Ashford Cavaliers 4 - 3 Brabourne

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With 2 disapointing results in the league already this year this game took on extra meaning. Win and cavaliers are back on track lose well it wasn't worth thinking about. We turned up to a frozen pitch and parts looking like a mountain range (moll hills) so we took to the pitch with a shoval , fork and hockey sticks. We put the kick off back to 11 to give the sun a chance to de-frost the pitch. Luckerly by 11 the pitch was just about playable and most players from both teams were happy to play the game. We were soon blaming the pitch for their first goal with the ball bouncing higher then normAL off the ground and over tommy into the goal. It wasn't long before we were back level thanks to some great play down the wing from Simon ( leathal ) Farrel and then crossing for young Reece to make it 2 in as many games for him, and what a good finish it was driving the ball into the bottom corner.
Some more magic from Simon made for the second yet again crossing from the wing this time Gomez on the end to continue his inpressive scoring rate. At half time we were looking good and should have gone on to win the match confotable. But yet again we came out slow like so many times before and it wasn't long before a long ball split are defence and their striker ran through and finished well. We didn't learn and we were soon behind for the second time in the game as one ball again beat our defence and their player finished well again. Dale then mixed it up going 3-5-2 ( which some of us believe we are better playing ) and it wasn't long before it payed off. Cook who had a solid game found himself over the half way line and played a well timed ball through to Dunc who made no mistake in finishing taking his tally to 7 for the season.
we were now pressing for the winner and Doug who had another good game provided the cross for Gomez to head home after showing good streaght in the air. We played out the last of the game looking in control and managed to see our lead held to the final whistle. Some say the match shouldnt of been played from Cavaliers point of view it was a much needed win and will be the kick start we need to start our new unbeatun run

Perry MOM goes to Reece who is fast improving and starting to show why he should play week in week out and is giving Dale and Gavin a harder time to pick who plays.

 

Ashford Cavaliers 3 - 4 Parm Farm

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We went into this game knowing a win would put us back on track, and who better then park farm to beat. The figure is fast turning into a classic match up with games never duel and both set of players giving it everything to win this epic battle. We started well and with Gomez and Doug starting their first game upfront together this season hopefully we have seen the start of something. Doug had what some of us would say was his best 45minutes this season in the first half. Holding the ball up well and knocking some great balls through for Gomez. If it wasnt for Gomez lack of match play he may of returned the favour more then once. Park Farm offered little thret in the first half. With most of the problems at the back being brough on by our selfs. We got to half time 2-0 up and deserved with some good football at times. Gomez first scoreing after some great link up play with Doug and then reece firing home from a tight angle. We came out a different team as did Parm Farm. We started slow and let Park Farm back in the game early though our lack of concentration. And it wasn't long until they were level through the goal of the game. We failed to close their player down outside our box and we soon payed after a 25 yard rocket left Tommy with no chance. Dale and Gav thought it was time to mix it up. Even after the subs the game was much more open. Then due to failing to clear a simple front post corner the ball rolled to their player 2 yards out and he taped in we now found our selfs behind. Finally for the first time in the second half we put more then 3 passes together and through Gomez again equaled things up. There was still one more twist as we had a corner there defence cleard their lines and there left back broke from his own box we all the way up the other end skiped past 4 of our players to then fire into the back of the net with the last meaningful kick of the game.

MY MOM goes to Aaron who had a stand out game and was one of few to have a good attitude while on the pitch.

 

Newchurch 1 - 0 Ashford Cavaliers

 

We went down to New romney to face Newchurch not having played for 2 months and it showed in the first half. With everyone of the pace we struggaled to string a few passes together. Newchurch scored towards the end of the first half from a corner. The ball came in and poor defending led to one of their players being able to hook the ball towards the top corner leaving Tommy no chance. We re-grouped at half time and we came out a different team. We pressed higher up the pitch in search of the much needed goal. Tommy made a great save in goal as one of their players was 1 on 1. And up the other end our best chance fell to Doug. After a massive kick from Tommy in goal Doug did well to gamble and found himself clear through but fired just wide. As we looked for an opening we brough on Gav in midfield and Gomez upfront for his first league game of the season. Even with the changes we could not find an opening with a couple of half chances the best we could come up with. As the game went on the effort got better but this was a clear case of to little to late. Kev has a solid game at the back and the rest of the defence did well. The midfield all had a game to forget with Simon probably doing the best out of the 4 with some nice footwork. And we were unable to feed Doug and Stu enough chances as they found themselfs cut off for most of the game. We need to stay focused we still have 13 league left to shape our season!!! And are well in the title race. We all need to show a passion to play and a desire to WIN !!!

 

 

Ashford Cavaliers 8 - 1 Ashford Eagles

Again we said hello to ashford eagles, only this time in the charity trophy. i clearly explained what i wanted before the game and i eventually got it. we started well, so much better than last week, we pushed forward positivly and looked dangerous, our reward was an own goal, from a chris barker throw. but as last week the score become 1-1, when their forwards were quicker to the rebound, from a fine save from joe. Half time was only seconds away when dunc(following my instructions) scored a beauty from all of 25 yards.

