Zanone seals the victory on debut

After two home draws and an unlucky exit in the FA Cup, Ashford returned to winning ways as they eased to a 2-0 victory in front of a crowd of 421 at the Culverden Stadium on Saturday.

Second-half strikes from Keiran Byrne and debutant Stuart Zanone earned Paul Chambers’ side their fifth straight win over Wells and the victory was fully deserved as United were much the better side throughout.

The hosts looked too square and nervous at the back and did well to remain on level terms at the break after Ashford went close through Adam Cuthbert, Tom Scorer and Byrne, TUN WELLS ASHFORD UTD whose right foot shot was turned round for a corner by goalkeeper Steve Lawrence.

However, the second half was only six minutes old when Ashford made the breakthrough, with Byrne heading home his fifth goal from a deep cross by Luke Cuthbert.

Ashford continued to pressure the home defence and Lawrence fumbled a shot which Gary Clarke couldn’t quite follow up and then on the hour, Zanone fired just over. Ashford keeper Joe Mant, whose safe handing was in sharp contrast to his Wells counterpart, was called into action to save well with his feet from home debutant Harry Smith and then Mant tipped another effort past the post as Wells enjoyed a spell of pressure.

But, with seven minutes left, Ashford wrapped up the points when substitute Michael Smissen picked out Zanone who finished coolly from 10 yards out.