Page 32 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Saltash Utd 100423

Today’s Visitors

KEYNSHAM TOWN 2 V ASHTON & BACKWELL UTD 1
“THAT WAS US LAST SEASON”
Following Tuesday nights dogged and determined one nil victory on a very poor pitch at
Ilfracombe, today’s question could we do it in the sunshine on a nice flat 3G pitch
against 2nd from bottom.
The answer was a big NO. Keynsham thoroughly deserved their victory and are a young,
quick, technically decent side and they reminded me of us last season. This time last
season we were 2nd from bottom and over Easter took 4 points against Mousehole and
Brislington where we played to our strengths, being very fit, organised, determined and
worked very very hard. Unfortunately, very little of this was on display on Easter Friday.
The alarm bells were ringing in the opening 20 minutes, a vital Charlie Saunders block
front of goal stopped the host taking in early lead. This was quickly followed by a
Keynsham defender heading wide when scoring looked easier. Then the dangerous
number 11 saw his low shot beat Tom Roberts but drift just wide.
Around the half-hour mark, against the run of play, we took the lead. The move started
by Joe Bishop deep in our half, the ball was played up to Jamarni Langlais, who very
cleverly played in Charlie Saunders. He found Shane Mannings in space and he made no
mistake with his low shot to the keeper’s left from 15 yards.0-1. Keynsham reacted and
put the Stags defence under pressure and it was only a Tom Anthony header off the line
and then a great Conner Saunders block prevented Keynsham from equalising. The Half-
finished with Backwell’s Shea Mannings spotting , Joel Mannings just off his line, but saw
his 35 yard chip with the keeper beaten drift just over. Halftime, 0-1.
Keynsham opened the half playing the better football, as they did in the 1st 45, in the
opening 5 minutes, a mixture of poor, finishing and good saves from Tom Roberts kept
the visitors in the lead. However it didn’t last, a shot from distance, swerved Roberts
could only parry, but unfortunately straight back into the path of the Keynsham forward
who made no mistake from 5 yards. 1-1
Joe Banks and Conner Saunders both came close for Ashton Backwell and on 60
minutes, Reece Hedges saw his goal bound header cleared off the line by a Keynsham
defender. This was followed by a great Crossfield for by Luke Newman to find Joe Banks
in space, his shot was blocked and his second shot was an easy savey for the Keynsham
keeper. This move was repeated by the gold shirts of Keynsham as the home left back
found no.16, who fired over when well placed. Mannings tried his luck with another 40
yard chip that beat his namesake in the Keynsham goal, but this time the crossbar
prevented Ashton Backwell from taking the lead.
But it was Keynsham took the lead on 75 minutes, following a long ball down the left
wing, created hesitation between Hedges and Roberts, the Keynsham no9 was well
placed to capitalise on the mistake and tap into an empty net. 2-1
The game fizzled out and Keynsham celebrated a well-deserved victory. This means the
last few weeks Ashton & Backwell has dropped five points against the bottom two
teams. And as I said earlier, this is exactly what we were doing to teams this time last
year.
Ashton Backwell M.O.M Shea Bennington-Mannings
Team Roberts, Anthony, Reece Hedges, Joe Bishop, Newman (Pearce), Cummings
(Ford), Charlie Saunders, Conner Saunders(Miles Hardidge), Langlais(Mason Hardidge)
Mannings, Banks.
Reporter, Mike Thomas