A bottom of the table clash and with an opposition back four more ancient than The Ashley’s (and the Cotham Old Boys living up to their name) it couldn’t have looked an easier game for The Ashley. In reality it was a much different affair, with the Ref and one of the linesman associated with the home side, The Ashley found themselves down 2-0 in the first 15 minutes. As tensions heated up and The Ashley lost their heads it was looking a bleak day. A foul by Sean Milburn in the opposition’s box trying to win a corner provoked a reaction from one of the Cotham old guard who wouldn’t have looked out of place in a mental asylum. As the game approached the end of the first half, Ryan managed to find himself on the end of an inspired goal kick from Oz, heading the ball over and out of the reach of the onrushing keeper. On the stroke of half time The Ashley found themselves one goal behind and hope restored.
With no changes made, Butler looked to start the second as the first ended. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out, The Ashley again finding themselves 4-1 down, Butler himself giving a cheap penalty away as the ball was whipped in from a corner and one fine finish from after one of the Cotham players found themselves one on one after skipping through The Ashley back four. After a goal mouth scramble at the other end The Ashley looked like they were back in the game. 4-2.
In order to stop the rot, Butler looked to ring the changes, not only looking to the bench, bringing on Denty and Ged to try and add some attacking impetus in to the side and fresh legs but also in the formation, switching to a 4-4-2. Tactical genius or pure luck, who knows, but The Ashley were soon on the front foot, slotting in another goal making it 4-3.
If it looked like Ashley were losing their heads in the first half, it was now the Cotham Old Boys looking like they were losing the plot after Lamb (in only what can be described as a move only seen in UFC or MMA) slammed one of the Cotham’s younger players to the floor following an off-the-ball incident. The game descended in to chaos. It didn’t take long for the Cotham nutter to get involved, squaring up to Lamb. With chants from The Ashley for him to be sectioned, it was Lamb who was soon sent his marching orders to cool off. In his place the one and only Phippsy, making his third appearance on the pitch, and immediately making an impact, winning a penalty and then cool as cucumber slotting it away to bring the game level.
With Butler making a few more changes bringing back on Lamby and sending Rich Shepp into the mix in search of the winning goal. With a point for both sides looking likely, out of nowhere, Ryan hits an absolute screamer from 30 yards out only to have it ruled offside in bizarre circumstances after a late flag from Cotham’s linesman. But it didn’t take long for Ryan to soon find the net again to score the second winner with a celebration that looked sure to cause some animosity amongst the home side. Ashley managed to hold on to the win after a nervy final few minutes with the home side being denied a clear final minute corner. Call it karma but whatever it was, it was 3 points to The Ashley and a massive win in a game that had it all; 9 goals, 2 penalties, 1 disallowed goal and a near brawl.
CHRIS DENT
