ASHFORD TOWN (Mx) 3 HORSHAM 0

ASHFORD TOWN:
1.Paul Burgess 2.Vinnie O'Sullivan 3.Darren Deegan 4.Russell Canderton 5.Ricky Wellard (Weight) 6.Adam Logie 7.Paul Johnson 8.Gavin Bamford 9.Gavin Smith (Jon Palmer) 10.Scott Todd 11.Warren Harris (Goggin) Subs: 12.Wes Goggin 14.Jon Palmer 15.Byron Harrison 16.Scott Weight 17.Craig Palmer
Scorers: Johnson (41), Harris (42), Wellard (89)

HORSHAM:
1.Alan Mansfield 2.Kevin Hemsley 3.Matt Geard 4.Eddie French 5.Tom Graves 6.Stuart Myall 7.Danny Davis 8.Gavin Bolger 9.Lee Farrell 10.Simon Austin 11.Dwain Clarke Subs: 12.Andy Howard 14.Jacob Mingle 15.Mark Hawthorne 16.Steve Davies 17.Paul Seuke

reporter: Mark Wells

Ashford Town gained swift revenge for their recent loss at the Atspeed Stadium with a 3-0 win that moves the Middlesex club to within 2 points of their promotion rivals whose own play-off hopes faltered with this disappointing defeat.

The Hornets were 2-1 winners in a closely fought encounter, just 17 days ago, and looked the better of two evenly matched sides throughout the first half but were undone by two goals in as many minutes, shortly before the interval, and their failure to take advantage of the second half dismissal of Ashford’s Gavin Bamford saw them punished further when Ricky Wellard raced half the length of the pitch to slam home a third goal in the closing stages to secure the Tangerines’ second 3-0 win in four days.

After Saturday’s stunning win at AFC Wimbledon, John Maggs’ side must have fancied their chances of a fourth victory in six seasons at Short Lane, despite missing several key personnel. Lewis Taylor’s name was added to the list of injured absentees that also included Lee Carney, Nigel Brake, Gary Charman and Paul Seuke while Matt Geard’s selection came despite suffering a bruised foot and Jacob Mingle’s troublesome toe restricted his appearance to that of substitute in name only. The heavy spate of injuries meant a recall for former Worthing man Danny Davis in the midfield as the Hornets looked to spoil one of the best home records in the division with a win that would virtually put paid to the hosts’ promotion chances for another year. But there was no underestimating the difficulty of the task with Mark Butler’s side having lost just three times on their own soil all season, the most recent coming as far back as October, and boasting a run of 6 successive home wins.

A cagey opening from both sides saw the visitors create the first threat on goal when Bamford cleared Tom Graves’ header off the line after just three minutes and the Tangerines’ skipper was in the right place again, moments later, when he blocked a shot from Simon Austin. For the home side, Warren Harris provided a lively outlet on the right flank and he was unfortunate to overrun the ball after tricking his way past Geard and Tom Graves before some comical defending saw Paul Johnson blaze over the crossbar from close range with Alan Mansfield shuffling along his line like a goalkeeper in a game of table football as the ball rococheted around inside his penalty area.

The home supporters were in good voice, providing their side with plenty of vocal encouragement, even if their stereotypical repertoire did appear to have been taken from a 1980s terrace songbook. By contrast, the travelling fans barely raised more than a lone voice as they spread out around Ashford's tidy ground. The away fans raised the noise levels briefly after 18 minutes, though, when Kevin Hemsley stooped low to meet Stuart Myall's free-kick and send a glancing header inside the near post only for the linesman’s flag to rule the goal out for a narrow offside call. Minutes later, it was Myall who was thwarted when goalkeeper Paul Burgess kept out his far post header from Dwain Clarke’s corner. Lee Farrell was then denied in a purple patch for the visitors when Saturday’s two goal hero turned sharply on to Davis’ pass to send in a fierce shot that Burgess managed to beat away at his near post.

