Setting the standard

Danny Lye is pleased Ashford United top the Southern Counties East League Premier Division after challenging his players to take advantage of their rivals not being in action.

The 8-0 trouncing at Rochester put United back in pole position on goal difference, ahead of AFC Croydon Athletic, who were on FA Vase duty, along with third-placed Crowborough Athletic, who United visit on Saturday.

Boss Lye said: “Now we are top again we want to stay there.

“I said to the boys in my team-talk before the game to go out and make the most of the two other teams not being in action.

‘I asked them to go out and score three more’

“We pressed them hard from the start, went 3-0 up quickly and it was game-over already by then.

“I then asked them at half-time to go out and score three more goals, after having a bit of a go at them, when we switched off after being 4-0 up at the break against Deal the other week.”

United’s leadership will be tested by the league’s two other in-form teams in the space of four days, with the trip to Crowborough followed by the re-arranged home game against Sevenoaks Town next Tuesday.

Lye said: “We have watched Crowborough twice recently and I saw Sevenoaks beat Erith Town last week but if we turn up and everything is right, then we can beat anybody on the day.”

Dave Botterill made his debut against Rochester, having signed from Chatham the previous day.

Lye said: “I put seven days in for him about a month ago but then Ryan James came in.

“Dave has been worried by a chest infection for the last three weeks but contacted me on Friday saying he wanted to sign.”

Former Faversham and Hythe midfielder Botterill played at left back, replacing Charlie Dickens, who is out with a broken wrist sustained in the 3-2 Kent Senior Trophy win at Sutton Athletic.

United will start their FA Vase campaign with a second round trip to Southern Combination, Premier Division Eastbourne Town next month.

Goalkeeper George Kamurasi misses the next three games after being sent off at Sutton, so Nic Taylor is likely to be recalled.