Capel Sports & Social 3-3 Ashton Prime
Saturday 2nd May 2015, Five Oak Green Recreation Ground
Nine years ago almost to the day, a 26 year old Ashley Goldsmith had just finished the season as top scorer for Capel Sports & Social Sunday League side. That Summer, after deciding he wanted to switch to playing on Saturday afternoons, Ashton Prime FC were formed and they played their first ever match against his old club on 20th August 2006 - a game that they won 2-1.
Fitting then that nearly a decade later, Prime played their 200th and last ever competitive match against Capel with just Goldsmith and Tom Buckland surviving in the current Prime squad from their first outing.
The match was all set to be held the previous weekend until the league fixtures secretary made a change at the 11th hour - a move that typified the reasons why Ashton Prime and several other clubs are unfortunately calling it a day. The bank holiday weekend fixture meant that 2014/15 player/boss Jamie Sykes was denied a farewell appearance, as were Tom Cary, Carl Barker, Rich Davis and several others.
Prime were determined to fulfil their final game against their bottom-of-the-table opposition and several players made considerable efforts to attend the game and to pull on a blue jersey one last time. Goldsmith wore the keeper's jersey, with London Marathon hero Alun Williams alongside Goulding, Sander and Barnham at the back. A strong-looking midfield was put together with captain Abu back alongside Henshall with Excell and Walters out wide. Siekanka and Ferguson were paired up-front with a stricken Buckland joined on the bench by Chatfield.
Prime needed to be switched on from the start, but sadly as they took centre, Fergie's ball back to Abu sailed straight past him as the skipper was busy looking the other way, talking to the defence - what a captain!!
Fortunately Prime did wake up and despite Capel knocking the ball around nicely, it was The Numbers who looked more threatening - especially when the ball was fed in to the feet of the tricky Siekanka and it was no surprise when he found space on the left-hand side of the box to drill home beyond Capel's ex-Prime keeper Gary Latter.
The lead was short-lived though as Barnham's back-pass to Goldsmith bobbled in front of the keeper and his horrible shank was matched by Williams' air-kick and Capel's midfielder slammed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box as Goldsmith scampered in vain back into his net.
Undettered, Prime hit back almost immediately as Siekanka again found space and this time his shot from the right hand side was deflected up and into the net. Things got even better for the visitors when Sander's centre was controlled well by Abu who rolled the ball back for Scott to drill home leaving Latter helpless.
Capel came back strongly and they pulled one back just before half-time when their left-winger kept the ball in both on the left-wing and on the by-line, before rolling the ball across the face of goal for their onrushing striker to prod home.
It was positive at the break with Goldsmith asking his side to enjoy the last 45 minutes and to make sure that they battled to the end...if only for the benefit of Mrs Barnham (to be!) - officially Prime's first supporter of the season!
Prime nearly increased their lead when Abu's inswinging corner looked set to nestle in the corner, but Goulding was judged to have fouled their defender and the goal was chalked off. Goulding had been struggling with a leg injury so he was replaced by Chatfield at the back with over half an hour left.
As Prime legs got heavy, so Capel continued to press, but with Williams winning everything in the air and Goldsmith putting in a slightly more convincing performance with the gloves, Prime clung on to their lead.
Capel's pacy right-winger was their main outlet but his crosses tended to be overhit. Excell gave away a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Goldsmith lined up a 5-man wall and then managed to beat away a well-hit shot for a corner. Unfortunately Capel levelled from the corner as Prime failed to clear the danger.
Barnham's Prime career came to a premature end as he was replaced by Buckers for the final 15, with Sander's relative pace moved across to deal with Capel's dangerman.
Prime thought they had won it with 5 minutes to go as Siekanka tucked home, but a late flag from Capel's linesman stopped his goal celebrations in their tracks.
At the other end, Capel really should have won it when a long ball was flicked on to their striker, but he lofted the ball high over the bar as Goldsmith came out to close him down.
Shortly afterwards, Goldsmith tested his dodgy hamstring one last time with yet another goal-kick and the ref took pity and blew the final whistle to end the game and bring to an end Prime's one and only season in Division 1 of the Tonbridge League - finishing in a creditable 6th place.