Smissen back after United’s SOS call

CHAMBERS PERSUADES FORWARD TO PUT HIS TRIATHLONS ON HOLD

Michael Smissen has swapped triathlons for a return to Ashford United as the club’s early season injury problems continue.

James Everitt is the latest casualty, out for up to three weeks with a broken bone in his foot, sustained late in the 1-1 Southern Counties East league draw against Canterbury City on Bank Holiday Monday,

He joins fellow new signing Andy Irvine on the sidelines, still recovering from a hamstring problem, which rules him out of a return to his old club Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

Striker Smissen started on the bench in the 1-0 home FA Cup defeat by unbeaten Ryman League, Division 1 South leaders Chipstead on Saturday, after answering boss Paul Chambers’ plea to put his self-imposed break on hold.

The 30-year-old assistant head teacher at Aylesford Sports College, said: “I told Paul at the end of last season I was probably going to give football a miss but wouldn’t sign for any other club and Ashford would be my first port of call.

“I intended concentrating on triathlons but Paul rang me last week asking me if I could help them out for a couple of weeks and he can be a persuasive man at times.

“I hadn’t kicked a ball for four months but went on with about 10 minutes left and missed a good chance to put us level.

“We took the game to Chipstead and deserved a draw. They weren’t as good as their results suggest.”

Chambers saw his team beaten by an early second-half penalty and also have a goal ruled out.

The manager said: “I thought it was the best we have played this season.

“For penalties, I always look how far the ball travels. The referee said Ollie Finch won the ball but took the player, which I didn’t understand and my reaction was the same for his reasons to disallow our goal. I thought he was poor for both sides.”

Two other returning players, Jordan Hill and Roy Guiver were also on the bench last week.

Ashford travel to Woodstock Sports next Wednesday (7.45pm).