MATCH REPORT: HAYWARDS HEATH 2-1 ASHFORD UNITED

The Nuts & Bolts gifted The Blues a goal early on and again towards the end of the second half, and then Ossai’s sublime finish outside the box was not enough to take anything from the match.

TEAM NEWS:

Tommy Warrilow made two changes to the side that beat Herne Bay 2-1 on Tuesday evening.

Simms returned to the line-up in place of Diallo, and Burdon earned a place in starting eleven in the absence of May.

Tashi-Jay Kwayie returned to the squad to boost the club’s attacking options, taking up a place on the Ashford bench.

[STARTING XI: McCarthy, Ossai (GOAL 75’), Gorham ©, Friend, Hull (OFF 77’), Simms, Ovenden (OFF 77’), Patton, Wisson (OFF 83’), Fagg, Ter Horst, Burdon]

[SUBS: Steventon, Diallo (ON 83’), Patton, Bolarinwa (ON 77’), Kwayie (ON 77’)]

MATCH REPORT:

Ashford got off to the worst start possible as Jordan Clarke’s in-swinging cross from the left somehow managed to find it’s way into the back of net. A moment of miscommunication between the defenders and the goalkeeper meant nobody attacked the ball and it eventually trailed in.

Fagg smashed an effort over the bar shortly after from 25-yards, but that failed to challenge Billy Collings in goal.

Heath’s Kieran Rowe hit a free-kick into the wall and then Ashford’s Ter Horst fired a volley over from inside the box moments after in what represented as great opportunity for Warrilow’s side to equalise.

Just before the half came to a halt, Burdon went close to getting the Nuts & Bolts back into the game. Gorham rose highest to meet Ossai’s corner delivery, and he headed into the path of Burdon at the back-post, but his effort went wide.

Out for the second-half and it was Burdon again who had a headed effort saved, this time causing the Heath No.1 a problem, saving on the line.

Fagg then had his turn to head wide, and a few minutes later dragged a dangerous left-footed strike wide across goal.

Following another lack of communication at the back, Hull’s header back to McCarthy fell short, allowing Luke Robinson to capitalise and double the home side’s advantage.

Ossai gave Ashford a lifeline with a quarter of an hour to go, curling in an effort outside the box on his left-foot, and what a finish it was!

But that wasn’t enough on the day and the spoils stayed with Haywards Heath as Ashford succumbed to their first league defeat of the season.