Ash Trees 1 Blues 2

[Swifty]

Desperate.

 

I'm glad it was 'pay what you want' before the game and not after, as I dread to think what the club would have received following that display. We battled well for the first half hour and then...nothing. Switched off. Lost the plot. Deserved to lose.

 

Bitz took his goal well - a hint of offside, perhaps, but you play to the whistle and see what happens. Kofi then scuffed a chance horribly wide when, had it gone in, that would have been 2-0 and the game by the scruff of the neck. For some reason, we just played like androids for the last hour. We were beaten by a team who knew how to push, nudge and kick you off the ball and get away with it, but they showed application and determination. If we lose like that to a team like North Greenford United, thank God we weren't playing a team like Rugby Town who'd have ripped us to shreds.

 

The worst player on the pitch for the first 43 minutes (North Greenford's football-avoiding number 3) turned out to be the best striker on either side, scoring a well taken goal just before half time and hitting the winner just after the break, when Tyler made a complete hash of a clearance. A shame, because Tyler made two very good saves and two excellent reflex saves to keep us in the game, while we failed to bring a decent save out of their keeper all match.

 

In my view, the only players to come off that pitch with any real credit were Tyler, Sammy (who we failed to use properly in the second half), Robbo, and Harry, who slotted in really well. If this and last Saturday are the shape of things to come, this will be a long and very hard season. Maybe we need to mix things up and give players like Elliott and Javan a chance to shine. Too many players don't seem to be trying right now. We've been in worse scrapes in the past, but we can't afford to let things slide.

 

By the way, I want the team to make me eat my words. I'd be happy to do so.

 

[ExCalibur]

After watching a dour FA cup tie last week I was buoyed by the fact that we could return to winning ways by beating NGU.

 

However when you have two forwards who can't head the ball and statues in midfield and a dire defence you start to wonder what could have been.

 

North Greenford looked a young attacking side and could have punished us a lot more but like us missed a few chances and both keepers made good saves.

 

Our three substitutes should all be in the next starting line-up as they could have changed the game given more time especially as they had added some much needed fighting spirit.

 

As to the bench unless the wind was blowing in the wrong direction I didn't hear much encouragement from that quarter.

 

 

 

 

[lazarus]

Still no web site access so here is my summary:

 

It is early days but unless Ashford can get their stuttering season underway, they will be facing a relegation battle.  Better things were expected on Saturday, following the midweek FA Cup win, but a disappointing performance saw the Short Lane side capitulate to a much improved North Greenford United by two goals to one.

 

Everything started well and Mark Bitmead, ruled just onside, curled a fine early effort past Lee Pearce in the Greenford goal.  Instead of pushing on though, Ashford seemed content to sit on their lead and any number of chances were spurned by the visitors before they equalised and it was an awful goal to concede from Ashford’s point of view.  Russell Canderton was penalised for handball and the resulting free kick into inexplicable areas of space allowed Laim Hinds to beat Canderton to the ball and score with ease.

 

Further disaster struck two minutes after the interval.  Tyler Tobin had once again produced some superb saves but possibly showed his inexperience when, having gathered the ball, he attempted to roll it out to a team mate but it was still a crowded area and the ball tweaked off a visiting player, bouncing nicely for Hinds to calmly lob the ball into an empty net.

 

And that was it.  Pearce had to be sharp once or twice but Ashford never really looked like retrieving the situation and North Greenford were deserved winners.

 

There is no midweek 1^st Team action so the next senior match is on Saturday, when Ashford go to Hampton & Richmond Borough in the FA Cup.  A much improved performance will be required if it is not to be the end of Ashford’s participation for this season.

 

There was no good news either from the Suburban side yesterday as they lost to Walton & Hersham by three goals to two, despite leading 2-1 at one point.  Both Ashford goals though came from Alf Kpunpamo.

 

This week’s football sees two matches at Short Lane.  On Monday evening, the Under-18’s entertain Hayes & Yeading whilst on Wednesday the Suburban side are now at home to Tooting & MItcham United Res.  Both games kick off at 7.45 p.m.

[SlimBoyFat]

Many thanks to all who supported our "pay as much as you want" experiment for Non-League Day. Although not as successful as Beano and I would have liked in attracting new support, we only took slightly less on the gate than last weeks FA Cup tie so not a complete disaster. 

 

As to the game I think the above comments are a bit harsh, we could have been home and hosed in the first half hour when we played some very good football and carved NGU open. I though the back four played ok considering it was Harry's first game and he and Russell will need time together. Having said that I thought Harry, Tyler, Alex, Robbo, Samad and Bitz all had pretty good games. To say our forwards can head a ball is laughable as Kofi won most of the headers he went in for today and made some great flick ons, one leading to Bitz's goal, 

 

Terrell had an off day but we know what he can do and hopefully he's saved it all up for next week. 

 

Oh and I was directly in llne and Bitz was ONSIDE when Kofi flicked the header on. 

 

Disappointing but not all doom and gloom. 

 

SBF

[fatboyatmfc]

Very disappointing last hour. There seemed to be a lack of fight which is worrying.

 

We are simply conceding far to many chances in every game and had we been playing top teams no doubt we would have been punished heavily.

