Nuts And Bolts Not Tight Enough - Ashford United vs. Lewes

Main stand at Homelands

Despite the big thaw the previous weekend, the weather was still playing havoc with non league seven days later. I had wanted to go to Leverstock Green (and had even got on the train) but this fell foul of the weather - in time for me to get off the train before it left Euston. I headed to St Pancras with an eye on Punjab United or Ashford United and I bottled it and went for the 3G option for the second week in a row this time for an Isthman League South game between Ashford United and Lewes. I was adamant that I'd seen this Ashford play before but I'd clearly got them mixed up with the Middlesex one. Lewes remains one of my favourite grounds and places I'd ever visited on my travels. Today's visitors were top of the pile and with two automatic promotion spots, were looking good to go up. Even though the hosts were third bottom, they were twenty points clear of Shoreham in last place. The reverse fixture back in December ended in a five one win for Lewes.

Kick off in the Kent gloom

As expected, Lewes are on top early on and their best early sniff on goal comes as the forward gets behind the defence but he can't control his shot. There aren't many chances in the early stages and an Ashford free kick is cleared by the Lewes defence. Lewes take the lead midway through the half. A free kick from the far touchline is bent in before the attacker gets a head on the ball to finish from close range. The game is now getting a bit tetchy and this comes to head with a bit of handbags which the referee deals with. Ashford's first proper chance comes towards half time as the forward cuts in but his shot goes well over the bar.

Ashford defending in the first half

Ashford begin to test the Lewes defence at the start of the second half with a couple of balls into the box that the visitors deal with. They begin to come closer as the Lewes keeper has to tip a shot over the bar before Ashford have a shot cleared off the line. They come even closer when a header at the back post hits the bar. It is Lewes however who get the critical second goal. The attacker is played in and he slots the ball home on the angle. It doesn't take long for Lewes to get the third but this one joins the long list of 'toilet goals'. Ashford don't give up and they hit the bar again with another header. Ashford get the goal they deserve with a penalty in the closing stages but it is Lewes who claim the points.

Lewes celebrate their second goal

To get to Ashford you can either take the slow train from Charing Cross or Victoria which takes an hour and a half. Or if you're feeling flush you can get the high speed train from St Pancras which only takes forty minutes. I didn't have too much time in Ashford itself and I visited The George Hotel which was ok and had the sports channels. To get to the ground you take the 2A bus to Smithfield Crossroads which goes around the houses a bit and takes twenty minutes. If you have time you can get off a stop early and visit the enjoyable The Queens Head that had a couple of ales is a ten to fifteen minute walk from the ground. The last part of which is unpaved and unlit so would be tricky in winter or evening games. The bar at the back of the stand had the club's own Nuts and Bolts lager which was enjoyable and offers views of the action if it gets too cold.

Sadly this scoreline didn't last