England Hockey National League Conference West

Ashmoor Men's 1st XI. 1

Reading Men's 2nd XI. 0

HAVING gained their first win of the season in their previous home match, Ashmoor Mens’ 1st team were looking to build on this when they hosted Reading 2s who were promoted last season.

It was a lively but disjointed start with both teams making unforced errors with their passing and first touch. Reading had most of the early possession and might have taken the lead from a penalty corner, but player-coach Jack Dinnie charged it down.

Into the second quarter, Ashmoor started to apply more pressure on the Reading defence and won a penalty corner of their own through Sol Bloomfield. From the set piece the ball found Fletch Naisbett-Jones who fired right across goal, but agonisingly no-one could get a touch on it as the ball flashed just wide of the post.

Minutes later, a clever aerial by the experienced Lewis Hammett picked out Bloomfield with pinpoint precision right on the top of the shooting circle. He controlled and the defender, having encroached on the five metres, was penalised.

Ashmoor's penalty corner routine was slick this time, with Rich Fisher roofing his ruthless effort to make it 1-0 to Ashmoor.

It wasn't all one-way traffic and when poor marking allowed a Reading forward to break into the circle, Paddy Walton in Ashmoor's goal had to make a smart diving save.

Ashmoor defended one more penalty corner well to retain their lead heading into the break.

After halftime the third quarter was action packed, with Ashmoor unlucky to have two goals disallowed, Bloomfield and Fisher converting only for the umpire to intervene and rule them out.

The visitors continued to play with intent, but Ashmoor's defence and Walton in goal were equal to anything thrown at them.

Ashmoor began the final quarter the better side. Skipper Jamie Bishop was played in by Tancock, but had his stick impeded and couldn't get a good shot away, and soon after Naisbett-Jones fired in a reverse stick effort.

At the other end Walton made another comfortable save off one of Reading’s few attacks. Ashmoor's job to maintain their lead was then made a lot harder. Tancock commented when a decision went against Ashmoor and was given a 5-minute suspension.

This time around it was Reading who had a goal ruled out after their forward fired through a crowd of players. At first the goal was awarded, but after the umpires consulted it was overturned for a clear obstruction by a Reading forward who had moved in towards the goal.

Tancock returned to the fray, and Ashmoor had some other good attacking moves still in their arsenal.

As the final whistle came closer and closer, Ashmoor produced the best move of the match. Rich Ashworth, who had a tireless game in Ashmoor's midfield, controlled well, before playing a beautiful pass to Naisbett-Jones up the left-hand side. He worked his magic before playing it right across goal to the normally reliable Fisher for his second goal of the afternoon, but somehow the Ashmoor leading scorer deflected it wide.

Great composure was on show for Ashmoor to see out the game and claim all three points. England junior player Ben Barnett was selected as the Pallex Player of the Match.

They will look to maintain their 100% home record at their Totnes fortress when Bath buccaneers visit on Sunday, a 1pm start and it is free to see.