Kentish Football 
Hollands & Blair 1-0 Ashford United - There was a bit of pressue on us today,says Blair boss Piggott
Saturday 20th August 2011
HOLLANDS & BLAIR 1-0 ASHFORD UNITEDKent Invicta League
Saturday 20th August 2011
Mike Green reports from Star Meadow
The return of Ashford to the Kent competitive footballing ranks ended in disappointment, as they went down to a single goal defeat to Hollands & Blair, the reigning Kent County League champions, served notice of their intensions in the new Kent Invicta League.
With the League billed as "Kent's missing link", there were high hopes of both sides on a bright Saturday afternoon in Gillingham, but in truth for long periods both seemed nervous, but it was the home side who benefited from some disjointed Ashford defending to score the game’s only goal 12 minutes into the second half when Nick Smith raced clear of the United defence before rounding keeper Tony Allen to roll the ball into the empty net to send the home fans gathered in front of the club house behind the goal into raptures.
Blair boss, Paul Piggott, was naturally after the game a very happy manager.
He said: "It seemed reasonably comfortable for us, but that was only because the players worked so very hard. We created three or four really good chances - they created a couple of decent chances - Lewis (Fisher) has made a super save in the first half and one right at the end when we nearly gifted them a goal, but a team I thought we defended really well.
“There was a bit of pressure on us playing Ashford today, as they're a big club who have just reformed as everyone knows, but they weren't my concern today - they were our opposition as they now play at our level. So if I'm truthful we didn’t really approach today with any difference to the way we normally prepare.
“Yes, there was pressure on us because we are Champions, and when you're Champions there always a pressure of having to win your first game the following season. It didn’t matter who we were playing today - we just felt that we had to win our first game and being Ashford we knew it would be very tough, but the way the players responded was tremendous."
When there's a winner of course there’s a loser, and Ashford United joint-boss Paul Chambers emerged from the dressing room a frustrated man.
"It was disappointing and if I'm honest I thought we were a better side when we went down to ten men,” he said.
“We tried to start with a high tempo but it didn’t quite come off, but these things happen!
“A lot of people have said that Hollands & Blair will be one of the favourites for the League, so we've come here; lost 1-0 with ten so whilst I'm disappointed that we've lost the game, but we've got to start somewhere.
“Possibly we drew the short straw having to come here on the opening day - we could have had a nice home game but I don’t think that over the course of the season there are going to be many sides leaving here with anything.
“They are a good side and well organised, but at the end of the day, right at the end, young Sam (Conlon) has gone through there in the 89th minute and if he scores, we get a point and go home happy. But he didn’t, but that’s football!"
A valid point made by the Ashford boss, but on the other side of the coin, if goalscorer Smith had had his shooting boots on we would have surely seen the League's first hat trick, as twice in the opening quarter the lively Blair number nine raced cleared of the Ashford defence only to drag his shot wide on four minutes before 15 minutes he rounded the keeper only to be beaten by a horrible bounce which shot his shot screw horribly wide!
Ashford finally got a grip on the game, and in the closing stages of the first half created a couple of really good chances themselves.
Firstly full back Kieran Sanger, following up from a half cleared corner, looped a shot over Fisher only for central defender Sam Cormack to manage to get back and head the ball off of the line.
Indeed Cormack and his central defensive partner Billy Johnson were arguable the game’s best players as they kept tabs on a Ashford side that included many with Ryman League experience.
One of that number was striker Gary Lockyer, who was well shackled throughout the afternoon and had to work very hard for the limited space that he was able to find. And on the half hour, Lockyer had Ashford’s best chance of the half when he forced Fisher into a brilliant low save at the foot of his right post.
The game’s only goal came on 57 minutes - and came possibly pivotally just sixty seconds after defender Ollie Finch had been yellow carded for pulling down Smith. The ball played through saw Smith race away from Finch, and as he rounded keeper Allen, this time he coolly rolled the ball into the net for the first Kent Invicta League goal scored at Star Meadow.
Things got worse for the visitors seven minutes later, as Finch was shown his second yellow card by Folkestone official Mr Staveley for hauling down Smith as the striker looked as though he was going to race clear again.
