DESPITE the tricky conditions on Sunday, Ashmoor men's first team played out a tremendous National League match against newly promoted Marlow at their Totnes base. Cullen Turner and England Junior were not available, and Tom Conway & Cathan Wherry did not come through late fitness tests to make the match day squads.

Prior to the game, a minute's silence was impeccably observed, but Ashmoor were caught cold from an early attack and found themselves 1-0 down with barely a minute on the clock. The jolt this produced led to a lift in Ashmoor's demeanour and play.

They started to create chances and youngster Tom Barnett was unlucky not to be given a better outcome when he appeared to be impeded by the Marlow keeper right in front of goal as Ashmoor went in search of an equaliser.

The home side were creating some good opportunities, especially down the right-hand side, but both from open play and two penalty corners, the Marlow keeper was equal to it.

Ashmoor were controlling the game but still found themselves behind due to their early lapse. Then right on the stroke of halftime, Ashmoor got their deserved equaliser.

Player-coach Jack Dinnie stole the ball in midfield, he fed Rich Ashworth who found Lewie Jones in space. Jones fired a perfect pass into the danger area and Fletch Naisbett-Jones deflected it home. 1-1 at halftime.

Buoyed by this, Ashmoor came out on the offensive in the third quarter. Rich Fisher fired an Exocet shot right across goal, and flowing team play created other chances.

At the other end, Ashmoor's strong defence limited Marlow's chances, their only scoring opportunity coming from a penalty corner after Galbraith was rather harshly penalised. Sam Wakeham saved the shot on the line and the final quarter started with the scores still level at 1-1.

Jones and George Galbraith went so close to giving Ashmoor the lead but into the final few minutes, the most likely outcome looked like a draw.

However, a momentary lapse in marking allowed the Marlow striker an unopposed shot at goal, and Blundy was beaten to give the away side the lead. Ashmoor went on the attack to try to rectify matters, but simply ran out of time and were left to rue not scoring a second of their own from the many opportunities they had created in the previous 60 minutes.

It was Ashmoor's first home defeat since March, with Jack Dinnie receiving the Pallex Player of the Match for his all-action display.

This Sunday, Ashmoor are once again at home, this time hosting the University of Exeter. It's a 1pm start at their Keviccs Astro and supporters are welcome.

Ashmoor's Boys Under 18 team produced a stunning performance in difficult conditions to sweep aside Cirencester U18s in the England Hockey Cup second round match. The opening goal was set up by Will Baker for Henry Walker to give Ashmoor the lead.

Captain Ben Barnett then scored a hat trick, whilst Charles Walker went one better with four! The 8-1 victory sees the Ashmoor lads into the third round of the National Cup.

Image courtesy of Mark Lockett Photography.