Ashford United 2-3 Broadbridge Heath

Our final match in our first ever season at Step 4 football in the Pitching In Isthmian League South East Division and what a season it has been for Chris Simmons, his management team and players who started the season with one objective, to maintain the Clubs status at this level.

For the trip Heath were without their Millwall loanee goalkeeper George Evans who picked up a knock during the Bears last match at home to Hythe Town, so regular keeper Alfie Hadfield stepped in despite still suffering with a thigh strain that has seen him miss the previous five games.

After a bright start the Bears took an early lead at the Homelands Stadium, when striker Ben Aubrey found space 6 yards from goal to head home Sam Lemons left wing cross past the Ashford goalkeeper Chiedoze Nwosu with 6 minutes on the clock.

The hosts responded well and Hadfield was forced to make a good save, low to his left to deny Stanley Skipper and minutes later the Heath stopper cleared away a Robbie Rees effort off the goal-line.

But it was the Bears who scored next to extend their lead midway through the half when Ashley Mutongerwa’s left foot shot was deflected wide for a corner, Jamie Chesworth played the ball into the area to Kyle Sim who rose above everyone to guide a header into the top left corner.

The hosts reduced the deficit 2 minutes later when David Ozobia found space down the left and played the ball across the face of goal to Lanre Azeez running in at the far post who converted from close range.

The hosts drew level 3 minutes before half-time when a Hadfield clearance was picked up in the centre-circle by Skipper who advanced forward before picking out the run of Ozobia, wide on the right, who struck a low right foot shot past the Heath keeper into the net 2-2 at the break.

Heath created the first opening of the second half when Mutongerwa received the ball in the ‘D’ from Lemon and hit a right foot shot that was deflected wide for a corner.

The best opportunity from Ashford came on 70 minutes when a ball was played between two Heath defenders to Azeez, 18 yards from goal but the striker’s right foot shot flew over the bar and the stand behind the goal too.

The winning goal came on 79 minutes when the ball was played up to Jamie Buchanan with his back to goal and some 30 yards out, as he tried to control the ball on his chest he was flattened from behind by a clumsy Tolulope Jonah challenge. Mason Doughty stepped up to take the free-kick which he played wide right, over the defence where it was met by the right boot of Calum Dowdell running in from wide, the striker’s first touch since coming on as a substitute and he placed his shot, low and wide of Nwosu to regain the lead for the Bears.

Heath almost added a fourth in the closing stages when Lemon won the ball off a defender and struck a right foot shot from 20 yards that came off the crossbar and out to safety. Minutes later the Heath striker was again in action when he got round a defender, cut inside from the left and hit a left foot shot with the outside of his boot that flew inches wide of the post.

So a well deserved win and 3 points for the Bears who finish the season in 9th place, the teams highest ever placing, a tremendous achievement for all involved in the club.

Team: Hadfield, Sim, Chesworth (Buchanan 51), Penfold, Bromage, Brackpool, Mutongerwa (Parmiter 62), Aubrey (Dowdell 75), Lemon, L. Evans, Doughty.