Kentish Express Ashford & District
Byrne double just the ticket
SUPER FIVES:
Chris Commerford and Elliott Atkinson netted as champions Misfitts ended the Ashford Super Fives Summer League season with a 2-1 win over McDonalds.
Runners-up Saints beat Alsorts 2-0, Southloco defeated Wanted by the same score, while Aldington maintained their form with a 2-1 victory over Amigos. Rejects claimed the points with a 2-1 success over Spartans, while Stour beat Ames 1-0. Libyans and Homebull drew 0-0.
Two more teams are needed for the new Winter League, beginning on September 10. Anyone interested should contact Ray Knowler on 01233 627942 or John Fenning on 01233 621303. A stunning strike by Kieran Byrne was the highlight for Ashford United who negotiated their first FA Cup hurdle with victory in this extra preliminary round tie at the Spectrum Arena on Saturday.
United’s reward was a winners’ cheque of £1,500 and a home tie in the next round against Ryman League, Division 1 South pacesetters Chipstead.
Byrne scored twice in six secondhalf minutes, making three goals in two games.
In a contest played on a bumpy pitch surrounded by an athletics track, Keelan Mooney clipped the woodwork after 12 minutes, as United took control against their Combined Counties League hosts but failed to make the most of GUILDFORD CITY ashFORD UTD several chances in the first half.
Home pair Jack Guilford and Khari Oriogun then tested Joe Mant at the other end in a goalless first 45 minutes. Things changed, though, within three minutes of the restart courtesy of Byrne’s excellent left-foot finish.
The home defence cleared his first ball but seeing home keeper Anthony Hall off his line, Byrne produced the perfect finish, curling a 30 yard strike into the top left-hand corner.
Byrne was denied a second moments later, before doubling the lead with a close-range effort, converting Gary Mickelborough’s set-up.
Substitute Ollie Finch’s heavy challenge sparked a flare-up which earned him a second successive booking – joining Mickelborough and Liam Whiting, back after suspensionm in referee Craig Simpson’s total of seven yellow cards. The teams last met 41 years ago and guess who
scored? Saturday’s game was
the first meeting between the two former Southern League rivals for 41 years. Present England manager Roy Hodgson scored for Ashford in a 4-3 defeat to Guildford at Essella Park in November 1972.