United BOSS SAYS teAM ARe BetteR tHiS YeAR

Danny Lye says Ashford United will be better equipped mentally and physically when they meet Cray Valley (PM) in the Kent Senior Trophy final at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium in April.

Runners-up for the second time in three years – following the penalty shoot-out defeat against Sheppey United at the same venue last season – player-boss Lye this week reflected on the reasons why they came up short that day.

He said: “I was disappointed and deflated myself after Greenwich Borough had been handed the trophy for winning the league the previous day, knowing we missed out due to the 10-point deduction, following all our hard work.

“I also made mistakes in my team selection, naming Paul Booth and Micky Phillips in the starting line-up for sentimental reasons, giving them a chance of playing back on their old ground.

“We didn’t have enough legs in the side on the day and didn’t perform. Now we are better in every way.”

United’s chances of promotion this season hinged on the outcome of yesterday’s (Wednesday) appeal to the Football Association to be allowed to be considered for promotion to Step 5, having failed to meet the November 30 deadline, after the paperwork didn’t arrive.

United chief executive Denise Peach was due to attend a personal hearing at Wembley to put the club’s case, in what Lye described as a “season changing” moment.

Meanwhile, Lye says Adrian Stone proved the perfect substitute, after coming off the bench to score a hat-trick in the 3-0 Trophy semi-final win over Canterbury at Homelands on Saturday.

He said: “Adrian was unfortunate not to start but went on and took his chances.

“The first was a typical header and he was then in the right place at the right time for the others.

“We had most of the game, Canterbury had a couple of chances, worked hard and pressed us well but never looked like winning.

“I said to the boys at half-time, they were playing to their 100% maximum, while we had plenty more to give. We went out and put them under even more pressure in the second half.”

Lye is eyeing the treble, which is still on, with United due at Cray Valley in the Macron Southern Counties East League Cup semi-finals next Wednesday (7.45pm kickoff).

League leaders United host strugglers Tunbridge Wells on Saturday (3pm).

George Savage starts a fourgame ban and Ryan James sits out one match after both were sent off at Whitstable last month.