Ashtead FC

ASHTEAD FC 2-3 NORTON OBC
Hudspith 18
Barnes 69, 71

Ashtead Goals 34, 82

1. Kenny

2. Hann 30. Nice 6. Joicey 13. Marshall

10. Muvunyi 8. Hudspith (1) 99. McEwan 11. Donald

9. Sobers 14. Barnes (2)

Subs
17. Jumbo on for 9. Sobers on 67 mins
34. Castavista on for 10. Muvunyi on 67 mins
27. Swift on for 8. Hudspith on 74 mins

Division 5:

Saturday 8th March 2008, Ashtead, Surrey

NORTON OBC MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR THEMSELVES AS OBC PROMOTION CHARGE BEGINS

Norton OBC got away with a hard worked victory at Ashtead as the OBC spurred several one on one chances allowing the opposition to capitalise on two mistakes at the back. Dean Barnes grabbed two quick fire goals after the introduction of Jesse Jumbo to put us 3-1 up. With all the subs used Columbian right winger John Cascavista pulled up after just five minutes in midfield that put the OBC under pressure at the end of the second half. A handling error from Mel gifted Ashtead a glimmer of hope but the OBC back line held up and soaked up the late pressure for a crucial win.

After escaping with a disappointing 3-3 draw at Old Bristolonians. Joicey wrung the changes at the back. Alistair Hann came in for Ben Ssebatta, Gary Nice made his first start since December for Liam Corbett, Joicey replaced Marc Stewart and Max retained his spot at left back. Across midfield Joe was placed wide right after getting two goals from midfield last week. Mark McEwan was partnered by young Geordie Nick Hudspith in central midfield after Nick impressed at training on Clapham Common the week before. Leroy Donald continued wide right. Up front Dean Barnes was partnered by Neil Sobers. Neil was still looking for his first goal since December.

The game kicked off with Norton on the attack early. Dean Barnes was played in straight away by Leroy from deep but Dean pulled his shot inches wide of the left hand post when he had only the keeper to beat. Moments later Mark McEwan found himself in a one on one with the keeper but elected to shoot early from the edge of the area. Mark’s shot went high and wide.

At the back Norton looked pretty solid and comfortable. Ally, Gary, Joicey and Max all made good starts to the game and this gave the midfield and the attack the platform to build on. Ashtead were restricted to the odd long shot and one free kick 30 yards out had Mel scrambling across his goal but the effort when just inches wide of the left hand post.

On the attack Norton always looked dangerous. An interchange of passing between Dean Barnes and Leroy Donald allowed Leroy to get to the by-line and put in a cross which Nick Hudspith was able to find himself unmarked and from six yards but Nick could not get enough power in his shot which allowed the Ashtead keeper to make a comfortable save. Moments later Joe got in on the act as he got to the goal line and fired a low ball across the six yards line but neither Neil nor Dean could get on the end of it

Nick was not to be denied though. Moments later Dean raced into the left hand side of the box and passed the ball to Mark. Mark scuffed his shot and Nick rushed into the box and he placed the ball into the roof of the net. A quality finish to put the OBC 1-0 up.

Norton kept on making chances and the best of them fell to Neil who managed to miss an open goal from two yards out as he blasted the ball off the underside of the bar after a quality left wing cross from Leroy. Had Neil side footed the ball it would have been a certain goal.

With just over half an hour on the OBC dominating the match and creating chances queue the mistake to let Ashtead into the game. Max allowed their nippy winger to get goal side of him as Max looked to push on; Max being too eager to join in the attacking football. The ball played through to the Ashtead player allowed him a free run on Mel’s goal. A powerful shot was initially well blocked by Mel but the rebound fell kindly and the forward tapped in for the equaliser. Poor positional play had let Ashtead back into the game and the goal gave them confidence.

Ashtead started to apply pressure and dominated the closing stages of the first half. Mark and Nick struggled hard to contain the Ashtead players as they started to chase the game often playing with only one or two at the back. Gary and Joicey made their tackles and headers and were solid in working together to repel the Ashtead advances. Ally and Max won their headers and tackles and there was no way through. Mel saved well from an effort from the edge of the area.

As the half drew to a close Norton won a corner. Mark crossed and Joicey powered a header goalwards but it went narrowly over the bar from eight yards out. Had the header been better placed it would have restored the Norton lead. Half time 1-1.

At half time Joicey said that Norton were creating the majority of chances but we were ruing the fact that yet again glorious chances were being spurned giving the opposition hope. A positional mistake allowed them to get back in the game and we had made life difficult for ourselves again. Joicey asked for more of the same but that we had to cut out the mistakes at the back and take our chances when we got them.

Norton started the second half in the manner of the first, utter domination. At the back Norton had not much to do. Up front the midfield continued to create chances. Neil was put through by a delightful diagonal through ball by Nick. Neil raced away but from a narrow angle powered his shot against the top of the cross bar.

Mark McEwan found himself one on one with the keeper but his first shot went tamely to the keeper, the rebound fell to Mark and he tried to walk the ball in. When Mark did get his second shot away again it was right at the keeper. It was not Mark’s day in front of goal.

Dean Barnes was played in twice and had two glorious chances to restore the lead but Dean fluffed both of his chances when he should have and could have done better. Frustration was starting to set in.

Joe nearly broke the deadlock as he dibbled his way into the Ashtead area and did a good one two with Neil but Joe unleashed a shot that the keeper did brilliantly to parry or the ball smacked the post and came out. It did not look as if it was going to be the forwards day.

Joicey made a double substitution to try galvanise the team. Jesse came on for the disappointed Neil. Both strikers were playing poorly considering the chances they were getting and Dean thought that he was going to come off. Joicey thought that Dean was more likely to get a goal than Neil so Neil was replaced. Joe who was playing well was replaced by John who impressed the previous game. Joicey wanted to see what the Columbian could do in his preferred position of wide right.

Jesse made an immediate impact by collecting a ball from Nick and playing in Dean on the left. Dean raced into the box, slowed to take the ball around the keeper and slotted home to put the OBC back in front. 2-1 Norton.

Dean doubled his tally in the space of two minutes when again he was set free on the left and from a tight angle finished in style to record his 29^th goal of the season. A superb finish and Norton were flying. Joicey brought on Swifty for Nick in midfield and Jesse was asked to drop deeper so that Norton close up shop.

John tried to get involved in the game but strained his hamstring within five minutes of him coming on and now Norton were in trouble. With being faced with 10 men Ashtead tried to get their way back into the game. Pressure began to mount but the back four did well to cope.

Ashtead managed to grab a goal back when a cross from the corner flag area on the left was curled into the box. Mel called and came for the ball so Ally and Gary moved out of the way. Mel could not get there and the forward got to the ball first and fired past the stranded Mel to gift them a second goal.

Despite being a man down the OBC still managed to carve out chances. Jesse played in Mark McEwan and the luckless Mark had his shot parried; Swifty collected the rebound and found that his well placed shot was blocked as well by the recovering keeper.

The referee played five minutes of injury time and Jesse nearly wrapped up the game when he found himself through on goal but a good driven shot went just wide of the left hand post. The game ended 3-2 to Norton.

Peter Joicey
09.03.2008