League

PuffPuff Park
Spectators: 5620 (Terracing: 4500, Seating: 1100, VIP seats: 20) Ashford Fc's Stu Hough started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Naija Draig's John Harris played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Stu Hough in the 6th minute of play. Craig Knight received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. John Harris tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Craig Knight received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. John Harris tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Stu Hough had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Stu Hough had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. John Harris made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Craig Knight in the 20th minute of play. Carlton Copsey charged in rather forcefully in the 24th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Carlton Copsey the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Naija Draig getting a freekick after 24 minutes play. Carlton Copsey hit a great ball. Ashford Fc's Eddie Wiseman proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 29th minute of the match, managed to save Ashford Fc from getting a goal against them. Fred Westerby sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Eddie Wiseman was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Alf Pope showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 31 minute of play. Fred Westerby sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Stu Hough might have been able to make a better finish in the 37th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over John Harris. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Stu Hough ran back to his position shaking his head. Eddie Wiseman showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Fred Westerby, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. Craig Knight might have been able to make a better finish in the 41st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over John Harris. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Craig Knight ran back to his position shaking his head. 42 minutes into the match, Stu Hough notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Naija Draig's John Harris. John Harris was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After a defensive mix-up in Naija Draig's zone, Craig Knight stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. John Harris came out of the goal and Craig Knight tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Alf Pope made the kick off in the second half. After some fancy dribbling in the 54th minute, Stu Hough managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ashford Fc's supporters rose to their feet, but Stu Hough was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. John Harris breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 56 minutes into the match, Craig Knight dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of John Harris, 1-2. Fred Westerby fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eddie Wiseman having to interfere. After 75 played minutes Naija Draig got a freekick which was hit by Ralf Sollit. After 76 played minutes, Ashford Fc's Stu Hough shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper John Harris came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Ashford Fc reached it. John Harris showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Stu Hough, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. Naija Draig's John Harris played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Stu Hough in the 83rd minute of play. With a little luck, Naija Draig's John Harris got control of the ball when Stephen Beerman tried to sneak it across the goal line. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Ashford Fc eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.