Town put in a good performance on yet another rain wrecked pitch - this latest one - at The Homelands. Indeed the game was close to being called off and when we arrived at about 7.15, the gates were locked and the referee was inspecting the pitch (which was far better than that Town had been mullahed on at Grantham). He decided the game would go ahead to the relief of the fair number of Town supporters who'd made their way over.

Town started well on top and made the best of starts when a long run into the box by Jonesie resulted in his legs being taken away. Terry - a second 90 minutes in 4 days - put the penalty away comfortably to give Town an early lead. No Simmo tonight - Town also missing Stuart Playford, Macca and Chris Honey. Graham Webb came into the side and worked his socks off for the 90 minutes. He and Jonesie gave the Ashford defence trouble all night.

Webbie it was who doubled the lead on 25 minutes - taking advantage of a comical cock up by the rotund Ashford keeper who seemed to be waiting for the ball to roll out of play for a goal kick when it had virtually stopped - there was never enough momentum on the ball for it to go out - and while the keeper looked at the ball, Webbie knicked it away and whacked in Town's second. Town were well on top for the rest of the half and it was desperate defending and some good work by the keeper that kept it down to 2-0 at the interval.

Ashford came back into the game after the break - but Town always looked as if they could score more goals - and it was a mystery they didn't add to the tally. Terry, DJ, Yatesie and Jonesie all featured in worth while attempts on goal while - at the other end - Kess pulled off a good diving save to his left on 80 minutes after Town's defence had given the ball away. The closest to Town's third was a chaotic sequence in the Ashford area when a dodgy back pass caused all sorts of problems.

So, 2-0 it finished and nice to see that losing sequence of 3 games not extended. Ashford clearly have all kinds of trouble with a very weak team on display again. The attendance of 204 was by far the lowest for a league game between the sides (there might've been a 190 odd gate for a DM Cup tie once - but those games don't count because nobody gives a shit about the DM Cup) - and had it not been for the good 70 odd Town supporters, the gate would've been pitiful. Things are are not right at The Homelands just now.

But well done to Town. A good performance on an awful pitch - and three deserved points. Let's hope we can see out 2000/01 with a home win on Saturday when Rothwell are in town.

SS

Town's season finished in style with as good a first half performance as you'll ever see. Town were deservedly 3-0 up at the interval and it could so easily have been 4 or 5, their domination was absolute throughout the 45 minutes.

The game was preceeded by the Player of the Year awards which were split by one vote between Simmo, runner up, and Macca who came out on top. Macca didn't play as expected - he badly needs a two or three month break to sort his injury problems out. No Jonesie either - something to do with University. I was surprised Paul didn't feature higher in the Player of the Year votes - he's had a great season. But - well done to Macca and let's hope he's back to his best next season.

Back to the game which was played on a dry pitch in bright sunshine. Before Chris Honey opened the scoring, Tony Burt had been twice denied in as many minutes by two good saves by the Rothwell keeper. First a header was pushed out at full stretch and from the resulting corner, the keeper tipped Burtie's half volley over the bar. Rothwell weren't in that first half apart from one headed effort put past Kess's post - and on 15 minutes Town went 1-0 up when Chris broke clear and placed an immaculate shot wide of the keeper and inside the far post. No doubt about it - Chris's season has looked right up since he broke his league duck against Spalding a couple of months ago. He's finished the season looking the part - and who knows - he might be the answer to our striking problems next August.

Tommy O broke his duck as well - on hand to bang home Yatesie's cross that flew across the 6 yard box where Tommy was running in unmarked. That a minute or so after Yatesie had seen the keeper off his line and tried a Terry type lob which the back pedalling keeper did well to tip over the bar. Tony Burt might've had a hat trick - he had a third effort well held - but on 32 minutes, Town's lead was three goals when a deep centre from Simmo was headed in by Mylie.

The half time buzz was basically one of frustration that Town hadn't done this back in August and September. The performance in that first 45 was truly outstanding against a side that had recently beaten Chelmsford and Baldock.

The second half was a non event - as is so often the case when a side goes in 3-0 up at the break. Rothwell gave it a go at the start of the second half, but Kess had very little to do as his defence coped comfortably with what Rothwell threw at it. The two scoring opportunities saw Mat head a Mylie cross wide and Simmo's fine run in the 90th minute resulted in a shot that cannoned back off the base of the post.

SS