SDFL Division Four

Ashburton reserves 2,

Kingsbridge and Kellaton returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Ashburton reserves.

The Ks were forced to come from behind but were good value for the crucial win – which lifts them six points above the division four drop zone.

Kingsbridge arrived in Ashburton knowing they had to turn around their sluggish form to propel them away from relegation trouble, but they couldn’t have got off to a worse start as Ashbur­ton hit an early goal.

Just minutes in, the Ashburton left winger turned three Kings­bridge defenders inside out and smashed the ball in to the near post from inside the six-yard box.

That early setback could have forced Kingsbridge’s players in to their shells but instead they came out fighting.

Jon Blewitt and Alex Thomas seized control of the midfield battle and began to set their side in motion.

Dom Farleigh and Seb Bartram-Vowles combined well on the edge of Ashburton’s penalty area before the latter was unceremoniously chopped down by a defender.

Farleigh stepped up to take the free kick and hit the ball crisply in to the bottom corner of the net, past the des­pairing dive of the home goalkeeper, to take Kingsbridge level.

The match threatened to ignite as the first half wore on as a home defender went in late on Farleigh to be rewarded with a yellow card from the referee.

The sides went in level at the break with Kingsbridge knowing they’d have to create more clear-cut openings to have a chance of taking all three points.

Luckily they did just that, as Farleigh tried his luck from distance which the goalkeeper was equal to and Bar­tram-Vowles zipped an effort wide.

Alex Thomas was the man who managed to nudge Kingsbridge in front in this crucial clash. Brett Auger and Bartram-Vowles linked up down the right flank, the ball was scrambled away inside the box but Thomas collected and dispatched the ball in to the top left corner of the net.

The winning margin was increased to two goals thanks to the hard work of substitute Matt Tucker.

With the Ashburton defender shielding the ball out of play, Tucker chased down the seemingly lost cause and won the ball back. He delivered a low cross to the front post and Stephen Dixon was on hand to hit the ball in to the back of the net from six yards.

That goal gave the Ks some breathing space but Ashburton then began their aerial assault. Central defenders Adam Phillips and Paul Dixon stepped up to the plate when their team needed them most.

As ball after ball was delivered in to the box, Dixon and Phillips time and time again rose highest to preserve Kingsbridge’s lead.

If the home side was going to get another foothold in this match it was always going to come via a set piece, and that proved to be so.

An Ashburton corner was delivered temptingly to the back post and the home striker bulldozed in to bring his side just one goal behind Kingsbridge.

With five minutes left on the clock Kings­bridge were defending doggedly to guard their three points but Ash­burton won another corner just before the final whistle.

The ball was crossed once more to the back post but it was hacked clear by the defence. Auger ran to collect the bouncing ball on the half way line and nodded it to the onrushing Farleigh.

The speedster still had plenty of work to do as he ran from the half way line at the Ashburton back line.

Farleigh expertly rounded the ‘keeper and side footed the ball in to the back of the net to cap a fine day at the office for Kingsbridge and Kellaton.