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ASHFORD TOWN 0 CRAY WANDERERS 2 Ryman League Division One South – Tuesday 4 March 2008 Match Report by Trevor Mulligan
This was a much more spirited nuts and bolts performance by Cray, although amongst the heavy snowfall and arctic temperature, it did take them time to settle down. Early moves broke down on the edge of the 18-yard box. Up the other end, Glen Knight did enough to ensure there was no way through for the Ashford players, whilst at the same time keeping himself warm in the coldness that was Kingsnorth.
Cray’s first real chance did not come until the 28th minute. A cross-field ball from Ryan Royston found Colin Luckett in space on the left flank. His run on goal ended when he could only feebly shoot at his target, due mainly to the fact that he was being physically held back by his Ashford marker, an offence that went unnoticed by referee Tony Power. Barely a minute later, Michael Power found space on the left, but his cross-shot went narrowly past the far post.
The Wanderers’ reward came in the 36th minute when Ross Lover found Power with a superb through ball from midfield. Despite being held back by Nicky Humphrey, he was resilient enough to hold off the unfair challenge to run on and hammer the ball past Jamie Riley. Two minutes later, Knight saved well at the feet of Mark Lovell. This was followed shortly afterwards by Lover effecting a fingertip save by Riley, the ball bouncing onto the crossbar and away from incoming Cray players.
The Wands soaked up some early Ashford pressure in the second period. The home team had several half-chances but failed to worry Knight.
As the game wore on, it was becoming apparent that Ashford would fail to breach the tight Cray defence, whereas nearer to the Ashford goal a neat move involving Power, Aaron Day and Lover in the 61st minute resulted in the latter’s goalbound shot deflecting away for a corner off the unsuspecting Riley’s foot.
Efforts by Power, Lover and Lewis Wood all failed to make a lasting impression as Cray sought to increase their slender but comfortable lead. It was, however, inevitable that it would take a special kind of magic for Cray to score again, and for this they have Lover to thank. With Ashford players surrounding him a la Little Big Horn style, Lover delivered a delicate chipped ball over everyone’s head to the far corner of the net in the 84th minute.
At that point, and knowing that there was no way back for their team, all but the die-hard Ashford supporters who had shared the wintry conditions – along with their counterparts from Cray – started to vacate the ground.
This was a fine victory in difficult conditions for the Wands and keeps them well on course for leapfrogging over Tooting and into the number two league position.
Cray Wanderers: Knight, Day, Luckett, Chapman, Willy, Royston, Lover, Aris, L. Wood, Power (Whitnell 87), J. Wood (capt).
Subs not used: Sterling, Cottrell, Morris, Hall.
Forever Amber Man-of-the-Match: Ross Lover
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