Tiredness takes its toll on sorry Ashford FC

Mar 11 2009 By Terry Ryan, Staines News

RYMAN PREMIER Ashford Town............................0 Boreham Wood.........................1 

Ashford's fourth match in eight days took its toll on Mark Butler's men as they slipped to a home defeat to Boreham Wood on Saturday.

Both sides traded blows early on, Scott Todd saw his first-time effort well saved by Anthony Anstead in the Wood goal.

However, the hosts were hit by a sucker punch midway through the first-half when a corner was cleared as far as Mario Noto, and he smashed the ball through a melee of players and beyond Paul Burgess into the net.

Byron Harrison, playing against one of his former clubs, had a good header saved from a Todd free-kick then Warren Harris looked as if he was about to create something with a surging run through the middle, but he stumbled over the ball and the chance was gone.

Ricky Wellard saw a free-kick punched away, then saw another effort fall into the grateful arms of Anstead.

Young Nick Hardy, in for the injured Ricardo Joseph at left-back, made way for returning favourite Anthony Joseph, signed earlier in the week from Kingstonian, as Butler battled to get his relegation-threatened side back in the game.

Harrison headed into the arms of Anstead from Vinnie O'Sullivan's deep free-kick, but the visitors missed two golden chances to wrap up victory.

Wellard was guilty of dwelling on the ball and robbed by Joe Reynolds, who shot wide with Sonner in a good position then, Noto blasted over from close range from a corner.

However, Noto's first-half strike was enough for the three points.