Kentish Football 
Ashford United 1-2 Phoenix Sports - We've got a chance now, we have to take it, says Tony Beckingham
Saturday 08th December 2012
ASHFORD UNITED 1-2 PHOENIX SPORTS
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 8th December 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Homelands Stadium
PHOENIX SPORTS’ joint-manager Tony Beckingham hailed his undefeated table-topping players’ as heroes after they moved fourteen points clear of fourth-placed Ashford United at the halfway point of their Kent Invicta League campaign.
Both sides went into this game unbeaten in the league but it was Phoenix Sports that did their title aspirations no harm with a 2-1 victory to inflict Ashford United’s first league defeat of the season in front of the League’s largest crowd of the season.
Phoenix Sports went into this game on the back of their only defeat of the season – a 4-1 defeat at Kent League Erith & Belvedere in the Kent Senior Trophy Second Round seven days ago.
That defeat – their only one in eighteen games – was the wake-up call that the Barnehurst outfit needed and with Hollands & Blair drawing with Rusthall today, their fifteenth-league win has put them eleven points clear of Paul Piggot’s side with sixteen games left.
Phoenix Sports broke the stalemate with almost the last kick of the first half when midfielder Dane Luchford scored his first goal for the club since his move from Ryman League Division One South side Whitstable Town.
But Ashford United equalised halfway through the second half when striker Craig Thompson – who is on a dual-registration from Hythe Town – scored on his debut.
But with the home side pushing for the winner, Phoenix Sports attacked with pace and substitute Andy Mensah rolled in his tenth-goal of the season to snatch victory in the final ten minutes.
With jubilant celebrations coming from his players inside the visitors’ dressing room, Beckingham said: “You can hear them, they’re buzzing but to be honest with you! Like I said to you the other day on the phone, nothing’s won at all right now. All that’s done, that’s put us in a great position. What we need to do is follow it up, carry on with our great run and hopefully by the time we play Ashford again there won’t be nothing on the game because that’s in April.
“I don’t like using the word heroic because that’s for soldiers’ and things like that. We put our bodies on the line and we defended very, very well. We are absolutely delighted with the result.”
Ashford United manager Paul Chambers was unable to comment because he was having a meeting with his chairman in the boardroom so coach John Ovard insisted Phoenix Sports have not ended his club’s title aspirations.
“I don’t think you get a winners’ medal in December so the players have heard them celebrate so that will stick in our minds,” he said, knowing Ashford have three games in hand.
“We’re disappointed to lose the game. I don’t think we deserved to lose, but there is a long way to go.”
Ashford United created the first chance of the game when left-back Liam Whiting flashed a left-footed drive well wide of the far post when trying his luck from 30-yards.
Supporters really should get off the back of Phoenix striker Steve Strotten over his size because you don’t play for Wimbledon by chance. But he should have done better when he received the ball following a lay-off from his strike partner Dan Parish and cleared the stand roof behind the goal with a first time half-volley from 25-yards.
Ashford United skipper Ollie Finch also struck a first time volley with his right-foot from 35-yards, which also cleared the crossbar after Phoenix central defender James Brown headed away a long ball forward from Roy Guiver.
But the crowd of 275 had to wait until the 20th minute for the first clear cut goalscoring chance.
Gary Mickleborough – who scored Hythe Town’s goal during their 5-1 defeat at Hereford United in the FA Cup First Round in November 2010 – was put through on goal by a clever pass from Thompson and cracked a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which forced visiting keeper Adam Woodward into diving full-length to his right to turn away.
Ovard said: “We’ve worked on bits and pieces. We didn’t use the width today.”
Beckingham added: “It was a good save. People say about goalkeeper’s. I know it’s a great save blah, blah, blah, but that’s what they’re there for, to keep the ball out of the back of the net! For me it’s a great save. Their keeper pulled off a couple of good ones and I thought our one pulled off a couple of good saves. He’s a good keeper and a good character Woody and that’s what he’s in there for!”
This sparked more attacking play from the league leaders and a deep ball into the penalty area from right-back Charlie McCarthy found left-back Aaron Jeffrey unmarked inside the box but he steered his left-footed shot just past the foot of the near post.
Another chance fell to Phoenix following Luchford’s corner from the right, which was headed back across goal by a leaping Jeffrey but Strotten’s hooked right-footed volley deflected over from six-yards.
But Strotten was denied his fourteenth-goal of the season (eight of them coming for Kent League side Holmesdale) thanks to a brilliant save from Ashford keeper Joe Mant after 36 minutes.
Strotten cracked a powerful right-footed drive from 30-yards on the turn, which was destined for the top corner, but Mant flung himself high to his left to fingertip the ball narrowly past his post.
Beckingham said: “Their keeper has pulled of a couple of good saves, one in particular from Steve Stotten. I think if we had gone 2-0 up I think that would have been it.”
