England Hockey National League Conference West

Reading Men's 2nd XI. 0

Ashmoor Men's 1st XI. 4

ASHMOOR men's 1st team gained their biggest win of the season and completed the double over Reading in this weekend’s National League match.

After both sides had early opportunities, Ashmoor took the lead midway through the first quarter. Rich Fisher found Fletch Naisbett-Jones in space who finished well and enjoyed the goal with a baby celebration to honour the birth of Freddie Tancock, newly arrived son of midfield stalwart Ben.

As Ashmoor grew in confidence, they started to take more control of the match, passing the ball with good variety and pace. Defender Ben Barnett was on hand to volley home a rebound and make it 2-0 before skipper Jamie Bishop extended the lead with an effort from a penalty corner won by Tom Barnett.

With halftime fast approaching, Bishop had a great run along the right baseline and was stopped illegally. Bishop went for goal again from the resulting penalty corner and although it was saved, Bloomfield fired in the rebound for 4-0 at the interval.

Reading came out determined to salvage something from the game in the second half but despite some pressure, Ashmoor's defensive unit dealt well with it and played their way out of trouble.

Ashmoor kept their clean sheet intact at one end and were almost on target with goal number five at the other end. It wasn’t to be though and the game finished with a nevertheless satisfying 4-0 victory for Ashmoor.

Goalkeeper Paddy Walton goes equal top of the clean sheet table for the whole of the England Hockey men’s National League following this latest shutout. Ashmoor, now up to third, travel to face Team Bath Buccaneers this Sunday in their penultimate match of the season.

Sam Wakeham earned the Pallex player of the match award.