For eighty-one minutes this was a match about corners, and then it was a match about substitutions, and by the time the fourth official held up his board it had become a match about whether Ashford City can defend a one-goal lead against anyone at all.
Northvale scored twice from the same routine — a short corner to the near post, one runner across the six-yard line, Bekele arriving behind him — and Ashford, having spent the week talking about how much work they had done on set pieces, conceded both in almost identical fashion.
The nine minutes
Okonjo’s equaliser on 74 minutes was the best goal of the night and, in the context of what followed, the worst thing that could have happened to his team. Ashford dropped fifteen metres, stopped pressing, and invited a side who had already scored twice from wide areas to keep delivering into their box.
Oyelaran, on for Danso, needed one chance. Marchetti’s pass was the sort that looks obvious only after it has been played, and the finish — first time, across the keeper — settled a match that had been drifting towards a draw neither manager wanted.
What it means
Northvale have won their opening fixture for the fourth consecutive season, and for the second time did it with a goal after the 85th minute. Ashford have now lost seven of their last twelve matches in which they scored first.
Rowe’s dismissal in stoppage time — a second yellow for a foul that served no purpose whatsoever — means he misses the derby. Both managers were asked about it afterwards. Only one of them answered.
