Games under floodlight are still something special and, at non-league level, usually good entertainment, because no matter how high or low placed in the league table, midweek games have a certain unpredictability about them - usually because players, who are essentially part-time at this level, have work or family commitments.
Changes to both teams were, therefore, anticipated. The match was pretty even for much of the first half, until the 24th minute when top club goalscorer, Jake Wilson, hit the back of the Eversley & California net in the 24th minute. Ash Utd 1-0 up and this scoreline remained up to the half-time whistle.
The second half saw the home side make changes after 59 minutes, with Luke Cairns replacing Emeka Nwaubani and on 64 minutes, with Jake Charlton replacing Connor Hamill. A few minutes after the last change, Jake Charlton got himself on the scoresheet; Ash United 2-0 up. Then a rash challenge by Jack Lally on an Eversley & California player who was charging down the wing towards the Ash penalty area, in the 84th minute, saw Jack receive a Red Card. Almost instantaneously, the home side changed the line-up and substitute Jake Edwards was introduced in place of Kieran Williams. It didn't have quite the desired effect as Eversley & California scored through Marcus Guest in the 85th minute to make the score 2-1 to Ash United.
Tension was stoked up in the final few minutes of the match, with Eversley & California trying to take advantage with their extra man and push on for an equaliser. Not to be outdone and for the second league match in a row, up steps Neil Hardy on 88 minutes with a cracking goal to make the score 3-1 to the home side and diffusing the tension in one go. Final score Ash Utd 3, Eversley & California 1.
Team: Cunningham; Lally, Bale, Holmes, Devanney, Passfield, Nwaubani, Hardy, Wilson, Hamill, Williams. Substitutes: Cracknell, Edwards, Rowthorn, Charlton, Cairns.
Attendance: 40
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | Sheerwater | 34 | 77 |
2. | Frimley Green | 34 | 76 |
3. | Tooting Bec | 34 | 70 |
4. | Farnham Town | 34 | 68 |
5. | Bedfont & Feltham | 34 | 62 |
6. | Sandhurst Town | 34 | 60 |
7. | Ash United | 34 | 58 |