Kentish Express Ashford & District
Win puts Lye’s men back on top
ASHFORD HOLL & BLAIR Ashford United moved back to the top of the table on Tuesday night as the jostle for the Southern Counties East League title continued.
They completed the double over Hollands & Blair at Homelands, while Crowborough slipped to a surprise third home defeat of the season, 1-0 against Croydon, leaving United a point clear having played a game more than their East Sussex rivals.
The downside to the victory were injuries to new signings Richard Avery (hamstring) and Joe Vines (pulled abductor), with player-boss Danny Lye coming off the bench to play the final 34 minutes.
He said: “It was a better performance than in the last three games when we haven’t won.
“Our shape and organisation were much better and we managed the game better against a physical Blair side.”
He added: “I made a late decision to name myself on the bench and we then lost both centre-halves, so I had to go on but came through all right.”
Vines had a mixed night, being forced off after putting United in front after 15 minutes with a downward header from Ben Davisson’s free-kick.
Shaun Welford made it 2-0 four minutes later, scoring at the second attempt after Blair goalkeeper Shaun Wicks had saved his first effort.
Ashford keeper George Kamurasi then raced out to stop former United striker Gary Lockyer in a one-on-one.
Wicks, replacing injured first choice Ronan Forde, was Blair’s man-of-the-match, keeping out a strike by Ryan Palmer.
The visitors then pulled one back a minute before halftime, Bradley Webb prospering after United failed to clear a free kick. Luke Eldridge replaced Richard Avery at halftime, before Vines limped off.
United’s third was the best of the night. Jason Goodchild started the move, finding Palmer with an outside of the foot pass and the winger then ran 40 yards to score his 11th of the season.
Kamurasi, Savage, Vines, (Lye 56 mins), Avery (Eldridge 46 mins), West, Kingwell, Palmer, Davisson, Welford, Goodchild, Hill. Subs not used: Woodcock, Stone, Lee-Wharton. 193