The sun was shining down on the Saffrons as both teams took to the pitch. Town were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat away at Herne Bay midweek, whilst Ashford were looking to build on a promising 1-3 away win to East Grinstead.
It was a fast start from Ashford who caught us lacking early on when their tricky winger sprinted down the right side in the first minute before switching the ball. The Ashford winger took the ball down and drilled it across the box where it met the boot of Louis Collins who with a first-time effort with just a toe diverted it into the bottom corner leaving Winterton helpless. Ashford’s fast start and goal demonstrated their statement of intent.
The rest of the first half passed by without much to comment on. The closest we came was in the form of a mean cross whipped in by James Waters which James Stone would’ve got onto the end of if it wasn’t for the Ashford’s keepers’ interruption. The game continued in this stalemate until a through ball found a switched-on James Stone who knocked the bouncing ball over the keeper and into the net without breaking his stride. The scoreline came under threat after a shot from distance produced a world-class save from our captain parrying the ball out for an uneventful corner which eventually led to a goal kick. Halftime and the score is all square.

James Stone scores the equaliser for Eastbourne Town against Ashford United
Ashford United started off the second half much like the first. An early attempt from a corner resulted in Winterton palming the shot onto an Ashford head which then ricocheted onto the crossbar before we got it clear. The second half followed the trends of the first with chances few and far between. James Waters had a shot tipped over and the Ashford number 9 had an audacious bicycle kick caught by Winterton. Neither team could get a grip on the game, but it was Ashford who found the edge in the 75th minute. A cross to the back post found Lockyer unmarked who headed the ball into the far corner with great aplomb.

Marcin Ruda controlling the ball against Ashford United
Town made several substitutions, but were unable to make a breakthrough, With both teams evenly matched the result stayed the same and the visitors made the long journey home with 3 points to sweeten their travels. A well-contested match that Town just lacked the clinical edge in.