Kentish Express Ashford & District
United make another final following late heroics
Paul Booth and goalkeeper George Kamurasi combined to help Ashford United reach their second Kent Senior Trophy final in three years courtesy of a penalty shoot-out at Homelands on Saturday.
United were seconds away from going out when Booth popped up with an injury-time equaliser, before Kamurasi saved two spot-kicks to see his side through to meet Kent Invicta League Sheppey United at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Sunday, April 10
New signing, former Charlton youngster Ben Davisson, was the only United player to miss in the shoot-out. Shaun Welford converted the winner, after Kamurasi had kept out efforts by Michael Hagan and Jack Bath.
Club skipper Gary Clarke started ashford utd CorINthIaN his first game since early September following his long lay-off with a torn abductor.
United had chances early on before Mikey Dalton cleared an effort off the line midway through the first half.
Kamurasi then pulled off a fine save to deny Josh James before Luke Cuthbert’s interception ended Joran Campbell’s burst into the home area.
James gave Corinthian the lead five minutes into the second half when he ran onto to a loose ball to fire past Kamurasi. The same player missed an excellent opportunity to double the lead soon after and Charlie Dickens cleared an effort off the line from Luke Tanner.
At the other end, Cuthbert saw his effort saved and just as it looked like United were heading for a second cup exit in successive weeks, up popped Booth to head home the 92nd minute equaliser, getting on the end of Ryan Palmer’s cross. The ball went in despite visiting keeper Dan Bygrave getting a hand to the ball.
With no extra-time in competition, the game went straight to penalties.
Booth and Corinthian’s Connor Johnson scored the opening two kicks, Tom Fagg was successful before Kamurasi kept out Hagan’s effort.
Palmer was Ashford’s third scorer and Alex Billings hit the target to make it 3-2.
Davisson – booked on his debut and one of five yellow cards in the game – saw his effort saved by Bygrave, before Kamurasi pulled off a save, diving to the
to his right to stop keep out Bath.
Welford then stepped up to convert the crucial sixth penalty, maintaining United’s 100% shoot-out success rate in the competition, having beaten Erith Town and Phoenix Sports in similar fashion on their way to the 2013-14 final against Beckenham Town.
Kamurasi, L. Cuthbert, Dickens, Healey (Fagg 75 mins), Dalton, Kingwell, Palmer, Clarke (Davisson 54mins), Saunders, Booth, Hassan (Welford 54 mins). Subs: not used Savage, Pilbeam. 220.
United returned to Southern Counties East League action with a 4-0 win at Croydon last Wednesday..
Mikey Dalton’s first goal for the club and Pat Kingwell’s second of the season put them 2-0 up at half-time, with an own-goal (59) and Paul Booth’s 74th penalty completing the scoring in what was United’s seventh away win of the season.