Langton hails Ashford's recent arrivals'

ASHFORD TOWN travel to Surrey tomorrow to face Whyteleafe a week after a Shawn Beveney hat-trick raised the Homelands spirits as the Nuts & Bolts overcame promotion rivals Merstham to put their play-off challenge back on track after three straight defeats, writes Sam Dixon.

Back in November the two sides played out a goalless draw at Homelands and since then they have had contrasting fortunes.

Ashford embarked on a 15 game unbeaten run to move them up into the play-off picture whereas the Leafe have only one three times out of their last 17 games – losing eight of them in the process.

They currently lie sixth from bottom and will be looking for a strong end of season to move away from danger. In their previous outing they gained a creditable point at promotion chasing Worthing.

Ashford Town assistant boss Hugo Langton knows that, despite their recent slump, Whyteleafe will provide a stiff test.

“I saw them play last week and they are a strong side,” Langton told www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk.

“They have pace on the wings and a creative centre-midfielder that we will have to look out for. They are well organised at the back and work hard for each other.

“But it’s important not to think about them and concentrate on us. We had a great result last week and we know that if we continue playing like that then we can beat anyone on our day and we have to be positive again on Saturday.”

Langton also hailed the influence that recent captures - Shawn Beveney, Stanley Muguo and Orlando Smith – have had on the team.

He said: “They have all done superbly for us. Shawn just wants to score goals. Before the Merstham game he told me he fancied bagging a couple and he did that. He adds a new dimension to our side and he’s going to be a big player for us.

“Stanley came in and done everything we asked him too, he kept it simple in the middle of the park and rarely gave the ball away. He ran out of steam in the second-half but we can work on that.

“It’s also fantastic news to have Mucu (Smith) sign on for another month. Last Saturday he showed what he is all about. He terrorised their backline and showed great skill and pace. No defender is going to want to face him when he is playing like that so hopefully he continues like that.”

Beveney has recovered from a calf strain that forced him off against Merstham and is available. Another important player who is also available to Steve Lovell is Paul Jones.

Ashford’s top-scorer has returned to full-fitness after missing the last few games with a hamstring injury. Jimmy Bottle remains a doubt with knee ligament damage and Josh Willis is looking for reserve team action before returning to the first-team fold.

This leaves Mark Lovell as the only long-term injury casualty as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Article courtesy of www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

Whyteleafe v Ashford Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 14^th March 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At 15 Church Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey CR3 0AR