left.
"The result looks really bad," admitted Thorogood.
"You can sit here and say some of it was really good, people will say
you're off our heads.
"We've got to dig in now. We've got a young side, we haven't
got a lot of money and we can't go out and get the players here, there and
everywhere."
Although 241 fans watched their 13th league defeat of the season,
Thorogood calls upon more fans to attend their games to enable him to
strengthen the side, and find that elusive striker.
"We need people to come and support this football club," he
said. "Unfortunately at the moment the support has not been
there and unfortunately the money's not there.
"It's going to be a tough, hard grind, but give the players their
due, they've been brilliant in my opinion. Their attitude has been
superb and I can't fault them especially in the last four games."
Ashford's next game at The Homelands is against their Kent rivals Dover
Athletic on Monday 2nd January 2006, and against Metropolitan Police the
following Saturday (7th).
Meanwhile, Ashford's reserve side fared slightly better against the Rams,
drawing 2-2 at Southwood Stadium.
With his side 1-0 down at the break, Ashford reserve team manager Mike
Robbins said: "At half-time we were not performing. Heads were
down and the guys needed a rocket to get them started.
"I just asked them to win the battles and play as it they knew each
other - they weren't letting me down but they were cheating each other.
The game is about honesty - giving an honest 100% for all concerned."
But Ashford clawed their way back from 2-0 down to
earn a point, courtesy of man-of-the-match John Whittaker's sixth goal of
the season and an equaliser from Ashford based Earl Jackson.
Joff Thorogood's recovery from injury received a boost, playing the last
half-hour.
Molesey v Ashford Town
Ryman League Division One
Saturday 17th December 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at 412 Walton Road, West Molesey, Surrey KT8 0JG
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