Not a good performance tonight. It took most of the first 45 minutes to get used to the pace of the 3G surface. Too slow bringing the ball out of defence and again too much passing around at the back. In fairness to the hosts, they were really up for the challenge and pressed relentlessly straight from the kickoff. Always first to the ball and very quick to intercept the pass and press forward. Although I do not recall Jordan Perrin have a single shot to save.

Ashford played the game at a frantic pace, only Keiron Campbell played the game at their pace.

The hosts open the scoring in the 19th minute. A mix up and a failed clearance from a dangerous cross into the box from full back Tariq Ossai, which Jay May headed towards goal. The ball hit a defender and dropped to Johan Ter Horst to bundle over the line. The ball was cleared away, but the assistant referee deemed the ball did cross the line before it was hooked away.

Bay tried to claw their way back into the game. Campbell was the most effective player with his fast, mazy runs. On the half hour it was Campbell with a fierce volley from twenty yards that went, inches, over the bar. Bay looked like getting used to the surface and had a good five-minute spell of positive play, forcing Ashford to defend deep. Then killer blow, an unnecessary pass back to the keeper from 35yards out, bounced in front of Perrin and spun back out of reach, allowing Ter Horst to nip in, round the keeper and roll into the empty net.

With a two-goal lead Ashford appeared to take ‘the foot of the gas’ which allowed Bay back in the game. Bay took full advantage of this and produced a couple of good chances. Zak Ansah, put clear by Adem Ramadan, worked his way into the box but was forced wide by former Bay, Ben Gorham. Ansah still got his shot away, which fizzed across the face of the goal and away to safety. Minutes later the same combination saw Ansah through again and this time, made no mistake, stroking the ball wide of the keeper to put Bay back in the game, just prior to the half time whistle.

The second half Bay came more in the game, but again the build-up play was very pedestrian and Ashford were able to get their defenders back in position to thwart any attempts to threaten their goal. The play became a bit stop and start, with numerous fouls from both sides. Tommy Fagg received a second caution and was dismissed with 15 minutes left in the game, so time-wasting tactics were applied as the hosts saw out the game to secure the win and take over top spot in the league. Bay slipped to 4th.