Kentish Express Ashford & District
Valley hold nerve in shootout
Sheber Challenge Trophy KELLY HITS WINNING SPOT KICK AS DIVISION 3 SIDE TRIUMPH IN CUP TIE
Division 3 side Stour Valley caused a big upset as they beat New Romney 4-2 on penalties in their first round clash.
Ryan Kelly scored the winning spot kick after the game had finished allsquare at 5-5 following extra-time, while Valley goalkeeper Martin Charles saved twice in the shootout.
Jordan Horne netted four times for Valley to help them go on to earn their first victory in all competitions, while Mike Lockyer added a fifth to take the game to extra-time. Division 2 New Romney replied through John Simpson (2), Paul Paddock, Freddie Smith and Kevin Bennett.
Bradley Freund scored four times for Ashford United Colts as another Division 3 side knocked out higher division opposition. Colts’ 9-1 victory came at the expense of struggling Charing Reserves from Division 2.
An own-goal and additional strikes from Alfie Dryland, Liam Giff, Sam Day and Dion Fitzgerald completed the Colts tally. Luke Adams netted Charing’s consolation.
Troggs Reserves beat Division 2 Givaudan 2-1 after extra-time to go through.
Troggs, propping up Division 3 without a point in the league, defeated last season’s Division 3 runners-up.
Declan Burden and Andy Underdown were on target for the Smarden side, while Jon Duke netted for Givaudan.
Three players scored hat-tricks as Aldington proved far too strong for Willesborough Athletic, the villagers running out 11-1 winners.
Alex Williams, Matthew Beasley and Ryan Strand all hit trebles, while Jack Kelly’s double completed the scoring.
Willesborough grabbed a late consolation goal through Matt Jarvis.
Lydd Grasshoppers also enjoyed a decent win, beating Burton Grove 5-0. Top scorer Frankie Steer netted three times, while Kevin Murray hit a brace.
Tom Wilmshurst’s first-half header was enough to see Fox Sunday through to round two as they returned from their trip to Kingsnorth Pilgrims 1-0 winners.
Mersham Sports Reserves just got the better of Ashstone Galacticos, returning from Charing Heath 5-4 winners.
Adam Fairclough scored three times for Mersham and Craig Lang grabbed two himself to cancel out doubles from Galacticos’ Sam Wilson and Josh Knight.
Matt Moon was another hat-trick man, in Ashford Cavaliers’ 3-1 win against White Horse, who replied through Chris Arnold.
Craig Haynes scored five times as Red Heathens won 7-1 win at Ashford Spartans.
Atanas Mavrov and Gabor Sebangel added to the Heathens tally.
AFC Locomotive Reserves beat Bromley Green 3-1, with goals from Luke Walder, Marc Lawrence and Danny Newby. Ryan Ford netted for the hosts. Cheriton will face Windmill HCS in the next round in November. Prince Albert (Adam Aldridge).
Shepway Spartans tasted defeat in the league for the first time this season.
They were well beaten 5-1 at home by title rivals Stanhope & Beaver Rangers. Dan Hawkes’ sixth goal of the season wasn’t enough as Stanhope took home maximum points thanks to a hat-trick from Tom Collins and additional strikes from Jamie Hurst and Richard Floyd.