United away to a flier

Shaun Welford and Paul Booth showed why Ashford are in no rush to replace Stuart Zanone.

Both men scored as the Nuts & Bolts made it three wins out of four in Southern Counties East on Bank Holiday Monday.

The match, Homelands groundsharers Canterbury’s ‘home’ fixture, was switched to Hythe’s Reachfields venue due to delays in Ashford completing their 3G pitch.

United looked at home against Canterbury, despite the change in venue.

And they took the lead when assistant boss Welford – in charge, with manager Danny Lye away at a wedding – opened the scoring after 38 minutes.

Player-coach Paul Booth added the second goal nine minutes after the break.

Booth and Welford formed a formidable partnership as Maidstone won promotion via the Ryman League, Division 1 South play-offs three seasons ago.

Boss Lye expects the strikers to cause plenty of problems playing down a level and help Ashford over the loss of last season’s 47-goal top scorer Zanone, who left last week.

Lye said: “We don’t need to replace Stuart because we’ve got Shaun and Paul at the club. Buster Smissen hasn’t CANTERBURY ASHFORD UTD featured yet, either, and we have Darren Marsden who can play in the hole, so there’s plenty of cover.

“We know Welford and Boothy works as a partnership. Welford’s there as a targetman for Boothy to play off.

“They scored goals together in the Ryman League and I’m sure they will at this level.

“Boothy had half a season in Southern Counties East with Tunbridge Wells last year, so he knows what it’s all about.

“It’s new to Shaun but a physical league, so him.”

Ashford are up to third in the early standings following Monday’s victory.

Lye added: “We were disappointed with the game we lost but we can’t grumble with three wins out of four.

“We’ve got seven games coming up in September and the squad should come into its own.We’ll set our targets and see how we go.” it’s quite it suits