Fleet Town FC

Football: Fleet back to winning ways

By Steve Cantle
November 12, 2009

Ryman League Cup 2nd Round

Fleet Town 1 Ashford T (Middlesex) 0

FLEET Town returned to winning form with a bang on Tuesday evening, a 19th minute strike from Joe Nwoko dispatching Premier Division side Ashford Town from the Ryman League Cup, writes Steve Cantle.

Outplaying their senior opponents for most of the 90 minutes, this was Fleet back to their best after disappointing back-to-back defeats over the previous two weekends.

The second of those, a 3-0 home defeat against league leaders Worthing leaves Fleet seven points adrift in sixth place in the Ryman Division One South table.

Fleet Town boss Andy Sinton (pictured) was quick to lavish praise on his side’s sudden turn around in performance.

“After Saturday, Steve Mellor and I have worked hard on restoring the pride of the lads,” Sinton said after Tuesday’s cup game. “And to turn things around so emphatically, against a higher league side shows great belief.”

Sinton also changed his side around after the Worthing defeat, bringing back a fully fit Nwoko for Mark Anderson up front, and giving a start to Bernie Asante at right back, in place of Ian Griffin.

Otherwise Fleet were unchanged, Sinton retaining winger James Field to make only his third start of the season so far.

Fleet took control right from the first whistle and were soon moving the ball around confidently.

Playing just behind the sole striker, Nwoko, Paul Harkness was quickly in the thick of the action ensuring plenty of possession for his side.

Fleet’s only goal came early on. Harkness broke through the centre and was allowed time to let fly with a firm strike which Ashford keeper Craig Ross could only palm away. Nwoko reacted quickly and pounced on the loose ball to fire home from 15 yards out.

After going ahead Fleet continued to dominate, creating several further chances, with Nwoko and Darren Wheeler’s pace and constant thorn in the side of Ashford.

The best chance fell to Leigh Rumbold, on 70 minutes, but his powerful drive just missed the target.
Late on, as Fleet tired, only some fine work from skipper Steve Noakes and goal keeper Lyall Beazley kept their side’s lead intact.

Fleet Town: Beazley, Asante, (sub, Griffin, 69mins), Bird, Rumbold, Noakes, Hemmings, Field, Ty Smith, Nwoko, (Anderson, 90), Harkness, Wheeler. Subs (not used): Smalley, Evans, Sinton.

Fleet return to league action on Saturday ,with a trip to 15th-placed Dulwich Hamlet. Kick-off at Dulwich is at 3pm.

On Tuesday Fleet entertain Walton & Hersham at Calthorpe Park, also in the league. The kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Three Worthing goals in the final 20 minutes helped the league leaders see off Fleet on Saturday.

An even game eventually turned in the visitors’ favour in the 70th minute when, against the run of play, Worthing’s Ross Treleaven cleverly stroked home a 20-yard free-kick.

Up to that point Fleet had created the better chances but despite enjoying the greater possession failed to put Worthing keeper Alan Mansfield under any serious pressure.

With four minutes to go another free-kick led to a second for Worthing skipper Paul Kennett, rising unchallenged to head home Ben Johnson's free-kick from a few yards out.

Two minutes later Treleaven added his second, this time in open play, gathering the ball 20 yards out and neatly driving it into the top corner of the net, with Beazley given no chance.

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