Ashford welcomed Canterbury to the fortress under the floodlights for the evening, with both sides knowing each other on and off the pitch it was always going to be an intense match. With the game underway the dust had not settled before Canterbury claimed first blood with a clinical counter goal tipping the ball in at the back post.
It didn’t take long for Canterbury to double their lead with a penalty stroke, Ashford were levied with an uphill challenge after only 15 minutes.
Ashford took the opportunity to put on a performance for the crowd that had turned out with a performance which defined their season last year which until now had eluded them. Rob Playford barrelling a second shot from a short corner into the backboard ensured that this game’s result was not a forgone conclusion.
Capitalising on the potency of Ashford’s short corners, Will Elgar took the opportunity to whip up two goals from the top of the circle and change the score line in Ashford’s favour at 3-2 with ten minutes to go.
Canterbury throughout had been able to create short corner opportunities although they had been unsuccessful, their last routine looked to be the same as their flick had been blocked at the top of the circle. Canterbury however retained possession of the ball and with a pass across the keeper they were able to dubiously bundle the ball over the line. Ashford’s protests to the umpires were in vain as the goal stood. With the scores levelled at 3-3 Ashford raised a final wave of pressure however Canterbury was able to weather the storm and hold out for the draw.