Ashford United were forced to settle for a point on a night where results against them in their pursuit of the League title as Whyteleafe extended their lead to ten points as the final countdown begins in earnest for the race for honours.

Behind early as Cray Valley’s converted a Jimmy Rogers 7th minutes penalty, at least Ashford boss Paul Chambers must have been pleased with the way that his side responded and equalised within ten minutes through Sam Conlon’s astute lob.

Less pleased though was Chambers when Adam Cuthbert missed a second half penalty that would have given the home side the points, but the United boss did admit that overall he wasn’t that disappointed.

“First 15 minutes I thought we were awful and then I thought we were superb to be fair,” he said.

“I thought we got back into the game well and just couldn’t score! We missed one penalty and I think the referee bottled giving us another one when he just didn’t want to give it which is disappointing, but we’ve had enough chances to win the game!”

“The penalty we conceded was very soft and I don’t think it was a penalty – even their forward didn’t appeal. It was one of those games where we were really that poor in the first fifteen minutes where we could have been three down but then we had enough chances in the rest of the game to win eight three! We’ve missed so many chances but then it’s just football…”

Cray Valley stormed out of the blocks and in the opening 10 minutes the defence just couldn’t cope. With the pacy and lively Ola Rabiu a real handful, Ashford just couldn’t get in the game and were extremely lucky not to go behind when Rabiu burst into the area, rounding the keeper only to miss the open goal by shooting against the bar.

It delayed the inevitable only for two minutes later, Harrison Carnegie went down under a “challenge” in the box, and referee Finnigan, who was extremely fussy all night, pointed to the spot and Jimmy Rogers duly obliged ramming home the penalty.

Ashford really were on the back foot, and Rabiu was unlucky to see a second shot crash back off the woodwork with keeper Jo Mant well beaten, before the keeper made a stunning save to keep out Dan Gunner’s header.

Amazingly in their first attack worthy of the name, the home side levelled. Sam Conlon was allowed far too much space wide on the left and as he cut in from the left his lob over keeper Matt Bailey was as superb as it was brilliant to level things up.

With both sides having possession but failing to create chances, the home side were denied on the stroke of half time. A super cross from Ronnie Dolan was helped on by Gary Mickelborough for the charging Adam Cuthbert, who was denied magnificently by Bailey, but “unfortunately” for the keeper Mr Finnigan signalled for a goal kick!

On 53 minutes though a decision did go Ashford’s was as Liam Whiting’s charging run was brought to an abrupt end and it was the home teams turn to now have the spot kick.

Adam Cuthbert though saw his effort low to Baileys right easily saved. Minutes later Ashford were asking for a second penalty when Conlon was flattened in the box – Mr Finnigan this time waved play on.

Michael Smissen was brought on with a quarter of an hour left and should have done better with a lob that beat Bailey all ends up but didn’t have the direction and bounced harmlessly wide.

Incredibly both sides then had chances to win the game in the closing stages stoppage time. First Cray sub Grant Lye was found by Rabiu only for his low drive to whistle past Ashford’s right post whilst at the other end, Whiting found Smissen who squared for fellow sub Dave Cook, but the ball got stuck between his feet and could get a shot away and the ball squirted wide of the right post.chance for glory went begging when he blasted off target when it seemed easier to score.

The draw was Ashford’s first of the season – although it was a point that could be vital come the end of the season which incredibly see’s Ashford still have to play leaders Whyteleafe home and away.

First though, Chambers and his side trips to Lordswood and Tunbridge Wells this week. I wonder just what the onwatching Wells boss Martin Larkin would have made of what he saw… time as they say will tell…

ASHFORD UNITED – Jo Mant, Tom Scorer, Liam Whiting, Gary Clarke, Luke Cuthbert, Pat Kingwell, Sam Fisher (Kieran Byrne 75), Adam Cuthbert, Gary Mickleborough (Dave Cook 60), Sam Conlon (Michael Smissen 80), Ronnie Dolan

Subs not used – Jordan Miller and Ollie Finch

CRAY VALLEY – Matt Bailley, James Golding, Steven Springett, Jimmy Rogers, Michael Aziaya, Ryan Sawyer, Ola Rabiu, Jamie Wood, Harrison Carnegie, Paul Gross (Grant Lye 80), Dan Gunner

Subs not used – Ben Healy and Bobby Sturgeon

Referee – S Finnegin
Assistants – G Bourne and H Mills