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Post by Andy K on Mar 14, 2009 18:13:53 GMT
A pretty poor performance today really. Ashford were certainly more up for it, and had a very good defence. To be honest the scoreline was a fair one.
The main highlight for me was our goal, literally made from nothing by David Hughes, was real class. Sadly we didn't capitalise on the momentum and poor defending let them retake the lead 3 mins later.
Luckily for us both Bobbins and Dartford lost, meaning we are still 5 points into play off places, but means that Tonbridge are 5 points above us. We can absorb this defeat, but playing like we played today we will struggle to remain there
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Post by os on Mar 14, 2009 19:29:49 GMT
Painful to watch and frustrating, we just never really got going although we had most of the possession it was in front of their well marshaled back 4. They hit us on the break used width well and every time a cross came in we were at six's and sevens. We seemed to lack understanding a lot of intricate moves not coming off ending up with the ball given away. Ashford a competent RP side just did the basics right and took full advantage and it shows just why this is a difficult league to get out of you need to perform week in week out and today we didn't.
Frustrating from a points dropped point of view as win today would have really put some daylight between us and the chasing pack but as others did us a favour its as you were so we are lucky there. I am still sticking to 66-68pts needed for a playoff spot.
Edit: The more I think about it if we had played like that against Staines at the back we would of conceeded 8 today!
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dof
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,116 
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Post by dof on Mar 14, 2009 20:13:50 GMT
So with all changes in the squad, what team took the field today!!!
A small report on their website.
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Post by jw on Mar 14, 2009 21:09:04 GMT
Nicholls, Lubwama, Collins, El-Salahi, Ebsworth, Hughes, McIntosh, McCallum, Hamici, Palmer, Dundas Graham, Eribenne & Chattaway coming on Really very poor today, from today's performance we didn't look like a side in the playoffs, the only players who should take any credit from today's game who stood out were David Hughes and Gavin McCallum. We need a kick up the backside and move on from this result very quickly, Disappointed!  |
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Post by interested on Mar 14, 2009 22:08:23 GMT
I must have been watching a different game....McCallum was awful
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Millsy
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,246
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Post by Millsy on Mar 14, 2009 22:36:08 GMT
from the Ashford message board, pretty accurate I think but we did struggle today. "Re: Town 2-1 Sutton
Reply #4 - Today at 20:45:41 Great result, and an absolutely superb goal from Luke, a curling strike on the half volley from about 25 yards out, courtesy of a good run and cross-field ball from AJ. Worth the admission money on its own.
I thought Sutton were the better side for the first 20 minutes, and overall they looked a useful team with some very nice pass-and-move play, but once we steadied the ship and Burgo had kept them out with two excellent saves, we had three other scorable opportunities by half time and we snuffed out their attacks and caught them on the counter-attack for much of the second half. Once Sutton equalised I feared the worst, but the lads rolled their sleeves up and deserved AJ's winner.
I was impressed by Sutton's number 11, a Canadian under-20 international who started the season knocking them in for Bognor but who left due to travel problems, but for some reason he played deep in the second half and that reduced their attacking options.
Funny to see their lad roll around in the first half then get up quickly as soon as Ricardo (accidentally) kicked the ball against his rump!"Deano did seem to have picked up a genuine knock (in fact we thought he was fouled) and went off at half-time, presumably as result of. |
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Post by jw on Mar 14, 2009 22:42:11 GMT
I must have been watching a different game....McCallum was awful You must of been watching a different game! |
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Rambo
1st team Player
Posts: 1,691
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Post by Rambo on Mar 14, 2009 22:45:27 GMT
Sorry "interested", but Gavin, as usual, ran his socks off, something which isn't appreciated by some !
I spoke to Deano in the bar afterwards, and he seemed to think that it might also have been a tactical decision by Dos to change things around
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Millsy
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,246
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Post by Millsy on Mar 14, 2009 22:59:50 GMT
Ashford have now won 13 out of 30 games, better 'win rate' than us and most of the play-off chasing few. They have games in hand but their ability to earn just a solitary draw all season seems to be costing them, winning a good proportion of games but not 'nicking' any draws from the jaws of defeat.
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Post by Amber Aleman on Mar 14, 2009 23:23:30 GMT
Our defence went AWOL today. Their keeper made two good saves in the first half, then our defenders were nowhere for the first Ashford goal. David Hughes showed good skill to get the equaliser, but we conceded again a few minutes later from a corner. Not really good enough - but, given other results, not too costly.
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Post by interested on Mar 15, 2009 9:05:56 GMT
The first goal came against the run of play. El-Salari and Collins went forward for our ATTACKING free kick which the keeper gathered and and kicked up field early so they could brake quickly. El-Salari and Collins were the furthest two player forward at this point challenging the keeper but still managed to get back to try and stop the wonder strike from the number 8 which is more than can be said for some. Second goal was a corner which was delivered into the six yard box where the 19 scored from close range. Should the keeper be coming to claim them?
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beano
Spectator
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Post by beano on Mar 15, 2009 11:05:51 GMT
If anyone is interested, the small report mentioned above now includes a link to the full report. There are also interviews with Anthony Joseph and Mark Butler now online. Just visit www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com |
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Millsy
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,246
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Post by Millsy on Mar 15, 2009 11:27:21 GMT
Excellent report Beano, nice to see a well-balanced report from the opposition.
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beano
Spectator
Posts: 12
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Post by beano on Mar 15, 2009 11:48:54 GMT
I didn't write it, but thanks for the kind words!
There are two or three of us who compile reports and we do all try to be as balanced as possible - I don't see the point of writing "one-eyed" reports a la Hornchurch, because that doesn't reflect the reality of the match. I also think that massively biased reports reflect badly on those publish them, but that's just me...
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taz
Top Performer
Posts: 3,760
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Post by taz on Mar 16, 2009 10:30:12 GMT
Disappointing performance. Whilst playing some decent stuff, we just never really got going.
Defensively, we were terrible all day and either lacked that imagination to break 'em down or when we did get into decent positions, wasted them with a poor final ball or not releasing that pass.
Ashford worked hard & fair play, caused us a lot of problems. What was frustrating was all the results going our way again and not capitalising. A win would have put 8pts between us and 6th with 9 games left.
Ho hum. Here's hoping the BW 'keeper doesn't have an absolute blinder on saturday to make up for his howlers against us last week........
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