Kentish Express Ashford & District
United’s final hopes ended
Ashford United’s treble hopes are over but Danny Lye is staying upbeat.
A second successive defeat against Sevenoaks Town in four days saw them bow out of the Macron Southern Counties East League Cup at the semifinal stage.
It leaves Ashford with the League and the Kent Senior Trophy to play for – they face Cray Valley PM in the final on April 9, at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium.
On Tuesday night, United exited the cup 4-1 on aggregate after the second leg at Homelands ended 3-0.
Lye, who made a rare start himself, and played the whole 90 minutes, said: “We did all right but there’s no excuses – they beat us fair and square.
“The competition wasn’t our biggest priority when we started out but then you get to the quarters and semis and you start to smell a final. It ASHFORD SEVENOAKS isn’t the one we want, though, ahead of what is a big month for us.
“We were missing eight players because of injuries, suspensions and others being cup-tied.
“The good thing for me was that there were seven under18s on the pitch at the end, with goalkeeper Aaron LeeWharton given his first senior start.”
Oaks scored twice in three minutes to take control of the tie, following the 1-1 draw at Greatness Park a fortnight ago.
Harrison Carnegie put them ahead after 38 minutes before Joe Bingham, who scored twice in the league meeting at the weekend, laid on the second for Keiron McCann.
Oaks’ Tom Ripley saw a glancing header go just over early in the second half, before United defender George Savage limped off.
Sevenoaks completed the scoring with a third from Byron Walker, who also went off injured later in the game.
United Youngsters Callum Howland, Harry Lavender and Brandon Williams all came off the bench to get another taste of the first team action in the second half.
Sevenoaks will face Sheppey United in the final after they beat Whitstable 4-2 on aggregate.
The final will take place on May 6 at Tonbridge’s Longmead Stadium.
Lee-Wharton, Savage (Howland 53 mins),Lye, Kingwell, Palmer, Stubbs (Lavender 65 mins), Davisson, Eldridge, Welford (Williams 65 mins), Goodchild. Substitute not used: Woodcock.
253.