Davis was off target after collecting Myall’s quickly taken free-kick as the chances continued to fall Horsham’s way but they were hit by the sucker punch, just four minutes before the break, when a push by Myall presented Ashford with a free-kick, some twenty yards from goal, and Johnson’s delivery crept inside the far post despite the unmarked Gavin Smith appearing to claim the final touch. Worse was to follow for the Hornets when they promptly conceded another from Ashford’s next attack. From the restart, Davis conceded possession to Scott Todd and Ashford won themselves a corner. Another good cross from Johnson saw Smith climb highest to power in a header that was spectacularly pushed away by Mansfield only for Russell Canderton to thrash the loose ball goalwards where it entered the back of the net via a fortuitous deflection off Harris. Horsham were stunned. Having created the better chances, they had somehow contrived to go 2-0 behind and it might have been worse when Austin needlessly fouled Darren Deegan on the left-hand touchline and Todd’s free-kick saw Mansfield beaten again only, this time, Gavin Smith's nicely taken effort was ruled out for offside.

The Hornets managed to survive further punishment before the referee's whistle sent both sides off for their respective team talks.

H/T Ashford Town 2 Horsham 0

An early corner for the home side saw Canderton volley harmlessly over the top but Horsham might have reduced the deficit just before the hour mark when a patient build up saw Myall spread the ball wide to Hemsley whose deep cross was fired low and hard across the face of goal by Clarke but just too far ahead of the predatory Farrell.

The visitors' frustrations were obvious and Rob Frankland was sent from the bench after a war of words with referee Wheeler. The Hornets assistant coach might well have had a grievance with the official but his irritation was undoubtedly a reaction to Horsham's inability to establish a foothold in the game in the second period and Maggs and co would have been less than impressed when Todd broke free to set up Johnson who wasted a golden opportunity to extend the home side's lead when he shot well wide of the target with only Mansfield to beat.

Horsham received a further let off, on 66 minutes, when Smith intercepted a pass from Hemsley and sent Todd clear once more. As the striker bore down on goal, he opted against the square pass to the supporting Smith, choosing instead to try his luck from the angle and Mansfield was able to get enough contact on the ball to deflect it against the upright and back in to the grateful 'keeper's arms, much to Smith's annoyance.

More indecision in the Horsham rearguard saw Harris steal the ball away from Hemsley but Ricky Wellard's effort flew wide of Mansfield's right-hand post before a flare-up involving Geard and Todd saw the game held up for 5 minutes with players from both sides becoming embroiled in an unsavoury melee. Todd's theatrical dive, when tussling for possession with Geard, incensed the Horsham man who made his feelings known to his opponent. Bamford saw red in more ways than one when he lashed out at Geard and was dismissed while Smith was fortunate to remain on the pitch after pushing Graves to the floor under the noses of the match officials. After lengthy conversations with his assistants, Mr Wheeler brandished yellow cards to Geard and Todd before restarting play with a free-kick in Horsham's favour.

However, despite the numerical imbalance favouring the visitors, Ashford continued to threaten and Adam Logie saw a goal chalked off for offside after heading Todd's  free-kick past Mansfield. Farrell was cautioned for deliberate handball but the Hornets were gradually beginning to create a number of chances and Myall saw his sweetly struck shot just clear the crossbar with ten minutes remaining. Gavin Bolger's neat turn almost created an opening for Farrell but the striker was well marked and the ball fell comfortably for Burgess but a goal then might have provided an exciting finale.

A long throw from Myall saw Clarke's header cleared from under the crossbar by Canderton while, at the other end, Mansfield spread himself well to deny Harris after a quick breakaway. The dangerous winger was then replaced by Wes Goggin before the impressive Wellard collected a loose ball inside the centre circle and set off on a 30 yard run, twisting away from Austin and sending a fine left foot shot past Mansfield to give the scoreline a rather flattering look to it. Wellard limped off shortly after but he could be pleased with his night's work as his side moved up to 7th in the table and, with 3 of their remaining 5 games at home, the Tangerines might feel justifiably confident of claiming one of the four play-off places come the end of April. Whether Horsham can join them depends on how quickly Maggs can get his wounded players back on the pitch but, with another 12 points still to play for, promotion remains firmly in their own hands.

NEXT MATCH: v Harlow Town (h) Saturday 5th April ko 3.00pm