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ASHFORD TOWN 0 - 0 WHYTELEAFE
Saturday 22nd November 2008
Ryman League Division 1 South
Whyteleafe travelled to league draw specialists Ashford who have drawn 50% of their league matches this season. Conditions were difficult with a strong wind blowing and with only a point between the sides in the league, a close contest was always on the cards. Both sides also had new keepers on show they were also keen to impress.
'Leafe kicked into the wind in the first half and were up against it for most of the first 45 minutes. Their first attack came after six minutes when a quick free kick set Ronnie Green off down the right, but his dangerous cross was headed clear.
At the other end, Claude Seanla was through in the twelth minute but denied a shooting opportunity by a great saving tackle from Adam Broomhead. Ten minutes later Jimmy Elford released Paul Jones who took the ball round Matthew Mann but Ali Reeve made a great tackle and then Sol Patterson-Bohner slid in to clear at the far post as the ball headed towards the goal line.
Jones was clear again in the 27th minute and Broomhead once more provided the important saving tackle. A minute later Mitchell Sherwood broke clear, and he too went past Mann, but lost control of the ball before he could shoot into the empty net. Five minutes later Jones sent Jimmy Bottle off on a run. He pulled it back to Ryan Briggs who shot just wide.
Right on half time, the hosts wasted another great chance when a cross from substitute Tony Brown found Jones unmarked at the far post but he headed wide of he target.
The visitors came out in the second half and immediately looked a better side. With the strong wind now behind them, they pushed forward more readily and even more so after the introduction of Alhajie Jabbie who had returned to the club after a short break.
Andrew Martin was brought down in the 56th minute and Steve McNamara took the free kick. It came back out to McNamara and his curling cross was agonisingly just out of reach of the head of Broomhead. A minute later Jabbie made a strong run into the box and played a neat one-two with Denva McKenzie before shooting just wide.
Ashford's only decent chance of the half came in the 59th minute when Craig Wilkins shot on the turn from a Briggs cross was well saved by Mann. A minute later McKenzie's header from a McNamara cross was saved by Seb Barton. In the 80th minute Jason Goodchild put Jabbie through and his shot forced Barton into making a tremendous save.
Jabbie was brought down on the edge of the box in the 86th minute and McNamara's free kick deflected off the wall for a corner.
In the final minute, Martin went clear down the right, but his cross come shot was too strong and went to safety.
All in all a good point for Leafe with a decent performance in testing conditions.
Whyteleafe: Mann, Patterson-Bonher, McNamara, Reeve , Broomhead, Goodchild, Green (Jabbie 56), Smith, McKenzie (Murray-Price 76), Martin, Harney.
NB. click on thumbnail for full size picture
Taffs grabs |
Robbie Smith |
Steve McNamara |
Taff |
Ashford skies I |
Ashford skies II |
Ashford skies III |
Ashford skies IV |
Smiling through |