Phoenix keeper Woodward made a comfortable low save from the edge of the penalty box from Thompson, following Luke Cuthbert’s throw in.
But Phoenix squandered an excellent chance to break the stalemate on the stroke of half time when 22-goal striker Parish was put through on goal by a sublime pass but dragged his shot wide of the far post.
However, that despair for the travelling supporters was short-lived as their side grabbed the lead with almost the last kick of the first half.
Woodward pumped the ball up field and Strotten was causing a nuisance in and around the Ashford box and the ball came out to the unmarked Luchford, who drove a right-footed shot past Mant to find the bottom left-hand corner from 12-yards. The former Faversham Town, Horsham and Whitstable Town midfielder scoring 54 seconds into time added on.
Beckingham said: “To be honest with you, it totally changed everything. Goals change games but that one was particularly almost the last kick of the first half and it gave us something to come out and to hold onto.
“They obviously had to come at us and I thought second half they did!
“It was a great finish because we’re over there and there’s quite a few bodies. He’s a good player. He’s one of those players that does the basics very well. He’s played at a good level for the last few years because he works hard and he has the right attitude towards his football and he does things like that!
“He’s not the most extravagant player in the world but he does the basics well. He’s good to have around us because he’s got that experience. We’re a pretty young side really. He’s been good for us over the last couple of weeks.”
Ovard added: “Paul went in and spoke to the players and we said what we needed to do. They picked up a goal out of nowhere. It meant that we had to change and be a little bit more attacking. I felt we wasn’t going to change the way we were going to play. We were always going to have a go at them and I think we did today. We were positive from the start. We could have easily gone defensively and tried to shut up shop but we tried to win the game today.”
Mickleborough did well to wriggle his way past a couple of red and white hooped shirted defenders to reach the corner of the penalty area but his right-footed effort curled wide of the far post from 22-yards inside the opening seven minutes of the second half.
Beckingham thought Wheeler should have doubled his side’s lead within a minute at the other end.
Phoenix broke away through the middle with Parish, who played the ball to Strotten, who swept the ball out to Wheeler, whose left-footed shot from 20-yards rolled towards Mant who made a comfortable save.
Beckingham believes the former VCD Athletic right-winger can improve.
He said: “Daryl is a good player. He’s got all the ability in the world. A lot of trickery but I think possibly where he needs to improve is when he gets in some great positions and it’s just his final pass, shot or cross needs to be a little bit better.
“I know he’s disappointed that he didn’t put that in the back of the net.”
Another long kick forward from Woodward bounced into Wheeler’s possession and after cutting inside he unleashed a curler with his left-foot, which forced Mant into diving low to his right, only just missing making a connection as the curl took the ball towards the corner flag.
But Ashford United got in behind the Phoenix Sports back-line to equalise in the 68th minute.
Adam Cuthbert (who along with twin brother Luke left Phoenix Sports in the close season after finishing as runners-up to Bly Spartans/Rochester United) played the ball inside to winger Kieran Byrne, who whipped in a fine cross and Thompson slammed his right-footed shot past Woodward to the delight to the home faithful.
Thompson was drafted into the side today because eighteen-goal striker Mo Takalobighashi is suspended for six games.
Ovard explained the move to bring in the striker, who has scored five goals for Ryman League Division One South side Hythe Town.
“Paul’s got a good relationship with Hythe and Scott Porter down there and it worked out that the deal was there to be done for a week. Once it moves forward we’ll see how it progresses.
“It’s the one time, I think, we’ve actually pushed the ball and moved them and got the wrong side of them and to be fair to Thommo he’s worked his socks off today and he’s deserved his goal and I’m pleased with him.”
Beckingham admitted how he felt at that stage of the game.
“We was struggling. I was worried. I thought at that point there was only going to be one winner and that wasn’t us!”
But he wasn’t surprised to see Thompson’s name listed on the Ashford team sheet.
He said: “He’s a good player ain’t he? That’s why he ain’t playing at this level. Fair enough they’ve got their top scorer suspended and we fully expected a little surprise here today with something because we would have done exactly the same thing.
“He’s a good player. Good luck to them, they pulled that rabbit out of the hat and it’s a nice one to pull out.”
The goal was the catalyst for Ashford United to up the tempo and press for the winner that their fans demanded.
Guiver – who was later pushed up as an emergency forward – played the ball into the box, which was headed away by Phoenix defender Martin Chirimuta and Thompson drove his right-footed shot wide from the edge of the box.
The impressive Whiting whipped in an excellent cross with his left-foot, which sailed over Woodward’s head and Mickleborough, who had ghosted in towards the far post, was inches away from connecting and possibly scoring.
But Phoenix Sports punished an attack-minded Ashford United side with a devastating counter attack with ten minutes left.
The Phoenix management team pulled off a tactical masterstroke as their pacy substitutes had the desired effect.
