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Thursday 01st September 2005

Forbes makes a point

Ashford Town (Middlesex) 1-1 Bromley

Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August 2003

Ryman League Division One South

by Stephen McCartney www.kentishfootball.co.uk

Bromley captain Dean Forbes sent the Bromley faithful home happy on this Bank Holiday Monday, scoring from a powerful header into the roof of the net with ten minutes left on the clock.

The Short Lane pitch has been starved off water during the hot summer. Both penalty boxes were green, and so was the centre circle. Unfortunately the rest of the pitch was patchy, bumpy and without any green grass. Both teams weren't really given a chance to play passing football on the poorly maintained surface.

Ashford Town had drawn their opening three league games prior to Bromley's visit but Bromley will be pleased with coming away from Middlesex with a point in the bag - their seventh point in their first four league games.

Bromley can look forward to their FA Cup Preliminary Round clash with Hellenic League side North Leigh on Saturday, sitting in ninth place in the league table.

Playing passing football on such a poor quality surface was difficult, but Bromley had appeals for a penalty turned down after seven minutes.

Colin Luckett, starting his first game of the season, sent in a corner and the Bromley contingent behind the goal appealed for a penalty as shaven headed Steve Willmore seemed to control the ball with his hand.

Willmore gave Ashford Town the lead after fourteen minutes when his bullet header from Sean Gorman's free kick darted past Harwood to his right.

Andy Driscoll went close for the home side after 22 minutes shooting narrowly wide of the left upright from 25 yards.

Bromley's first chance fell on 27 minutes. Joe Wade, who is improving his game each time he puts on a Bromley shirt, played a low pass to South African Steve Potterill. He made a run, cut inside, so he could shoot with his left foot from 30 yards. Goalkeeper Paul Burgess dived to his left to push the shot around the post.

Luckett latched onto a loose ball three minutes later, shooting over the Ashford Town crossbar just outside the penalty area.

Burgess parried Tony Reid's header following Wade's cross but the former Lewes striker was in an offside position.

Ten minutes before the break, Driscoll fired high over Harwood's crossbar when well placed.

Reid went very close to opening his goalscoring account for Bromley three minutes before the break. He got on the end of Luckett's cross from the left channel, and his flicked header struck the right post.

Ashford's Giorgi Salaghishvili's right footed free kick curled wide of the near post and Bromley pressed before the break with Luckett seeing his shot deflect wide, and Reid flashing a volley over the crossbar.

After scoring a brace in Saturday's 4-0 win over Molesey, Adolph Amoako was introduced by manager Stuart McIntyre after 56 minutes after Grant Watts pulled a hamstring.

Another substitution by McIntyre after 61 minutes, bringing on Gary Drewett for David Smith gave Bromley more attacking options.

And the two substitutes combined after 67 minutes but Drewett headed wide of the post under pressure from the Ashford defence.

Amoako's skill on the ball saw the talented striker beat two Ashford defenders. His low shot was saved by Burgess, but Bromley's supporters, who got behind their team throughout the game, were rewarded as their captain Dean Forbes scored the equaliser.

Jason McKoy poised himself before delivering a cross from the left flank and Forbes powered home a header from eight yards into the roof of the net to send the travelling fans into ecstasy.

Bromley pressed for the winner, and Ashford were unable to test Harwood for the remainder of the contest.

After Kirk Watts and Mark Willy combined down the left flank, Watts delivered a cross into the penalty area and Amoako rose but he headed narrowly wide of the right stick.

Kirk Watts could have given Bromley victory with a shot in the final minute but he blazed his shot over the crossbar and towards the petrol tankers behind Burgess goal.

Ashford Town (Middlesex): Paul Burgess, Vince O'Sullivan, Brett Johnson, Ross Davidson (Capt), Steve Croxford, Jim Hibburt, Jim Hibburt, Giorgi Salaghishvili (Andy Frost 73) Andy Driscoll, Richard Butler (Jamie Read 84) Sean Gorman, Steve Willmore. Subs: Lee Simpson, Tony Wells

Bromley: Danny Harwood, Steve Potterill, Joe Wade, Joe Vines, Mark Willy, Dean Forbes, David Smith (Gary Drewett 61), Jason McKoy, Tony Reid, Grant Watts (Adolph Amoako 56), Colin Luckett (Kirk Watts 70). Subs: Andy Hunt, John Butler

Attendance: 187

Referee: Colin Lymer

Assistants: Mr M Bristow and Mr J Butcher

Stephen McCartney

www.kentishfootball.co.uk

Tel: 07979 418 360