Ashford Town 0-0 Whyteleafe - Ashford ease their relegation fears

Ashford Town added breathing space between themselves and Godalming with a point in a lifeless goalless draw against Whyteleafe yesterday.

Ashford looked jaded with the players appearing in their fourth game in ten days, but they still did enough to pick up a seventh point from the busy period of fixtures.

And with Godalming facing tough away trips to Kingstonian and Tooting & Mitcham before facing high-flying Hastings United, Ashford fans may now be able to breathe a little more easily as it looks more than likely their side will maintain their Ryman League status.

Despite the fixture pile up Ashford Town boss John Cumberbatch made just the one change to the starting line-up, with Ian Ross replacing Tom McGowen at left midfield.

And Ashford started brightly, with Joe Hitchings firing over from 20 yards before having another shot blocked minutes later.

Nick Wright delivered a series of free kicks into the danger zone that were well gathered by goalkeeper Danny Coote, as the visitors began to resort to heavy handed kicking tactics to nullify Ashford’s attacks.

And the tension of the game boiled over on the hour, when Roy Newman smashed into Walid Matata from behind to leave the striker helpless on the deck.
 
A pushing match ensued, but referee Ian Gosling bizarrely only issued the defender a yellow card before booking the injured Matata and super Steve Sodje, who scored both Ashford's goals in their vital 2-1 win at Molesey on Easter Saturday.

The Leafe’s rough play put pay to Tom Adlington’s spell on the pitch when he was hauled off with a leg injury, and Matata was also subbed with an ankle injury inflicted by Newman.

Whyteleafe threatened to steal the points when bulky striker Danny Platel smashed a shot onto the bar in the final chance of the game but the scores remained goalless to lift Ashford three points above Godalming.

Another game and another point for Cumberbatch’s side that seem to have picked up a run of form since the arrival of Birmingham duo Asa Hall and Nick Wright. 
 
Ashford Town remain unbeaten since the pair have arrived but they will
undoubtedly find it difficult to maintain that record with tough trips to
Fleet and Dulwich to come.

Ashford Town: Jake Whincup, Tom Adlington (Ryan Andrews 49), Simon Glover, Asa Hall, Marc Cumberbatch, Joe Hitchings, Nick Wright, Gary Clarke, Walid Matata (Jason Stuart 83), Steve Sodje, Ian Ross (Tom McGowen 72).
Subs: Steve Rowles, Ken Jarrett-Elliott.

Whyteleafe: Danny Coote, Carlo Castrechino, Luke Basford, Danny Boxall, Roy Newman, Michael Riley (Chris O’Flamerty 90), Callum Maclean, Robert Smith, Sean Rivers, Danny Platel, Ryan Rummery.
Subs: Ellis Conroy, Dean Eaton, Oliver Barrett

Man-of-the Match: Asa Hall

Attendance: 196