Call to arms

Nov 12 2008 By Paul Warburton, Staines News

Boss Mark Butler fears Ashford could crumble if one of his two pillars in defence is missing.

As a result, he's challenged Billy Jeffreys and Stuart Bamford to shoulder more responsibility when either is forced to line up alongside a new face.

The Bamford-Jeffreys partnership has paid off big time this season for Ashford, and according to Butts, is the highlight of a campaign that's steered the club to a slot just outside the Ryman Premier play-offs.

However, when one of them has been sidelined it's been nothing short of disastrous. And their manager reckons a major factor is the remaining player's sidestep of a leader's role.

Bamford was missing when Ashford nose-dived out of the FA Trophy to lowly Wingate & Finchley in October, and Jeffreys was absent when the Tangerines were humiliated by a 7-1 home defeat to Tonbridge last time out.

Butler said: "Injuries and suspensions are part-and-parcel of football, and although the pair of them have been a major reason for our great start, you would hope we could have done better when one of them has been forced to sit out a game.

"I need them, and maybe three or four others, to look themselves in the eye and ask themselves - can I do better?"

The manager is not actively looking to bring in new players despite the Tonbridge debacle, and left Bamford out of the team that faced North Greenford United in the first round of the Middlesex Cup last night.

"Stuart's suffering from a rib knock," Butler explained. "And it's a precautionary measure to make sure he's OK for Saturday."

Billericay are the visitors then, with Butler confident Tonbridge lightning won't strike twice.

He said: "Ashford have had incredible highs this season already - but we've had our sweets taken away from us in the last few weeks.

"We earned them in the first place, so I can't see why we can't go out and earn some more."