  The seconed half we bought on Aaron for his debut, and a fine one it was, The tie was soon over when reece got his head onto the ball to direct it home. Stuart scored one, which should of been three, but at least he getting the chances, like all my forwards. Spencer was introduced just before stu scored, for the hardworking doug, and he also got on the scoresheet. Perry got in on the show with a tap in from all of 2 yards, Dunc got his 2nd from the spot, after simon had been bought down not once but twice.Spencer finished the days scoring on 77 minutes. a pleasing performance, shame it was 7 days to late, perry got mom, for his non stop running, maybee a mid-field shuffle is required

                  Dale

 

Ashford Cavaliers 1 - 1 Ashford Eagles

we welcolmed eagles to goldwyn full of confidence after two good wins. still missing long term injured matt gomez and james edwards, they were joined by tommy taylor allowing joe to step up. we started very slow and too casual, we struggled to put two passes together and didn't get our wide players involved enough, something i'm looking at trying to change this week, when our opponents come back for the charity trophy game.

     The game itself was not a classic, although we created a few chances simon, duncan and our two forwards left their shooting boots at home, as we didn't even test their gk. Duncan perhaps the most guilty when he didn't score when one on one with the keeper. the seconed half was a repeat of the first, with eagles looking the more likely to open the scoring, which they did. even losing one nil, we struggled to play our usual football game. although sub chris barker did hit the crossbar with a 30 yard free kick.  we had a couple of scrambles before dunc poked one in at the near post. That is how it ended, possibly two dropped points, but we shall see. Looking to play a little differently this week. my mom went to joe, who made 3/4 great saves. well done joe,

                Dale  

Ashford Cavaliers 3 Bliby Reserves 1

We welcomed our fellow promoted friends from Bliby to goldwyn on sunday. I warned the players that Bliby hadn't forgot our cup final win last season, and that they would play their usual hard tackling and pressing game. We started slowly and made too many silly mistakes in silly areas, allowing Bliby two good chances, that they really should of scored from, tommy saving us on one occasion.

    Once we had settled down and started to play our football, we was never in danger of losing the game, Doug putting us one up with a well calculated overhead kick, Spencer putting us two up with another goal of the season contender. The half finished with us in total control.

     Not much needed to be said at half time, just that we needed to carry on as we finished the first half, but not to relax too much. The second half was much the same and we had many half chances to add to our tally, also having an obvious penalty turned away. Final score was a 3-1 victory, Doug getting his second.

    Really pleased with my three forwards who have now hit seven in two games. Very pleased with the whole squad as it's proving very easy to change personel and formations during a game. Only sour note was a hand injury sustained by Tommy ruling him out of sundays game. We hope it doesn't turn out to be to serious, but this will give young Joe his chance to shine.

My MOM went to Mark Fuller, who impressed in the mid-field holding role.

Ashford Cavaliers 5 – 1 Burton Grove

 After the disappointment of not playing last week we looked forward to our first game of the season, even with a few players out injured we had more than 15 players available for Sunday, like the start of last season we were going to have good players on the bench. So when the starting line up got read out they knew they were going to have to perform well to keep their places in the team.

We started well and set the tone for the rest of the game, the pre season friendly’s looked to have helped players understand their roles in the formation set out, even with the addition of a few older heads we still had the energy to get up and down the pitch. We got an early goal thanks to stu’s alertness and some pretty poor defending. The goal settled the team down and we started to push for a second. A great ball from Perry put Spencer through and from 25 yards he rattled the crossbar. Despite our hard work and cook and mark holding off the other teams strikers we went into halftime only 1-0 up.

 Little was said at half-time and not much was needed to be. The message was simple keep focused and keep working and the rest will fall in place.

We started the second half just as we finished the first and it wasn’t long before a corner swung in by stu was headed in by Barker. The next goal was an early contender for goal of the season and justified Spencer’s starting in the team ahead of our leading man Doug. Simon’s through ball to Spencer just outside the box, the defence gave him too much space and he riffled the ball into the top corner. At this point we looked in total control Kev was directing things well from the back, Jo and Dunc worked hard all game and Simon fitted into his new role well adding a more defensive side to his game. With all going well Dale gave Doug his chance to show why he should start.

Then due to a lapse in concentration Burton were able to get on the score sheet as there player finished well from inside the box. This was the only bad point on an otherwise great performance from Tommy, it wasn’t long before we made our lead 3 again as Doug jumped well to head in a long throw.

Soon after AD was brought on to stiffen up the defence and also show Dale why he should start. With us now in control a long kick down field by Tommy was gambled on by Si and Stu, with a mix up between their defender and the keeper the ball was left rolling towards the goal and stu applied the finishing touch to send it into the net.

It ended 5-1 and another 3 points were well earned. It’s important to build on this and keep working hard. We welcome Bliby this week and we will need to be on our game to win.

MOM Michael Cook