Ben Yiadom (nicknamed Tom Tom) picked the ball up on the half way line and sprinted towards the by-line before cutting the ball back to Mensah, whose shot trickled past Mant and a sliding Whiting and only just crept over the goal-line to send a good number of travelling supporters into raptures.
Beckingham said: “We made a couple of substitutions and I think that made a difference for us in the end. Both the boys were involved in it. Andy Mensah has scored it. Tom Tom has made it.
“I did actually think they would play a big part in the game. I told them that a bit of pace up against some boys at the back – Lee Coburn and Roy Guiver – are good players, good centre halves, they’re good in the air but a little bit of pace perhaps that’s what worried them a little bit.
“Was it our only chance of the second half? It might have been. I don’t really care but it’s gone in the back of the net and in the end it was backs to the wall.”
Beckingham added: “First of all I thought he missed it! The lights are a bit dim. It’s a bit difficult to see then he wheeled away and realised it was a goal and we’ve gone a little bit mad really, but then there was another ten minutes to go. Then it was really can we keep them out?
“At that point we just knew they were going to throw the kitchen sink at us. They pushed the centre half, Roy Guiver, up and loaded the ball into our box and we just had to head it, kick it, punch it, anything!”
Ovard added: “We committed bodies forward to try to get the winner ourselves and we’ve made a mistake at the back there and they’ve capitalised on it.
“Good luck to them. I don’t necessarily think we deserved to come away from here losing 2-1, so we’ll dust ourselves down and go again.”
Ashford United were not going to lose their unbeaten league record without a fight and they pressed for an equaliser, which saw Phoenix put their bodies on the line to protect their slender lead.
The home side went close when Thompson’s acrobatic over-head kick dropped wide of the far post at the death.
When asked what this victory means to Phoenix Sports, Beckingham replied, “It means that we are in a very good position now to be able to push on and what it definitely means is that it’s in our hands and we don’t have to rely on anybody else.
“That’s all it means. It doesn’t mean any more than that really. We’ve just put ourselves in a great position now as I said to you the other day.”
The former Holmesdale boss added: “I’m absolutely delighted. You can see everyone’s delighted with it. We knew what it means today. The league table is looking fantastic for us!
“We know things come along and it’s about taking our chances. We’ve got a chance now. We just have to take it. If we don’t we’ve only got ourselves to blame now.
“If we don’t go on and do well then I expect us (myself and Steve O’Boyle) to get the sack at the end of the season.”
Phoenix Sports’ impressive performances has seen higher league clubs take an interest in their players – and 16-goal midfielder Chris Edwards made his Thamesmead Town debut today.
“It goes to show young lads if they play well, do well and they have the opportunity to progress and we’re pleased for Chris that he’s jumped up two leagues and hopefully it goes well for him at Thamesmead.
“I have to say I’m disappointed with the timing of it, in the week playing Ashford.We could’ve done without it. You can’t stop anybody progressing can you? Good luck to him and Thamesmead. He’s more than welcome if he ever wants to come back to the club. We’ll welcome him with open arms because he’s a good player.”
But Ovard insists his side will not give up chasing the Barnehurst outfit and will not throw in the towel to claw back the fourteen points that separates the two title challengers.
“You don’t win a winners’ medal in December so as much as they’re celebrating like they’ve won the league, it’s good to know that they should wind up our players because they’ve seen it and heard it and it makes our job easy because we know what we will hunt them down. We will keep battling. No one’s going to shy away from it at this club not a chance! It’s not doom and gloom.”
Ovard knows the Ashford United team have let down the supporters of the biggest club in the Kent Invicta League today.
He said: “We’re disappointed today that we couldn’t send them home with a win but with their continued support and if they keep on coming we’re not a Kent Invicta League side. We want to go on and we want to progress.”
Ashford United: Joe Mant, Liam Whiting, Luke Cuthbert, Ben Jordan, Roy Guiver, Lee Coburn, Adam Cuthbert, Ollie Finch, Craig Thompson, Gary Mickleborough, Kieran Byrne (Dan Morrison 88).
Subs: Tom Scorer, Sam Conlon, Jamie Collado, Tom Carr
Goal: Craig Thompson 68
Booked: Roy Guiver 33
Phoenix Sports: Adam Woodward, Charlie McCarthy, Aaron Jeffrey, Sam O’Keefe, James Brown, Martin Chirimuta, Dane Luchford (Ben Yiadom 75), Gary Phillimore, Dan Parish (Andy Mensah 62), Steve Strotten (Tom Beckingham 90) Daryl Wheeler.
Subs: Dean Elliott
Goals: Dane Luchford 45, Andy Mensah 80
Booked: James Brown 77
Attendance: 275
Referee: Mr Neil Baker (Welling)
Assistants: Mr Kane Dempster (Hythe) & Mr Stephen Cole (Borough Green)
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