Ashford Borough travelled to South London to play Crockenhill in a vital game for either club with ambition to mount a challenge at the top of the tough Central division. Crockenhill started very strongly, carrying the game to Borough and dominating early possession. Borough were struggling on the heavy pitch and relying on counter attacks to relieve the pressure and threaten the Crockenhill goal. 6 minutes into the match Tom Collin's powerful running reaped rewards when he was hauled over just outside the box. Skipper Ryan Croucher stepped up and placed an excellent 20 yard free kick wide of the keeper and into the far corner. Crockenhill continued to press and equalised in the 12th minute capitalising on Borough's slow reaction to a loose ball and blasting it home from 8 yards, after Zack Foster-Crouch made a stunning acrobatic save from the initial ferocious 30 yard strike. With The South Londoners dominant in midfield the Borough backline defended resolutely with Foster-Crouch making a flying punch to deny a certain goal and Centre backs Chris Cardon and Rob Nash forced to make some great defensive tackles to keep the scores level
The second half was another hard fought midfield battle with Borough under the cosh for most of the final period and battling just to keep on level terms. Despite having the lions share of the ball Crockenhill were kept out until 18 minutes from time when they eventually penetrated the Ashford defence to take the lead. Borough responded immediately when Croucher put in the hardworking Tom Carr who applied a great finish, placing the ball past the advancing keeper for the equaliser. Borough used the lift the goal had given them and competed well in the middle of the park, with some heavy tackles going in from both sides. Jordan Tomsett and Tom Collins worked tirelessly up front but never quite got the luck that their hard work deserved and 10 minutes from time Crockenhill forced a deserved winner with a well worked strike that gave Foster-Crouch no chance.
Congratulations to Crockenhill who deserved all 3 points from this game. We were unable to raise our game when the chips were down and the extra effort that has been a hallmark of our play in recent seasons was just not there. That said we battled throughout the match as a team and there were still some very good individual performances.
The Causeway Steel Challenge Cup Quarter Final between Tunbridge Wells and Crockenhill finally took place at Culverden on Sunday after a few previous postponements, thanks, mainly, to the hard work of Joe Croker who got the pitch rolled and marked.
As the game got underway, The Wells seemed up for the game and it took just seven minutes before they hit the front. A cross from the right found Jack Harris in space, in the box and he controlled with his first touch and slammed the ball into the net for 1-0.
The side then settled, and although the visitors had some possession, they didn't really trouble The Wells until on 25 minutes when found their way into the box - but a last ditch tackle from Joe Williams prevented what would surely have been an equalizer.
Tunbridge Wells kept going, and had a good chance to increase the lead, only for the visiting keeper to make a good save. For the remainder of the half, the game seemed to ebb a flow - Crockenhill sending a headed effort wide of the goal, and another shot hitting the upright - but The Wells held out to lead at the break.
The second half started with the visitors enjoying some possession, but without really getting any clear chances. Reduced to hitting long-balls over the top, The Wells defence coped well. With a half-time change of formation, the home side began to win the midfield battle and with a move from back to front on the hour-mark, a ball was played to Ben Williamson who went on a run, passing three opponents before laying the ball back to Harris, who coolly slotted the ball into the net, doubling the lead.
2-0 down, to the visitors’ credit they kept playing good football, but had no cutting edge on the day. Harris was denied a hat-trick, having a shot cleared off the line at 2-0, before the visitors had a speculative long-range shot bounce into the keeper’s face causing him to spill it to the advancing forward. He made no mistake and reduced the arrears to 2-1.
The goal gave Crockenhill a boost, and they pressed hard for an equaliser. However, Tunbridge Wells were not planning on capitulating, and were more than a match for them. Defensive duties established, on 77 minutes The Wells drove forward and finished the match off in style: Ryan Waterman bursting into the box, receiving the ball over his shoulder, controlling, and shooting over the despairing keeper to send The Wells 3-1 up, and into a Valentines day date at Dartford on in the Semi-Final.
“This was another great team effort, and although not playing great football, the boys were more than a match for Crockenhill,” remarked Darrell Cousins, U16s coach after the game. “The players gave 110 percent - there were lots of good performances to pick out. Harry Barden needs a special mention though, well done!
“We’re into the semis now but we switch back to league duties this Sunday at home to VCD. That’s another tough test, so let’s keep playing the way we can. Finally, a big thank you to all the supporters that gave up their Sunday to come and support us. It meant a lot to the team.”
Ashford Borough slipped to a disappointing defeat at home to Crockenhill in the Kent Youth League today in a game that on the balance of play and chances created they should have won comfortably. Crockenhill knocked the ball around well, early on but their play lacked penetration and the makeshift Borough backline coped well. As the game moved on Borough's midfield unit began to take control, creating some good chances for the inform Josh Knight and powerful Tom Collins. After 8 minutes the home side nearly took the lead, when skipper Ryan Croucher's angled through ball found Collins who's square pass was just to far in front of Knight to make contact at the far post. After 20 minutes Crockenhill opened the scoring against the run of play, with their first real attack of the game; when they outpaced the Borough defence and slipped the ball past keeper Zach Foster-Crouch. 2 minutes later Jordan Wright nearly equalised, but his angled drive went inches over the bar with the keeper beaten. The Crockenhill keeper then made the first of a string of brilliant saves when he denied Knight from point blank range. At the other end Foster-Crouch equaled the feat with a brave 50-50 save at the feet of the Crocks striker. After 25 minutes the excellent Chris Cardon struck the angle with a placed free kick that the keeper could only watch. 5 minutes from half time the busy Crocks keeper made another fantastic save from George Avann who looked certain to score. Just before half time the pressure on the South Londoners goal eventually told when Croucher's long throw was flicked on for Knight to score the equaliser and continue his impressive goal scoring form. With seconds left on the clock Foster-Crouch made a great stop, palming away a 20 yard strike, but from the resulting corner Crockenhill took the lead again, scoring with a free header from 10 yards out.
At the start of the second half Borough continued to pressure the Crockenhill goal forcing another great save from the keeper and having 2 efforts blocked on the line. 2 goals in the space of a minute by the away side then all but secured the points as they went into a 4-1 lead. To their credit Borough refused to accept defeat and dominated the remainder of the match. Jordan Tomsett was causing problems and could of scored a couple of goals, Tom Carr saw his fearsome strike rattle the crossbar from 20 yards, Tomsett clipped the bar and also hit the post, but it was one of those days where the ball wouldn't go in. with 5 minutes left Phil Lee managed to notch his first goal for Ashford Borough when his inch perfect 30 yard lob went over the keeper and into the net.
We could and probably should have put this game away during the first half, but defensive errors for all four goals and missed opportunities eventually cost us the game. On the positive side, our effort was excellent and creativity was very good. Nearly all games in this division will be very tight and we must capitalise when we are on top.
If a new football forum was launched for grassroots people to discuss/influence the future of football development in the UK, would you use it?
Yes
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