Chichester City and Ashford enjoy another five-goal battle - but this time the outcome is different

City’s four-match winning run came to an end as Ashford got their revenge in a feisty five-goal encounter at Oaklands Park.

Two goals for George Purcell and one for Adrian Stone meant Kaleem Haitham’s double couldn't stop Chichester ending empty-handed.

Just three days earlier Chi had stunned the league leaders at Homelands with a super winner from Lloyd Rowlatt. That was a first defeat in six for the Nuts and Bolts while Chichester claimed a fourth win on the spin.

There was just the one change to City's starting XI for this reverse fixture with Ryan Davidson returning to the backline in place of Corey Heath, which meant Captain Connor Cody slotted into a more familiar centre-half role. New signing Ben Mendoza was named on the bench.

Matt Axell swung in an early free kick which was claimed by keeper Sam Mott. Then Ashford centre-half Mo Kamara, who was sent off against City at the weekend, marauded forward and crossed to Stone but his flicked header took a nick off Cody and Steve Mowthorpe got down quickly to gather.

Jamie Horncastle steered a volley wide after he arrived late in the box to meet a Haitham cross. He then tried his luck from long distance but could only fire an effort straight into the gloves of Mott.

Ashford took the lead in the 11th minute when Aaron Condon crossed from deep and picked out an unmarked Purcell in the box who looped his header over Mowthorpe and via the underside of the bar, the ball bounced over the line.

A minute later the hosts levelled through Haitham. A long ball from Cody was latched on to by Rob Hutchings, Haitham joined the attack and the winger cut back inside from the right flank and bent a delightful curled shot into the far corner.

However poor defending from a corner meant the visitors restored their advantage, concluding a crazy four-minute spell. Condon swung in another dangerous ball and Stone managed to nod home at the far post.

The match heated up with strong tackles made, and the referee deemed Jake McIntyre’s tackle on Davidson dangerous and he went into the book as tempers flared.

The Nuts and Bolts strengthened their hold on the match when Purcell was played in down the left and rifled the ball past Mowthorpe, who couldn’t get a strong enough glove on it to give the away side a two-goal lead on the half-hour mark. City will be glad to see the back of the dangerman, who has scored three goals in two games against Chi.

Just before half-time Chichester reduced the two-goal deficit when good work from Axell in the box tempted Kamara into fouling the man he was sent off for challenging just three days earlier. Haitham took responsibility and sent Mott the wrong way for his 12th goal of the season.

Chichester reshuffled the pack at the break as Rocks midfielder Mendoza came on for his Chichester debut in place of Ryan Peake. Ben Pashley slotted alongside Cody and Hutchings dropped back to left-back.

Ashford’s back line stood strong when Scott Jones had an effort on the spin bravely charged down and then Mott was quick of his line to beat Haitham to a through ball. At the other end Tom O’Connor whipped in a dangerous free kick which somehow evaded two Ashford heads.

Stone was played clean through on goal, but his audacious chip fell straight into the hands of Mowthorpe.

In a second half of few chances the final ten minutes sprang into life with City searching for the equaliser. Rowlatt drilled a low effort just the wrong side of the post, then Cody did well to chest down the ball, but his long-range shot was comfortably gathered by the Nuts and Bolts stopper.

In stoppage time, Axell sent in a corner which caused havoc in the Ashford box and twice the Oaklands faithful and the Chi players thought the ball had crossed the line, but the officials didn’t agree. Another Axell corner caused problems and this time Jones’ header was blocked on the line as Chichester keeper Mowthorpe was even thrown into the box as Chi desperately looked for the leveller.

In unfamiliar territory Mowthorpe found himself on the ball and skipped past a challenge before he was brought down. Again, Axell sent in a cross which dropped to Rowlatt on the edge but the No10 could only scoop his shot over the bar.

The result leaves Chichester still in seventh and six points off fifth-placed Herne Bay. Next up is a visit from Sevenoaks at Oaklands Park this Saturday (3pm) and then old county league rivals Haywards Heath make the trip to Oaklands on Tuesday, March 10 (7:45pm).

Chichester: Mowthorpe, Davidson, Pashley, Axell, C Cody, Peake, Hutchings, Horncastle, Jones, Rowlatt, Haitham. Subs: Biggs, Heath, Mendoza, Dunn, G Cody.