Drew 5-5
Scorers: C Podd x 2, A Fassum x2, M Pedersen x1
MoM: A Fassum
DoD: Hugh Thompson
Canterbury 4s were involved in yet another high scoring thriller in the prime time slot at Polo, and surely first on match of the day.
After a frantic first ten minutes, the 4s began to dictate play with Riley Holness and Henry McCully utilising a variety of 3D stick skills and raw pace to trouble Ashfords rear guard. From a short corner, Riley had a shot blocked on the line by the foot of an Ashford defender- and subsequently a penalty flick was given.
Up steps skipper Podd, gives the keeper the eyes, before slotting in the bottom corner and we go 1 up. The second quickly followed thereafter, with further good work from Riley, before slipping inside for Podd to collect his second.
Morts Pedersen rolled back the years, with one of the cleanest strikes ever seen on AW1 and the 4s were in dreamland.
Downsey nipped off the bench for a very special cameo, within 30 seconds collecting a yellow card for an “agricultural” challenge.
Before the young guns, James Golding, Angus Boarman-Powell and Arthur Fassum started to dictate play. Freddie McMullan put in a typically assured performance, and is undisputedly the best left back in the league. Arthur helped himself onto the score sheet with a typical strikers finish and we were at half-time.
The second half was a proper helter-skelter affair, with stick challenges flying in, body-checks galore, and the partisan crowd were delighting in the spectacle. Ashford pulled a couple back through well worked short corners, before their creative outlet in the middle put in a very forceful challenge on our skipper Podd. Some said there was a sniper in the crowd, others were asking whether GBH had been committed, either way to the sin-bin the headband wearing midfielder was sent.
There was still time for Arthur to notch his second, a cracking mazy run from Angus before delivering an eye of the needle pass and Arthur (who identifies as a defender), was on hand to deliver an excellent finish to the keepers left.
In the end, 5-5 was just about fair, and we move on to Gillingham away next Saturday. Special mention to DOD Hugh Thompson, who let himself down with a massive Friday night before messaging sick two hours before pb- Henry McCully was at the same event and delivered a performance of the highest level.