Ashford Town vs Windsor & Eton

Match Report

On Saturday 28th February we travelled to Middlesex to face Ashford Town who sat 3rd in the table with the second highest goal difference. 

The home side got their breakthrough after a long throw which caused havoc in our box, allowing striker Jack Arnold to smash in from close range.  

Ashford continued to test us through long throw ins and free kicks but our defence held strong, as the sun blazed down on the players at the Robert Parker Stadium. 

Just 20 minutes after the opener, we levelled thanks to some excellent pressure by Nick Thumwood and Ben Catt up top. Thumwood’s persistence led to him being able to dispossess goalkeeper Liam Allen and as the ball looped up and over his head, Thumwood made sure of it by heading into an empty net for 1-1.  

It wasn’t long before we found a second as just three minutes after the restart, goalkeeper Allen found himself under pressure from Ethan Darcey which forced him to aimlessly boot the ball into midfield. An onrushing Sam Hutchings had a first time shot which flew over Allen and into the top corner from about 30 yards out. A brilliant strike in which the whole team joined in to celebrate. 

The home side didn’t offer much going forward after that. On the stroke of half time their number nine tried a speculative effort off the back of his heel but apart from that, little troubled Purcell and the defence.  

The team from Middlesex had a glorious chance early in the second half after their shot was wildly blazed over after the ball dropped to the attack from a long throw.  

The Tangerines dominated possession in the second half as they looked to come out sharp and put us on the backfoot. 

A penalty shout for the home side was waved away by the referee as their winger went down inside the area. 

More long throws and set pieces were used as they home side tried to get their way back into the game but our defence held strong. 

Unfortunately, Ashford found their way back into the game to make the scores level thanks to a long-range strike from Marcus Mealing. 

The rest of the half saw both sides have chances but neither could find a winner. 

A decent point on the road to a good side doing well in the league. We look ahead to out back-to-back games against Kidlington, first in the Chery Red Records Premier Challenge Cup quarter finals on the 4th of March and then again in the league on the 7th, the games coming thick and fast. 

Looking forward to seeing your support then.  

– Samuel Scrace