Early Errors Prove too Costly !

Ashford Utd came to the lane today knowing they are unbeaten and full of confidence.

Meridian today not fazed by any team in the league welcomed the opposition and their loyal fans and looked forward to displaying a positive performance today.

Ashford a little surprised maybe looked on at the new look Meridian and soon found out that they were in for a tough ride today as the home side took the game to the opposition with neat and aggressive play which unsettled thier pattern of play.

As the game settled in the first 15 minutes it was Ashford who struck first on the 17th minute when a corner was swung in to the far post and capitalising on the error from Meridian Mo Takahaloo headed home the opposition’s first.

Meridian extremely disappointed with the lapse in concentration pushed on and exerted pressure creating several chances only to be thwarted by a poor end product. This actually came back to haunt Meridian as on the 44 minute the same opposition striker scored his 2nd to another Meridian error, 0-2.

Time to take a step back and analyse the errors of our ways Meridian started the second half in very positive frame of mind.

Meridian took the game to Ashford who struggled to keep in touch with the passing, possession and creating good clear cut chances.

It was on the 58 minute when the pressure actually paid off has a corner delivered by Meridian was scrambled and cleared through a mele of players by the opposition goalkeeper only to the edge of the box as Craig Brown stepped up with the on rushing Ashford players to calmly and composed a delicate chip over all into the roof of the net, 1-2.

Meridian clearly did not look like the team relinquishing at the bottom of the table as Ashford struggled to keep in the game. The introduction of Dean Macdonald stirred a few heads as Ashford now at sixes & seven were very quiet.

Meridian created many chances but again these were thwarted by some wonderful key saves by the opposition keeper time and again.

Chasing the game it was only a matter of time as Meridian felt they were close to achieving not the draw but possibly a win, but fortune favoured Ashford Utd very much as a long ball clearance down Meridian left set off their forward and to his credit slotted away a good finish right on the 90 minute, 1-3.

As the fans and clearly the opposition management were overwhelmingly relieved of the third goal some would say it was like winning a cup final.

Take nothing away from the opposition who clearly knew they were fortunate today will look at this performance as a smash & grab.

The positives from today is although key personnel were absent a weakened Meridian performed exceptionally well as players gave it their all in all areas and deserved the high praise for a very entertaining fixture, to which Meridian deserved at least something from this game.

Meridian will look forward to the next league fixture against our rivals and BIG home derby against Bridon Ropes FC on the 24th November 2012, KO 2pm.

Firstly a rest bite from the league next Saturday on the 17th November 2012 with an away trip to Viewpoint FC in the Erith hospitals Charity Cup, KO 1.30pm.