Division One - Ash United 3 Fleet Spurs 0 (03/01/22)
This was a strange game, which started off as though it was going to be a very close affair. However a spell of three minutes just before the half-hour mark proved disastrous for Spurs. They were reduced to nine men and went 2-0 down so Ash were certain winners, barring some remarkable turn of fortune (a plague of locusts, perhaps, or a lightning bolt from heaven, or the Conservatives losing North Shropshire). It was perhaps surprising that Fleet only conceded one further goal, but that was due, not to a miracle, but to brave and determined defence by the nine visitors, for which they deserve great credit. Also the Green Army understandably appeared to have taken their collective foot of the gas.
Spurs for once began the game playing neat and constructive football and having most of the possession. Their promise during this period was cut short after eight minutes when Conor Allison’s attempted clearance was blocked by Harley Webster, who was able to control the ball and send a superb lob over Aaron Bufton and under the visitors’ crossbar. Quarter of an hour later, the tricky Ash striker Zac Aubrey-Simpson ran on to a through ball and was brought down by the unfortunate Allison. The referee deemed this a clear goal-scoring opportunity and had no alternative to dismissing the Spurs defender. Three minutes later, Aubrey-Simpson made another mazy run into the home box but his goal-bound shot hit Jayson Dalton on the hand. The current interpretation of the Laws of the game is that the referee must award a penalty kick and dismiss the culprit, as his hand was away from his body. That is what the official did, and after home skipper Jordan Devanney’s emphatic spot kick, the Greens were not only two goals to nil up, but also 11 players to nine.
After a short period of reflection, the visiting management decided to move to 4-4-0. To the best of my knowledge even Pep Guardiola has never used this formation, although maybe he’s never managed a team that was two players down. Anyway, it proved effective, limiting Ash to a very small number of second-half chances, one of which was accepted in the sixth minute of the half by right-back Ryan Green. He met a left-wing cross with an unstoppable right-foot drive just inside the far post. After that, the Spurs defence held firm, allowing the Greens very few goal chances. They were even able to make a few half-chances on their rare breaks but not to convert any. The game ended with a deserved 3-0 home victory.
Spurs’ next game is on Saturday when they entertain Ringwood Town (kick-off 3:00). They will hope to play as they did in the first few minutes of the Ash game, combined with the spirit that they showed after going 2-0 down.
