Ashford 17 FRFC 21

I just don’t know how much more of this I can take. Two weeks ago in a preseason friendly Folkestone came back from a 17-3 halftime deficit to beat Charlton Park 18-17. Last week in their opening league match against Medway the lead changed hands constantly before Folkestone won 34-33. Today with his squad decimated by injury, missing 14 forwards and 9 backs Darren Molloy named himself in his squad. Things got worse as the game progressed and we saw his back 3 of pacemen Seyhan Fell, Ben Brooks and Ben Page leave the field with injuries to be replaced by forwards. This was not a classic fantastic attacking performance from the Stones but oh how these lads forced themselves on in a performance full of guts and total commitment to the cause.
This was Ashford’s first home league match at this level having won promotion last season. They went into the game roared on by a large home support and they got off to the best start. It was a full 15 minutes before Folkestone managed to string a few passes together but it was the visitors who were first to score, albeit against the run of play. Folkestone won a penalty in the 3rd minute 45 metres from goal and up stepped Seyhan Fell to take it on despite the brisk wind he struck a beauty. 0-3.
But it was still Ashford enjoying most of the early possession and they took the lead moving from the centre to the left wing working a good overlap for an easy try. 5-3.
Finally Folkestone got into the match and they managed to put some phases together. Richard Lama, in particular, was punching big holes in the defence but too often a Folkestone player either dropped the ball or took the wrong attacking option and time after time they threw away excellent scoring chances much to the frustration of their large support. Folkestone were turning the screw but not driving it home. So it was almost a relief when Fell added a second penalty in the 15th minute to give his team the lead. 5-6.
Folkestone were very much on top and all the play was in Ashford territory. Mat Roots was doing a good impersonation as a mobile mountain as he trundled down the pitch making good ground time after time. The Folkestone pack were taking control of the home unit but when the ball got out to the Folkestone backs it all went wrong.
Suddenly an Ashford defender relieved the pressure on his colleagues by booting the ball down to the pitch. Fell, who was quite obviously still shaken from an earlier collison gathered it but his kick was charged down to give the home team an easy converted score. 12-6. Not surprisingly Fell had to leave the pitch injured soon after and he was then joined on the touchline by winger Ben Brooks. Coach Molloy moved Jon Morton to full back and moved forwards Rob Hudson and Jak Cox into the back line.
Then just before the interval Folkestone finally scored a try. They broke down the right wing and I thought they had mucked it up again when Cox looked as though he was going to isolate himself in contact with a defender but he showed a lovely body swerve to leave the defender for dead and passed out to Morton who danced his way past the last defender to score. 12-11.
In the second half Folkestone’s last paceman, Ben Page, also came off the pitch injured and another forward, the ever reliable Charlie Williams, saw himself in the back line. We saw some terrific performances from Stones players especially Morton, Hudson, Roots, Williams, Ben Flatman, Alex green, Jakub Kopriva, Moose Murray, Will Massey and Jack McMurray. In fact the Stones pack earned this win as they dominated the home pack. And ever since he joined the club as Coach I have been patiently waiting to write the line I really wanted to write and here it is. In the second half former London Wasp Player of the Year and Heineken Cup winner, Darren Molloy took to the pitch and within minutes we had the glorious sight of firstly, Mat Roots battering his way 30 metres up the pitch before offloading to Molloy who took the ball almost all the way to the try line. If only I could finish the line there but then Molloy chose to chuck the ball out to his left. I couldn’t call it a pass and, of course the ball was lost. It remains to be seen if he will beast himself at his next training sessions. All of his pack put in Man of the Match performances but Folkestone Assistant Coach, Tom Johnson who has more rugby knowledge in his little finger compared to most of us touchline “experts” shared it between McMurray and Morton. McMurray was all over the pitch in support and carrying the ball deep into Ashford territiry. For the past few seasons Morton has never realised his early potential but last season he found his confidence and this season has been putting in some superb shifts and is now a 1st XV regular. Both, Morton and McMurray were involved in the next score. Firstly Morton brought the ball out of his 22 making ground up the middle of the pitch pushing off attempted tackles. Crucially he had penetrated the home defence and off loaded to McMurray who was powering up in support. Nothing stopped him as he scored under the posts in the 50th minute. Jon Morton who seemed to be now involved in everything stepped up to score the conversion. 12-18.
Minutes later and Folkestone extended the gap, this time with a penalty from Morton. 12-21.
With just minutes to go Folkestone were back in the home 22 winning another penalty in front of the posts. To the Stones support’s dismay the easy kick for 3 points and a probable match winning lead was spurned as Folkestone chose to take the tap. Unfortunately the attack was again messed up and the ball was turned over to Ashford who cleared the danger.
The Stones support felt the decision not to take the easy kick was a big mistake but let’s give some credit to the players. They felt they could score and they went for it. It’s easy to criticise in hindsight but had they scored the decision would have been heroic. Rugby can be a very cruel mistress. As the home team were also about to discover.
With the ref looking at his watch Ashford launched another attack moving the ball from right to left outpacing the Stones defence. 17-21.
Luckily though the roller coaster ride was coming to a safe end but not before a late twist as Ashford again attacked up their left wing winning penalties as they moved toward the Folkestone line. They found themselves in the Stones 22 and their supporters jumped for joy thinking they had scored in the corner. The visiting support watched the referee, Mr Michaels, closely waiting for his hand to signal a try and his hand did go up but in favour of the Stones, I think, because he had seen a forward movement and then he blew for time.
As the visiting supporters thrust Blood Pressure tablets down their throats coach Molloy was thanking his team for one hell of a gutsy performance.
Home supporters will feel robbed and, indeed, they were just inches from victory but Folkestone enjoyed the majority of possession and territory.They continually blew their try scoring opportunities. On Saturday they will have to be far sharper when they take on Maidstone at the New Burlington. Come along and enjoy the roller coaster ride. It is great fun. Don’t forget the tablets though.

Today's other London SE3 results:

Crawley 0 Horsham 50
Eastbourne 3 Uckfield 28
Maidstone 3 Crowborough 12
Park House 30 Bromley 10
Sheppey 0 Medway 21

Folkestone on 9 points in equal second place in the league with Horsham and Crowborough 1 point behind Uckfield.