Reserves 1 Ashford Town Reserves 2 Floodlit Cup

[BlueGate Alan]

On a windy evening at Hartsdown Park, both sides played some neat passing football but it was the young Ashford side who came away with the win scoring their second goal in the 90th minute.

 

Margate started with Mark Goodfellow and Dan Young in middle of defence to gain match fitness, Young being his first game since his bad shoulder injury suffered on Boxing Day. Roberto Corbishley and Matt Bowles in defence, Kiron Morris and Jake Eastwood in midfield and Nick Moir upfront all got much needed match play in too.

 

Corbishley and Jason McAree linked up well on the right during the first half causing the Ashford defence all sorts of problems with their runs and from one of these McAree forced a corner which the keeper fumbled but his defence managed to clear. Then in the 14th minute, against the run of play, Ashford broke on the left with Chris Shakalli and his cross eluded all the Margate defence to find the impressive Scott Penfold who hit the ball past the helpless Matt Bowles.

 

Penfold then went on a run and hit a powerful shot but Bowles threw himself at it to tip the ball over the bar. A minute later an Ashford corner was cleared by Goodfellow but the ball fell to Joe Collins 25 yards out who hit a shot just past the right post. In the 29th minute Nick Moir hit a good shot but Neil Manning saved well.

 

Jake Eastwood then got a shot on goal but was comfortably saved by Manning. Shannon McNamee then hit a powerful shot from 35 yards but straight into Manning's arms. Just before the break McAree capped a good first half display by threading a ball through to Moir but his place shot went over the bar.

 

Margate started second half well when Jake Eastwood strode towards goal but hit his shot wide of right post. McNamee then hit another long range shot wide. Moir then suffered a head injury in the 60th minute and had to be replaced by Kenny Pratt. Then in the 63rd minute Margate got some help from Ashford when a defender tried to head it back to his keeper only for the hard working Joe Taylor to nip in and excute a perfect lob over Manning to equalise.

 

That was to be Taylor's last part in the match being replaced by sixteen year old Sam Crompton. Corbishley then went on a great run and hit his shot which was deflected just over bar by the Ashford defence. Darryn Vanhinsberg replaced Morris who suffered a slight knock. These substitutions seemed to affect Margate's style of play and Ashford came back into game.

 

Penfold was, once again instrumental in this and his run on the right found James Humphrey on the edge of the area but he put his shot just wide of post. Then when a draw looked the outcome, Penfold picked up a ball on the edge of the area from a corner and he hit a strong low shot just inside the right hand post to score the winner and cap of a fine individual display. Margate still had time to nearly get the equaliser when McAree put over a free kick which Pratt rose to head into far left hand corner but Manning managed to fling himself across goal to save.

 

Team: Bowles, Corbishley, Gibson, Young, Goodfellow, McAree, Morris(Vanhinsberg 75th), Eastwood, Taylor(66th Crompton), Moir(Pratt 60th), McNamee. Subs not used Summers, Hoggart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CT9]

Must rate as the best £2 I've ever spent. Super football, great on the eye. Just can't believe at that price, and the standard of football on show, the ground wasn't packed to the rafters.

WELL DONE MARGATE and thankyou for a thoroughly entertaining night.

Our No 6, Jason McAree, definately one to watch. Instant touch, VERY quick feet (and I mean VERY QUICK), great interplay, strong in a challenge and didn't mind putting his head in when some others were raising their boots.

Our No 11, Shannon McNamee, another one to watch. Kept winning the ball all night in the middle of the pitch and playing it simple to feet.

[BlueGate Alan]

Agree Hippy, Jason had a great game I thought. Shannon always seems to play well when I have seen him, tough tackler and not afraid to shoot. As you say worth £2 of anyones money.

[michael]

Thanks for report-whilst we know some from the first team, the other names in the reserves are also becoming familiar now which must be good all round.

till can't see how that strong side lost-but again-thanks for the report

[BlueGate Alan]

They were unlucky Michael but i must say the young Ashford lads played well too, didnt stop running and chasing.

[Wellsie]

Match report now on offical web-site plus March fixtures also there.

[blueblood]

With the talent that is beginning to emerge from the hard work a of Mark W, Steve M, Tom H and the other youth coaches i feel we have a bright future, if we can hold it together and they are given the time. Given that time, four or five of this crop of players could join Louis Smith as fixtures in the first team. You aint got them now Ramsgate "WE HAVE". So this time "LET US KEEP THEM"

[michael]

Morris is a very good player who will get really really good imo.

 

Plus of course -week in,week out Bowles is in the squad, so thats one less player the gate have had to sign as we now have a home grown back upo keeper.

 

So thats smith and morris, and sounds as though there are a few following behind, so reserves are a success.