Teams

Pre-match banter was speculation on how often the teams would hit the woodwork after the ridiculous encounter a few weeks earlier which ended goalless and U18 Royals had hit the woodwork on 5 occasions.

The match started at a frenetic pace with the U17's coming close to breaking the deadlock in the fisrt 5 minutes when the striker found himself unmarked but shot over from close range.  However it did not take long to break the deadlock with Ted's beautiful swerving cross to the far post was headed past the keeper by a diving Alex.  Alex doubled the lead on 16 minutes, meeting Ben's long pass with a left footed volley just inside the area.

Those spectators looking forward to some post/crossbar action were not disappointed when Charlie's effrt cannoned off the post on 32 minutes.

After a very exciting first half, the game deteriorated as a spectacle in the 2nd half, with the U17's having more of the play and calling Sam into action on a couple of occasions.  There was time for the u18's to miss a penalty, before nerves were eased with Alex completing a hat-trick on 78 minutes after a fine individual run, to seal a 3-0 victory.  

This set up a very difficult looking semi-final against Basingstoke Town, the dominant team in the Division, and coincidentally our next League opponents.


 

After the Semi Final had been postponed the previous weekend, everyone was raring to go, in the biggest home match in the team's 11 year history.

On a boggy, but eminently playable pitch, Ashridhge sprung immediately into action and within 30 seconds the first corner of the game was headed agonisingly over the bar by Ben C.  Ashridge looked strong throughout the first half, dominating possession and territory, but without generating many chances against strong opponents.  Dom and Alex both came close when breaking into the penalty area with speed, but the breakthrough was eventually made by the visitors on 42 minutes, who won a naively conceded free kick 22 yards out.  The shot was well struck, and excellently saved by Sam only for the striker to be alert to the opportunity brought by the rebound and put the visitors ahead.

There was no panic at half time and the game continued to be closely fought.  Unfortunately the visitors doubled their lead within 15 minutes, with a well worked goal down their right flank.

The well drilled opponents managed the game well, conceding no space to the home team and forcing Ashridge into optimistic long balls.  Some free kicks came close, Peter had a scruffy goal disallowed, and there were several occasions when the final ball was not quite as good as it should have been.  Overall, it did not feel as though the elusive goal would come, and the dream of a Friday night under the floodlights as our swansong withered away.

We must remember that we did well to reach the semi final, and there is no shame in a narrow defeat to the League's stongest team.









 

The team travelled 27 miles to Teddington in the longest journey of the season.   An early goal was conceded raising fears that the early start allied to the energy sapping journey may lead to a diffciult day at the office.

In the event this was not the case at all, as the team turned in one of its best performances of the season to emerge victorious and raise the team to Joint 2nd in the League.

After this victory confidence was high ahead of the forthcoming Quarter Final against U17 Royals