 

I agree with SBF. Kofi was a real handful and won a lot in the air. But he needs decent service.

 

Lets hope we can improve and start moving up the table.

[TangerineAsh]

I'm not sure if we are watching the same games

 

I know being a staunch supporter comes with rose tinted glasses, but there is no way anyone visiting RPS can be happy with the spectacles we have been dealt.

 

The line up has now been given ample opportunity to bed themselves in and develop a style of play, too many first team regulars (in my opinion) are assured of their starting place and development of the team and a club as a whole is going to be based on how long this loyalty continues

[manurgrate]

I have to agree with Tangerine Ash. There are very few positives to be taken from yesterday's game, all sections of the team, defence ( with the exception of Tyler), the midfield and forwards were poor.

As an Ashford supporter, I would prefer to post positive views, but sometimes you just have to face up to facts. We are not playing well and especially worrying is the lack of team spirit. One of our players said after the match that it was an unhappy dressing room, by which I presumed he meant that players were having a pop at each other.

 

It is too early to talk about relegation battles but we are in a mini- crisis, which needs addressing. The team needs to be strengthened and quick.

[fatboyatmfc]

I think plans are afoot to strengthen the squad.

 

I would like to see Joe Lynch given a go. He seems to be the type to play without fear and is a real pest to the opposition.

Positives yesterday were Harry Roberts and Tyler Tobin who looked at home. Tyler will learn from his error but also needs to remember the half a dozen excellent saves he has produced in the 2 games.

 

I am sure the management are working to put things right. Hopefully, we can still get behind the team, who only a few days ago gave everything to secure a win at Bishops Cleeve.

[Steve McC]

i think standing on the terraces, we can make a huge impact on how a player feels and therefore plays........with the abuse that bits got last saturday from a guy behind me, i wonder why he still plays for ashford.

 

yesterday i was at staines, they were not playing well in the first half, the reaction from the crowd was completely different than at ashford, they encouraged their side. im sure a stirring team talk at half time had the desired effect and they bounced back to win 2-1 against a really organised side, it could have been more than 2-1.

 

im not sure its about rose tinted glasses, just if you treat someone in a positive manner, you get more out of them......we can do that. 

 

Steve

[Swifty]

As you probably know, Steve, I never criticise a player by name on the terraces, as I feel it's counter-productive. I also encourage them by name when I think they've done something good, and I did that several times yesterday. There was actually very little anger directed at the players from the terraces, and we did our best, but the performance was very flat and hugely frustrating from the half hour mark.. It seems that, following my forum-fuelled opinion of a very disappointing performance, others have decided to follow suit and, in the main, confirm my viewpoint.

[manurgrate]

Things must have changed at Staines! I haven't been to Wheatsheaf Lane( I know we are supposed to call it Park but old habits die hard)but it was only the away fans that created any atmosphere. I remember hearing plenty of moans and groans from the fans when they weren't playing well.

 

By and large Ashford fans do support their team but will let their displeasure known if they feel that they are being shortchanged. For instance after matches, we generally congregate to applaud both teams off the pitch even when we lose. That isn't happening as much because rightly or wrongly the fans don't believe that the team is giving 100%.

 

Finishing on a positive note, a couple of good results and the mood within the club will change for the better.

[Swifty]

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have this management team and squad than what we suffered at the club three years ago. Now that really was bleak!

[Steve McC]

I wasn't talking about atmosphere, but more on remarks by individuals

To be honest with clubs at our level there are too few supporters to creat much in the way of atmosphere, as a result comments from individuals shouting can be heard more.

[Steve McC]

I think swiftly you're observation was spot on from what I've read here about Saturdays game, but never at anytime did I question it, I simply observed that if we were more posative, then so others may be too ie players.

[lazarus]

I've read all the comments, esp about Manurgrate's old habits.  Certainly true when it comes to the bar.

 

In seriousness, perhaps it should be put behind us now and all our supporters get along to Hampton on Saturday for the FA Cup match and give the team 100% support.  We are the underdogs with nothing to lose but don't forget that we have the same squad that outplayed Staines a few weeks ago and a win on Saturday will go a long way in kick starting the season.

[fatboyatmfc]

Agreed!

 

Come on boys, lets ave em!!

[Beano]

I think this has been a good thread. There have been some strong opinions expressed, which is what a Forum is all about, but some constructive points as well.

 

I think Steve's right in that, when we get the crowds we do, remarks aimed at specific players during matches will potentially have a greater effect on performance because they're more likely to be heard. That's not to say that I don't expect people not to express their views or that, when performances are not as good as any of us would like, that we cannot express that, but maybe those of us on the terraces can do a little bit to raise the spirits of the team during matches.

 

The Hampton game is a good opportunity to get the recent league matches out of the collective system. I'm not going to be there, but I hope it is a good afternoon from our perspective.

[Swifty]

I agree, this has been an honest and cathartic thread.

 

Bearing in mind the underdog tag and the criticism ringing in their ears, I reckon this is the perfect platform for a 'we'll show you' performance from the lads at H&RB. 

 

I'll be elsewhere on Saturday, but I hope to get the chance to cheer the lads on either at Chertsey or in the hard-earned replay on Tuesday.