As they regrouped, Ashford were indebted to keeper Allen who denied half time substitute Jason Doe with a brave block, before Allen was left flat footed as a shot from Ross Brookes cannoned off the shins of Lee Shearer and flew inches past the left post.
Encouraged by this let off, Ashford got into their stride and on 77 minutes there was a coming together between Lockyer and young Blair defender Sam Gutridge which had the Ashford players suggesting to Mr Staveley that a second red card should be shown. Fortunately common sense prevailed and the defender was merely cautioned, as a red card for a clumsy rather than a "professional foul" would have been very tough indeed.
Smith almost settled the game on 85 minutes when his low drive took an outrageous bounce in front of the diving Allen and the Ashford keeper showed fantastic reflexes to flick the ball wide of the post when it looked like the ball was beyond him and heading into the net.
Just as the home side were happy to play out time, it so very nearly went so horribly wrong. Full back Ada Bagshaw played a woefully short back pass to keeper Fisher and as Conlon nipped in, the young Ashford striker rounded the keeper, yet just as Smith saw in the first half, just as Conlon went to shoot an outrageous bobble saw the ball fly high and wide, and the chance as well as the points from Ashford’s perspective were gone.
After the game, Blair manager Piggott admitted that it had been a big day for the club who just five years ago were playing in the Rochester and District League.
"Yes, it’s been a massive day for the club - we've played a Ryman League club today for goodness sake," Piggott commented.
"OK, they've had a bit of bad luck over the past few years but now they are playing at our level. But you must remember that just a few years ago, we were playing in the local leagues and now today we've played a side like Ashford! It’s great to see the club playing Ashford here.
“The first ten days of the season (four games in nine days) is a tough start for players at this level as many of them are only playing at this level because they can’t commit the time to playing any higher as ability wise they certainly should be. It’s a big ask of them but I'm sure that we can come through.
“We had a few missing today, but I'm so pleased for those who have come in have shown me that they want to be a big part of this club going forward."
For Chambers and his Ashford players is wasn't all doom and gloom. Chambers said, "We've now got to look at our home game on Wednesday, and play like we did last Monday (when they beat Folkestone Invicta 6-0) in every home game and make Homelands the fortress that it once was, as playing like that we're going to rout teams and that’s what all managers want.
“I think that undoubtedly we can make Homelands a place where clubs fear coming, and I'm sure that we can especially if we play like we did on Monday as I think we looked really fit - even today when we played the last half hour with 10 men - and if we can play that well in our home games, I honestly think that Homelands will become a fortress so that we can do really well in the League I really do!"
The rise of Holland & Blair is surely one for the "reference books" on how to take a club to the next level.
Piggott said: "I think we've proved to any club playing local football that if you want to make the next step you can. It’s hard work - I won’t lie to you - but we're so lucky to have people like Plum (secretary Laurie Plummer) and Moose (assistant secretary Steve Morsley) who have put in a lot of work off the pitch - Plum in particular has been incredible - we've got the easy bit on the pitch, but those involved off the pitch have proved that if you do really want it, it can be within touching distance if you're willing to put the work in and you can do it!"
Hollands & Blair: Lewis Flisher, Sam Gutridge, Ada Bagshaw, Tom Michelson, Billy Johnson, Sam Cormack, Cliff Eldridge, Ross Brookes, Nick Smith, Lee Preston, Ashley Doe (Jason Doe 46).
Subs: Bryan Greenfield, Tom Patching, Curtis Ripley, Carl Preston
Booked: Sam Gutridge 77
Goal: Nick Smith 57
Ashford United: Tony Allen, Kieran Sanger, Paul O'Brien, Ben Jordan, Ollie Finch, Lee Shearer, Dan Scorer, Matt Bower, Gary Lockyer, Sam Conlon, Liam Whiting (Lee McRobert 60).
Subs: Jack Albin, Tom Scorer, Less Quigley, Mo Munden
Booked: Gary Lockyer 88, Ollie Finch 56
Sent Off : Ollie Finch 63
Attendance : 110
Referee: Martyn Staveley (Folkestone)
Assistants: Jaimie Goldthorp (Faversham) & Simon Hayden (Maidstone)
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