Devon derby delight as Ashmoor come from behind

ASHMOOR faced a tough challenge in the 'Devon Derby' against a high-flying Exeter University team who had won four of their opening six matches in the National League.

After last week's excellent win on the road, Ashmoor were without three of their talented youngsters, but welcomed back the experienced Rich Fisher, Cullen Turner and Lewis Hammett. Selection was competitive, with the Jones brothers Lewie and Euan also playing together in the EHL for the first time.

Finally, England Masters keeper Ben Blundy made his first appearance of the season in goal for Ashmoor.

Buoyed by a large crowd, Ashmoor began the game in positive fashion with a fast move which culminated in a Fletch Naisbett-Jones shot which was saved.

However, pressure from Jack Dinnie to the rebound earned a penalty corner. Ashmoor's first effort didn’t lead to a clear shot but from the re-award, Sam Wakeham had his effort bravely blocked.

Midway through the quarter, Rich Ashworth fired in a great ball but Euan Jones's deflection just missed the target.

Having had little opportunity going forward, Exeter eventually forced the ball into the shooting circle through a crowd of players and when Sam Wakeham couldn't clear, the Exeter striker pounced to put the away side in the lead at quarter time.

Exeter started to gain in confidence, and they won their first penalty corner soon after the restart. However, Dinnie got out well to block and the Uni's scoring chance was denied.

Ashmoor were determined to get back in the game and won a penalty corner of their own. Fisher struck the runner with force, but although Ashmoor were initially awarded another PC, the decision was overturned because it was deemed to be a dangerous shot.

A superb move up the right-hand side by Rich Ashworth created a glorious chance for Jones junior, but with the goal gaping the striker unselfishly passed instead of shooting, and the chance went begging. Ashmoor were piling on the pressure, but two more attacking penalty corners came and went, the first effort blocked, and the second set piece fired just wide by skipper Jamie Bishop.

The home side were left to rue their missed chances when on one of their few sorties forward, the University team were awarded a penalty corner for encroachment on an aerial ball by Tom Conway, who otherwise had a near faultless game.

Unfortunately for Ashmoor, the league's top scorer buried his drag flick to double Exeter's lead.

Ashmoor responded straight away, piling forward in their effort to get back into the game.

Jamie Bishop played in Naisbett-Jones and his tricky work along the baseline created a shooting chance on the reverse stick - the shot looped of a Uni defender's stick and Fisher was on hand at the back post to force it home and pull a goal back.

It was nothing more than Ashmoor deserved, and moments before half time a mazy dribble on the left by Conway led to another penalty corner award. Exeter defended resolutely again, and the sides turned round with Ashmoor still 2-1 down.

Ashmoor began the second half brightly with Naisbett-Jones, who was a handful for the Uni team all afternoon, once again creating the chance, this time Will Maynard's effort was blocked. Midway through the third quarter Ashmoor really came into the ascendency.

From their eighth penalty corner they finally got some success. Fisher's shot was saved but not cleared and he followed in with a volley which rebounded to Ashworth, whose neat close-range finish drew the scores level at 2-2 at quarter time.

Immediately at the start of the final quarter, Ashmoor went at the Exeter side again. Pressure near the shooting circle led to Euan Jones’ shot which was brilliantly deflected home by Maynard to give Ashmoor the lead for the first time in the game.

It should have then been more, as a shell-shocked Uni defence allowed Jack Dinnie in round the baseline and picked out Jones in a perfect position - the young striker's shot going agonisingly wide.

Exeter, desperate to get back in the match, piled forward and won a penalty corner. Blundy made an excellent save but the clearance allowed the Uni a second shot and an Ashmoor foot meant another re-award.

Again Blundy was equal to the shot, before Hammett was penalised for a dubious foot, the ball appearing to hit his glove holding his stick.

Ashmoor got out fast to defend it and this time were able to break away and from the counterattack win a penalty corner of their own to relieve the pressure. The shot was saved but the final whistle sounded soon after, signalling a hard-earned comeback win for Ashmoor.

This win lifts Ashmoor up to fourth place in the National League, just one point behind their opponents. The Pallex Player of the Match was a tough decision with a lot of standout performers on the Ashmoor team, but Tom Conway won it for his all-round box-to-box display.

Ashmoor hope to follow up this top result with a third win in succession when they host Chichester this Sunday in the National League West Conference. The game is a 1pm start, and all supporters are welcome at the free-to-see game at their Totnes base.

Elsewhere, Ashmoor women's 1st XI moved up to second place in the league with an emphatic 9-2 victory over Devonport Services 2nds.

Tilly McEwen led the scoring with a five-goal haul, whilst youngster Ella Hubert grabbed a brace. Ashmoor's other scorers were Zoe Harris and Steph Hildreth. Player of the match was to Tilly McEwen for her goalscoring feat!

Meanwhile, the Ashmoor women's 2nd team showed great spirit in their first defeat of the season - a 4-1 loss to Plymouth Lions. The Ashmoor youngsters acquitted themselves well with Ella Hubert getting the goal, and defender Isla Edmeades earning the player of the match award.

This weekend, the 1st team travel to play Plymouth Lions, and the 2nd XI, who also lie in second, are away at top of the table Sidmouth & Ottery.

Ashmoor men's 2nd XI produced their best team performance of the season against a useful Falmouth men's 1st XI.

Ashmoor had much the better of the exchanges creating lots of scoring opportunities but finding the Falmouth keeper in imperious form. Ashmoor had the lion's share of possession and earned a number of penalty corners but just couldn't convert their chances into goals and the match finished 0-0.

Player of the match for Ashmoor was Dec Turner. This Saturday the team face a trip to play the University of Plymouth 1st XI.

Ashmoor men's 3rd team's five-match winning streak finally came to an end in a close game at Isca.

Wes Flippance opened the scoring for Ashmoor, but the more experienced side drew level right on half time from a penalty corner, before scoring once more in the second half.

In a good team performance, Flippance was named as player of the match for Ashmoor. The men's 3rd team remain in second place, one point behind North Devon who they host this Saturday at Totnes in a mouth-watering tie.

The 4th team return to action in Riviera Division Three with a home match against Okehampton men's 2nd XI, looking to maintain their good start to the season.