IN THEIR final National League game of the season and playing against top of the table Clifton Robinsons, Ashmoor men's 1st XI produced an outstanding performance for the full 70 minutes, and were mightily unlucky not to come away with all three points.

From the first whistle, Ashmoor took the game to their visitors from Bristol who had looked like they would run away with the league until early March, but went into the match with the pressure of knowing that they could not afford to lose.

Clifton thought they had settled their nerves with a penalty corner goal after 10 minutes, but Ashmoor were having none of it, and piled on the pressure to earn a deserved equaliser midway through the first half, youngster Will Maynard getting the final touch to make it 1-1.

Playing with confidence, soon after Ashmoor took the lead. Skipper Jamie Bishop fired home from a penalty corner and Ashmoor led 2-1 at halftime.

After the break it was an exciting game. Ashmoor almost increased their lead from another set piece when Ben Barnett beat the keeper from a similar penalty corner, only to see his effort saved on the goal line by the Robinson's defender.

The away side, desperate for an equaliser just could not break through Ashmoor's resilient team defence. As the game neared its conclusion, with Clifton facing the prospect of losing their top spot and hence promotion in the last match of the season, a few things started to go their way.

Firstly, Ashmoor were harshly reduced to 10-men when one umpire awarded a green card to the excellent Lewie Jones, who along with the majority of players and the other official failed to hear the whistle and played on.

Then with time seemingly up, Clifton Robinsons were awarded a last gasp penalty corner. Ashmoor defended it brilliantly, but it was reawarded.

Rich Ashworth ran it down again, but once more it was reawarded, and finally Robbies got an equaliser to deny Ashmoor victory at the 11th hour and gain promotion on goal difference! What a thrilling end to the season.

Ashmoor's talented players are on international duty over Easter with Josh Jones representing Wales U21s in an international series. Whilst the Barnett brothers are playing for England for the Under 18s, Ben in the Czech Republic, and for the Under 16s, Tom in Germany.

Regional league club matches resume with two more weekends to run. This Saturday Ashmoor Women's first team face high flying Plymouth Lions, whilst in the Men's leagues Ashmoor 2s host Truro, and the 3s travel to Taunton Vale.

Finally, having progressed through five rounds of the prestigious England Hockey Junior Cup against Clifton Robinsons, Cirencester, Winchester, Havant and a semi-final shoot-out win against Woking, Ashmoor's talented Under 18 side are rewarded with a prestigeous National Final at the Nottingham Hockey Centre on Sunday, April 12.

Ashmoor won the England Hockey's Super Sixes Indoor title in 2025, but this will be the club's first-ever outdoor under 18 Final, Ashmoor having reached the Under 15 Final back in 2007, when current 1st team Player-Coach Jack Dinnie was in the Ashmoor junior side! In Sunday's Final they will face Buckinghamshire club Marlow.