Kentish Express Ashford & District
New boss wins opener
Ashford Sunday League, Premier Division Division 1 Division 2 Division 3
New manager Mike Bass made a winning start as Hamstreet beat Brewmaster 3-2.
Adam Mercer, Dave Bass’ penalty and new signing Jordan King set up the win with Gary Clarke getting both goals for Brews – a second defeat leaving the them in the bottom-two.
Another new-boy, Chris Dawes, scored twice as newly-promoted AFC Locomotive beat Mersham Sports 5-2.
Hayden Slade, Robbie Greenfield and Liam Whiting added the others.
Sports, who saw a penalty saved by Loco keeper Ben Stevens, scored through Robbie Clark and Dom Clements.
Charlie Jupp grabbed a hat-trick as Ashford Dynamo beat Troggs 6-1. Chris Shanney, Joe Brion’s first for the club and Ben Sly’s free-kick rounded things off, with Ben Allen netting for Troggs.
Paul Burt’s treble helped defending champions Market Hotel get their season up and running with a 5-1 win at bottom side Aldington.
Harry Yates also scored and Carlum Macleod added the fifth – his first goal for his new team – while Danny Lang headed in the home side’s consolation. Club record scorer Andy Crouch and strike partner Chris Cornford both scored hat-tricks as Iden Park eased home 10-0 at home to Red Heathens
Francis Walker (2), Jay Crisford and Ben Heffernan completed double figures for the East Sussex side, relegated last season after failing to win a game.
Joe Morley grabbed another treble, including a penalty, as newcomers Cheriton claimed their second win, beating Batchelors SSC 5-0.
Teddy Easthorpe and AJ Boydy got the other two, Batchelors finishing with 10 men after defender JJ Pyke was sent off.
Willesborough drew 2-2 with fellow promoted Sandgate.
Ryan Carter and Luke Burdon netted for Borough, with Jamie Burton getting both for the visitors.
Josh Smith scored twice for Charing, 2-0 winners at home to Kennington. Tom Collins and Dan Cornell’s deflected effort earned Stanhope & Beaver Rangers their first win, 2-0 at Shepway Spartans. Substitute Tom Brown scored a hat-trick as Prince Albert came from behind to beat Fox Sunday 4-3 at Sandyacres.
Craig Thompson got the other with a lob. Sam Lancaster (2) and Phil Redman netted for Fox. Lancaster also missed a penalty.
Frankie Steer’s treble steered Grasshoppers home as they came from behind to beat Burton Grove 6-4.
Barry Willcox’s first-minute strike and Andy Neal – with his fourth of the season – put Grove 2-0 up before Hoppers turned things around with goals by Paul Paddock, Shane Holding and Steer’s first, to lead at the break.
Steer completed his hat-trick with Ben Holding adding the sixth goal. Neal and James Ross added two more for Burton.
Charing Reserves goalkeeper Dan Cook saved a penalty as his side won 3-1 at Ashford Cavaliers. Goals from Kris Melachrino, Ben Larden and Jacob Sikora saw Charing to their first win since April, while Michael Perry pulled one back for Cavaliers.
Scoring honours were shared as New Romney beat fellow new-boys Willesborough Reserves 5-1.
Aurin Johnson, John Simpson, Matt Tilson, Bailey Pearson and Phil Aspri were all on target, with Aaron Neill pulling one back late on for his new team. A shortage of match officials led to only one game going ahead – Ashtone Galacticos claiming back-to-back wins with a 2-1 success at home to Ashford United Colts.
Sam Gilbert put Colts ahead and had chances to add to their lead but Galacticos responded after the break, as goals from Mark Howells and Dan Pinder saw them home to top the table.
Adam Feacey scored twice and Adam Bellman added the other as Mersham Reserves beat Oceans Eleven 3-2.
The scheduled fixture was played as a friendly after the appointed referee was injured before kick-off.