Kentish Express Ashford & District
Chambers takes good look at squad
Paul Chambers is crediting Buster Smissen with the Ashford goal that beat Folkestone Invicta in the pre-season friendly at Homelands on Saturday,
Smissen won his battle for the ball with defender Frankie Chappell, leaving goalkeeper Robert French embarrassed as he launched an air-kick attempting to clear and watched the ball go in.
Boss Paul Chambers said: “It was good to see Buster open his account and we have been working on things like that in training. It was a bit comical but thinks like that happen in games – and we’ll take it.”
Chambers used 17 players, including new faces Ian Wallace, midfielder Mark Wallis – at Lydd last season – Smissen and Wesley Foord in the first 45 minutes. ASHFORD UTD FOLKESTONE
Five players – Liam Whiting, Ollie Finch, Dan Morrison, Sam Fisher and Adam Cuthbert played the whole game – while ex-Hythe man Billy Somerville, Foord’s team-mate at Ashford League champions Golden Arrow last season, and goalkeeper John Sparks were all given a run-out in the second-half.
Joe Mant, in goal, had little to do in the first half, but ex-Deal man Sparks was tested by Chappell’s header, five minutes after the restart, and then had to block from Dane Luchford.
Substitute Sam Conlon then shot at French after a move that also involved Kieran Byrne and Tom Scorer
Byrne tried his luck from distance nine minutes from time, but saw his shot saved by Invicta substitute goalkeeper Roddy Hayward,
Invicta had Dan Morrison to thank in the final minute, heading the ball clear at the far post.
Chambers added: “We are still looking at everybody at the moment, and will carry on doing that before whittling down the squad as the season gets closer,
“We have picked up a few little knocks, but we will assess them in training this week.”
United host Kent League runnersup VCD on Saturday ( 3pm) before Canterbury City visit in the annual Frank Norris Trophy meeting on Tuesday (7.45pm).