Ashford Town 2-1 Metropolitan Police

ASHFORD TOWN 2-1 METROPOLITAN POLICE
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 27^th January 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from the Homelands

Ashford Town proved that they are too good to go down, by climbing out of the Ryman League Division One South drop zone, with a much-needed win over their eleventh placed visitors Metropolitan Police today.

With star players such as Anthony Allman, Simon Glover, Matt Carruthers, Walid Matata and Steve Sodje in their ranks, Ashford Town are good enough to climb their table during their last 21 league games.

Ashford suffered broken hearts when Ryan Hayes’ netted a last-gasp penalty for Dartford seven days ago, losing a seven-goal thriller in the game of the season, so it was vitally important that John Cumberbatch’s side proved what a good side they are by collecting three points today.

And goals from Glover, whose playing as a left-back, and Tottenham based striker, Matata made sure they climbed out of the relegation zone.

Cumberbatch put newcomers, striker Ray Aknotoh, and right-sided midfielder or full-back, James Frazer on the bench.

Akontoh, who replaced Sodje late on, arrives from Leyton, and Frazer arrives from Ware.

And former Gravesend & Northfleet and Welling United star defender, Lee Gledhill, failed to turn up at the Homelands, despite the Metropolitan Police skipper being named on the team-sheet, initially at number 2 and then number 15.

Ashford, meanwhile, got out of the traps well, knowing they needed to turn good recent displays into points.

They had penalty appeals turned down by Dartford based referee Mr Darren Blunden when Matata’s overhead kick struck Gary Hutchings.

But the Kent side deservedly opened the scoring after ten minutes from their third corner of the game.

Allman’s first two flag-kick’s were comfortably dealt with by the Surrey side at the near post, but it was third time lucky for the 26-year-old, playing at right-back.

He floated over his third corner towards the far post and Sodje knocked the ball down and Glover was on hand to stab the ball into the net from just three yards out.

Police striker, Luke Cornwall, however, was a dangerous threat for the Kent side, and he was denied by Jake Whincup.

The former Dulwich Hamlet striker met Tony Finn’s far-post cross with a towering header but Ashford’s 21-year-old goalkeeper clawed out the effort at his near post.

But Cornwall shrugged off Graham Porter, Ashford’s central defender and skipper in the absence of Tom Adlington, and his shot rolled past Whincup to find the bottom left hand corner just seven minutes after the Kent side broke the deadlock

The goal inspired the visitors and Cornwall went close again when he headed Gary Brown’s right-wing cross wide.

Tony Finn then drilled a low free-kick into the Ashford penalty area but Cornwall, who stuck out a leg, poked the ball past the foot of the near post.

Long-throw specialist, Ian Batten, found Simon Huckle at the near post and his flick on found Finn at the other post but the left-winger glanced a poor header wide from close range.

Ashford had to wait until the 36^th minute before they created their next chance but Carruthers was never going to beat former Fisher Athletic goalkeeper Will Packham from a 26-yard free-kick.

But both sides went close on the stroke of half-time.

Carruthers received a square pass from Matata inside his own half and sprinted straight down the middle of the pitch.

Keeping a bobbling ball under control all the way, Carruthers raced into the penalty area, but after doing all the hard work getting there, he dragged his shot well wide of the left upright.

And at the other end, Cornwall’s shot from 18-yards flashed agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

Allman was substituted late in the first half due to an ankle injury that he received treatment for during the week leading up to the game.

Substitute Nick Fenwick slotted into his position and Ashford suffered another injury early in the second half when right-sided midfielder Luke Coleman hurt his calf.

Matata used his trademark pace to fashion himself a chance within 81 seconds into the second half.

Picking the ball up on the half-way line, the Tottenham based striker raced towards goal and from 25-yards his right-footed drive was pushed away by Packham.

Later, Ken Jarrett-Elliott cut the ball back for substitute Joby Thorogood, but his left-footed shot from 25-yards ballooned high and wide.

Police almost stole the lead halfway through the second half but Whincup was alert to beat away James Evans shot, when he only had the goalkeeper to beat, and from the follow up Cornwall blazed wide.

Knowing a win was important, Ashford upped the urgency late on. Kevin Lott played the ball over the top for Thorogood to latch onto and his cross from the right flank found Matata in the middle but the highly-rated striker dragged his shot wide.

But Ashford got their just rewards when they scored the winning goal with six minutes remaining.

Sodje latched onto Glover’s through ball down the left and with only Packham to beat the former Tonbridge Angels striker saw his effort blocked.

But the ball rolled to Matata who drove a shot into an empty net to score his third goal in Ashford colours.

Three minutes later Carruthers saw his right-footed free-kick from 40-yards beat Packham only for the ball to bounce off the top of the crossbar.

Boss Cumberbatch believes that his side will climb the table after winning their sixth league game after 21 league outings.

“Happy and relieved,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards. “Happy and relieved because it’s been a long time getting the three points that we deserved.

“We seemed to have worked very hard and end up getting nothing or end up having games abandoned so to actually get three points at last since the Dulwich game (which they won 1-0 on 23^rd December) is good.”

The Orpington based manager explained the injury situation concerning Allman and Coleman.

He said: “We already knew Anthony had a problem with his ankle from the last game. He’s had treatment during the week but he felt he would be ok for the game.

“But because of the surface today and some of the twisting and turning that he was having to do, he suffered and had to go off.

“And with Luke, he’s got a calf strain, which may not be that bad but it’s something that will niggle him for quite a while unless it’s get dealt with properly.”

Cumberbatch also gave an insight on his two new faces - Akontoh and Frazer.

“First with Ray, he’s from Leyton’s reserves,” he said. “Although Ray was with Leyton’s reserves, I think he had a hernia operation the season before but Ray has played professional football in Norway and he’s a very good player.

“And because of the buzz we’ve got going around the squad he’s come to us to see if he can get in the side.

“I haven’t made a 100% decision on them but they were willing to sign for us and to see whether they can make an impression.”

Talking about Frazer’s strength’s, he added: “James plays out wide on the right, can also play at full-back and was close to coming on today but because I’ve not seen him at full-back that much, I went with Nick Fenwick because I know Nick’s a capable player.”