DESPITE some absentees, Ashmoor men’s 1st XI travelled to Bristol to face a University side in needs of points to secure their National League status with a strong squad.

Ashmoor started brightly, and a good move on the left flank led to an early penalty for Ashmoor. The set piece didn’t go to plan but Ashmoor adjusted well and slipped the ball to Cathan Wherry who buried his shot first time. However, after a discussion, the officials disallowed the goal due to a third-party infringement.

Bristol came into the game a bit more and forced two penalty corners of their own which came to nothing.

Early in the second quarter the lively Lewie Jones played a strong ball in for Rich Fisher to deflect but it was saved by the University keeper. Ashmoor won another penalty corner, however captain Jamie Bishop's effort went just wide.

As halftime approached a momentary lapse led to the opening goal. A Bristol penalty corner was palmed away by Ben Blundy in Ashmoor's goal, but as the ball was fired back in, Bristol's top scorer was able to sweep it goalwards with an unchallenged first time shot.

Ashmoor almost responded immediately when Ben Barnett found Will Maynard with a magnificent aerial pass on the left side of the D. He chanced his arm with a first-time volley and the Uni keeper had to be sharp to keep out the on-target strike. Ashmoor turned round 1-0 down.

After the interval, Bishop set up Dec Turner for a goal-bound deflection which again the keeper was equal to. Bristol might have doubled their lead from three penalty corners but for the Ashmoor defence, including sub keeper Aaron Martin standing firm.

As the end of quarter time approached, Jones almost equalised when he counter attacked at pace, but his reverse stick effort flashed wide.

Ashmoor threw everything at Bristol in the last quarter but it just wasn’t to be. Jack Dinnie stole the ball when pressing the Uni defence and then slipped a lovely pass back to the normally reliable Fisher but he fluffed his lines.

Minutes later Dinnie fed Wherry who passed ahead of Fisher. This time the striker caught hold of it but his shot was saved.

As Ashmoor ran out of time, they won three penalty corners, with Barnett's powerful shot parried by the keeper and then cleared off the line.

Sometimes it's just not your day, and another effort was blocked, before finally Fisher had a final effort saved and Theo Bennett couldn't put the rebound past the keeper.

Tom Conway earned the Pallex Player of the Match award for his all-action display.

Despite the 1-0 loss Ashmoor stay in fourth place in the National League, and on Sunday host second placed Chichester at their Totnes base (1:00pm start).

Following the Men's 1st XI match, Ashmoor's talented Under 18 team will take to the pitch in their England Hockey Cup Semi Final when they host Woking (3:00pm). All support for both matches is welcome at the Keviccs astro.