Ashton Prime 1-2 Woodlands Reserves
Saturday 27th April 2013, Cadogan Recreation Ground, Tunbridge Wells
A mixed season for APFC ended with a game against title-chasing Woodlands Reserves at Cadogan.
The home side were without Mazurkiewicz, Ellis, Nowak and Henshall but they welcomed back captain Abu into midfield and experienced due Davis and Cary to the defence. Sykes moved up to left-wing, with Sander on the other flank in front of Buckland. Flamank, Gibson, Goulding and the suddenly prolific Goldsmith were on the bench.
Woodlands needed 3 more points from either this game or their Bank Holiday match against AFC Valour Reserves to secure the title, but Prime and particularly ex-Woodlands striker Pete Ferguson were up for causing another upset and completing the 'double' over their old rivals.
Woodlands got the game underway but it was a very even opening 10 minutes with Prime's defence holding up well with Buckland and Davis making some important interceptions and Cary and Williams winning plenty of headers.
Prime's dangerman again seemed to be Sykes who was causing the Woodlands right-back plenty of problems with his runs and dangerous crosses - although he was guilty of shooting on sight a bit too often - sometimes from near the half-way line!
Barker and Ferguson were proving a handful for the Woodlands centre-backs as they harried and chased the ball into corners, winning Prime plenty of corners and throw-ins.
It was from a Woodlands throw that a moment of interest came when linesman Goldsmith shouted to referee Delves to keep an eye on the way that the Woodlands right-back was throwing the ball almost one-handed. Delves decided to relieve Goldsmith of his linesman duties and the flag was handed to Gibson. Ridiculous!
Balcombe came out quickly from his line to clear a dangerous Woodlands through-ball but generally the leaders were struggling to find any rhythm and it was Prime who looked more dangerous and they took the lead when Barker's flick came to Sander making a diagonal run into the box and he rolled a left-footer under the keeper and into the corner of the net.
Woodlands tried to hit back before the interval but Buckland made a fine interception as the last man and it was the home side who ended the half on top with Abu and Walker starting to boss the midfield.
At the break, Flamank replaced Davis at left-back but the message was clear - Woodlands would obviously play better in the second half, but keep getting the ball wide and get balls into the box.
Straight from the kick-off Prime nearly broke through with Sander finding space in the inside right channel but his cross-shot was cut out.
Woodlands applied pressure for about 10 minutes after that, with a succession of corners and throw-ins deep in Prime territory, but it seemed that Prime had weathered the storm and The Numbers very nearly doubled their lead when Ferguson curled in a superb cross from the left-wing, which Barker would have nodded home had it not been for the keeper's fingertips.
A goal-mouth scramble in the Woodlands box somehow did not result in a Prime goal soon after - with Sykes, Ferguson and Barker all having half-chances as the Woodlands goal led a charmed life.
But with 25 minutes left, Woodlands got a goal out of the blue when their tricky striker cut in from the right corner of the area and hit and shot right into the corner of Balcombe's net.
Prime responded by sending on Gibson for Buckland with Sander switched to right-back.
The game was now anyone's with Sykes and Ferguson linking up well on Prime breaks, but the final ball was lacking.
Woodlands got their noses in front to huge cheers from their bench on 75 minutes when their striker bundled the ball in on the rebound after Balcombe saved the first attempt.
Goldsmith replaced Sander for the last 10 minutes as Prime went 3-4-3 and tried to salvage a point. He immediately hurled in a couple of long throws into the Woodlands box but the visitors dealt well with them but when the ball dropped to Goldsmith on the half-way line, his dinked ball over the top for Ferguson sent the striker through on the keeper, but his effort hit the bar and rebounded to safety to the anguish of the home side.
Prime were nearly made to pay an even heavier price for the miss as Woodlands had a man over on the break, but Balcombe made a stunning save at the far post to keep Prime alive.
Woodlands' experience was now showing though and they kept the ball in the corners and ran down the clock to frustrate Prime.
The final whistle sounded just as Goldsmith thought he had won a last-gasp corner and Woodlands could celebrate winning the title.
Prime can take solace from the fact that again they were the better side and were very unlucky not to pick up at least a point. A solid season for The Numbers but it could have been much better had they not conceded so many important late goals throughout the campaign.