Magpies rally as Ford lose focus (10.04.04)

THE Magpies did just enough to salvage a point at York Road on Saturday, with Ryan Ashe’s equaliser cancelling out Glen Poole’s scrappy opener.
Ford broke the deadlock with just five minutes on the clock, when United’s keeper Phil Wilson was caught out of position by Jay Murray’s lob, leaving Poole to scramble home the loose ball.
Ashe very nearly replied within two minutes, curling a free-kick just wide of the right-hand upright.
In reality, however, it was the Magpies who were on the back foot, as they were repeatedly out-muscled in midfield. Consequently, it was Ford who looked the more likely to score and Murray thought he had done just that on 20 minutes, when he dinked a header over the wayward Wilson, only to have the effort mysteriously ruled out for offside.
United’s first clear-cut chance from open play produced the equaliser, when Richard Harris speared a long throw into the box on 25 minutes.
Bamboozled by the bounce, the Ford defence could only stand and watch as Ashe smashed the ball across the keeper and inside the far post.
The goal lifted the Magpies and they finished the half with a flourish, as first Rob Saunders and then Peter Dean made decent attempts on goal, but without success.
The second half contained little to recommend it, apart from staunch defending, although Ford did get the ball in the back of the net once again, only to have it ruled out for a foul on the accident-prone Wilson.
At the other end, man of the match Ashe went close to completing a deserved brace, but steered the ball just wide of the upright, with the keeper in no-man’s land.
Full-back Bryan Smith also made his presence felt in the latter stages of the game, as he began pushing forward down the right flank.
Unfortunately, no one managed to create that vital opening and this rather lifeless game gradually petered out into a drab draw.

DOGFIGHT: Ford United’s Patrick Omgba and Rob Saunders contest the aerial battle at York Road on Saturday. Ref: 84983/13