Kentish Express Ashford & District
Welford earns another cup date
Shaun Welford’s early second-half winner on Saturday proved enough for United to clinch a place in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup next month.
They travel to Ryman League, Premier Division side Burgess Hill on Saturday week.
United’s player-assistant manager struck two minutes after half-time, seconds after seeing an effort cleared by a defender.
He picked up a loose ball before netting with a left- foot finish.
Youngster Luke Eldridge made his first start, while Luke Cuthbert partnered skipper Stuart West in central defence, with Pat Kingwell unavailable.
Cuthbert, now the club’s longest-serving player, has played in every one of United’s 10 ties in the competition.
New signing Rory Hill again caught the eye for United, who had their chances to win this preliminary round match by a bigger margin.
Welford went close, seeing one effort tipped onto the bar by goalkeeper Martin Grant, who also denied Hill after he ran the length of the pitch, following a quick throw-out by home keeper George Kamurasi.
The United No.1, still to concede a goal in four outings this season, pushed away a header and then won a one-on-one race for the ball with Devon Fender.
Eldridge and Welford went close at the other end before half-time.
Following Welford’s goal at the start of the second half, Hill saw an effort blocked before Grant foiled him and Welford as the tie headed towards the final quarter.
Ben Davisson miscued another effort, before former Folkestone and Deal striker Alan Tait, on as a secondhalf substitute, fired over in the closing stages.
United claimed a winners’ cheque of £1,925.
Kamurasi, Savage, Dickens, Michelson, West, Cuthbert, Phillips (Dalton 53 mins), Davisson, Welford (Woolley 88 mins), Eldridge (Booth 77mins), Hill.Subs not used: Ince, Lye, McCleod. 225. Match details from Kevin Hall