Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hill goals ensure perfect start
Rory Hill’s early second-half strike and goalkeeper George Kamurasi’s third clean sheet of the season combined to help Ashford United claim their third win of the campaign, at Homelands on Tuesday night.
Hill blasted home from eight yards seven minutes after the break converting Tom Fagg’s lay-off to beat a City side who did enough to earn something from the game, before being denied a point by Kamurasi’s stoppage-time save.
United boss Danny Lye said: “All the teams we have played so far have had a go at us early doors.
“City put us under pressure, so it was important we ground out the result.
“I told the boys at half-time to relax and play their football, and we also we made a couple of adjustments tactically as well.”
City included ex-Ashford favourites Sam Conlon and Gary Mickelborough – 60 goals in a combined total of 232 games – and goalkeeper Daren Hawkes who spent a short spell at United last season.
He saved from Shaun Welford just before half-time and then Tom Michelson was off target with a header.
New-boy Hill – two goals in two games – went close to adding to his tally. Hawkes denied him twice and fired another effort just wide.
Referee Kane Dempster booked six players, including United trio, George Savage, Stuart West and Charlie Dickens.
Kamurasi, Savage, Dickens, Michelson, West, Kingwell, Phillips (Hassan 83 mins), Davisson, Welford, Fagg (Booth 65 mins), Hill. Subs not used Eldridge, McCloud. 196 Match details from Kevin Hall
Shaun Welford wasted little time in getting off the mark as Ashford United claimed the ASHFORD CANTERBURY points in a winning start to their Southern Counties East League campaign at Eden Park Avenue on Saturday.
Welford broke the deadlock with 17 minutes remaining and Rory Hill added United’s second in the 87th minute in his first league game for the club.
Former Hollands & Blair pair Tom Michelson and Stuart West also made their Ashford league debuts with the latter leading the side. Home goalkeeper Rilwan Anibaba denied Welford early on before United keeper George Kamurasi saved from Jamie Humphries at the other end.
The Beckenham keeper then kept his side level, stopping the ball on the line with United convinced the ball had crossed.
The second half saw United defender Pat Kingwell have two efforts blocked, before Ashford survived appeals for a penalty.
Assistant manager Welford, United’s top scorer last season with 37 goals in 44 games, opened the scoring in the 73rd minute.
He went close to getting a second, before being forced off with six minutes remaining, after colliding with Anibaba.
Hill then made sure of the win just before full-time, running towards goal and beating Anibaba with a finish into the far corner.
Kamurasi, Savage, Dickens, Michelson, West, Kingwell, Dalton (McCloud, 53), Davisson, Welford (Phillips, 84), Booth, Hill. Subs not used: Eldridge Lye, Fagg
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