Leatherhead 3-3 Ashford Town

Walid Matata’s incredible overhead kick minutes from time salvaged a priceless point for Ashford Town as they played out a six-goal thriller at Leatherhead, writes Will Sun.

But it could have been so much better for Ashford Town, as George Fenwick headed
what looked to have been a legitimate winner four minutes into added time, only for the referee’s assistant to cruelly raise his offside flag with the Ashford celebrations in full swing.

The Nuts and Bolts were lucky to have even made it to the second half without the game being out of sight though, as midtable Leatherhead launched an astonishing assault on the Ashford goal that resulted in them taking a two-goal lead with little more than a quarter of an hour on the clock.

Steve Sargent’s deep free kick found big Joe Sheerin at the back post, and the former Chelsea man rose high to head across the face of goal to gift left back Iain Hendry a simple tap-in from three yards.

And Ashford’s day just got worse with sixteen minutes on the clock, when substitute Marc Charles-Smith popped up to apply the finishing touch after a frantic goalmouth scramble to double the home side’s lead

However, laying down without a fight wasn’t an option for John Cumberbatch’s warriors.

With 18 minutes on the clock Ashford Town had a gilt-edged chance to reduce the arrears when Tom McGowen delivered a sweet-left footed onto the head of Ambrose Kamara, but the 19-year-old ex-Canvey Island man couldn’t test Paul Borg with a tame header that flew wide of the near post.

Ashford continued their promising work in the attacking third again moments later, as a sublime pass from Jamie Smith split the Surrey side’s defence leaving George Fenwick just the keeper to beat, but Ashford’s topscorer skied his effort over the bar.

Nevertheless Fenwick made no mistake in halving the deficit on 24 minutes. The 17-goal striker added to his tally when Anthony Allman’s chipped free kick slipped through the hands of keeper Borg, and Ashford’s close season signing kept his cool to slam home with his left foot to the delight of the traveling faithful.

Although the fans’ delight was short-lived, as just four minute later Leatherhead restored their two-goal cushion. Steve Sargent’s 25-yard free kick was charged down by Ashford’s three-man wall, but the ball somehow made its way through a host of Ashford players to allow Iain Hendry to nip in and power past Whincup.

On 34 minutes Ashford hit back, and reduced the Tanners lead when Allman broke clear of a motionless Leatherhead defence to unleash a right-footed drive into the bottom corner.

At the other end Leatherhead continued to threaten, and when Graham Porter needlessly handballed in the area it was left to the inspirational Sargent to restore the two-goal cushion for a third time in the match.

But the right-sided midfielder scuffed his kick and Whincup made amends for his previous lapses at the back to gather the penalty into his gracious arms.

The second half started in stark contrast to the first, as both sides were tentative to push many men forward with the sides separated by the solitary goal.

However it was Ashford who needed the points more, forcing boss Cumberbatch to sacrifice two defensive men in McGowen and Porter in place of the more attacking Jarrett-Elliott and Sodje.

And the decision finally paid off, as Ashford got the crucial goal to level proceedings on 89 minutes.

Matata, who had been almost anonymous throughout the game, showed his true striking instincts by acrobatically hitting a wonderful scissor kick past Borg in his effort of the game to
level up at 3-3.

Ashford Town even looked like they had done enough to win the game deep into stoppage time, when Allman carved out an opening for Fenwick to head in at the back post.

But despite it being St Patrick’s day, the luck of the Irish failed to shine on Ashford, as referee Chris Salt ruled the goal out for offside.

Leatherhead: Paul Borg, Jamie Beer, Iain Hendry, Lynvall Duncan, Mark Harper, Stewart Holmes, Steve Sargent, James Greenaway, Julien Thompson (Marc Charles-Smith 7), Joe Sheerin (Dave Stevens 58), Scott Bennetts.
Subs: Paul Sears, Dean Carpenter, Gavin Bolger

Ashford Town: Jake Whincup, Jamie Smith, Tom McGowen (Ken Jarrett-Elliott 66),
Graham Porter (Steve Sodje 66), Marc Cumberbatch, Gary Clarke, Anthony
Allman, Ambrose Kamara, Walid Matata, George Fenwick, Simon Glover.
Subs: Joe Hitchings, Tom Adlington, Ian Ross