United lacking in consistency

Ashford United

Ashford United lost 1-0 at home to Whitstable Town in their penultimate pre-season friendly on Tuesday night.

The decisive action came after 19 minutes – United goalkeeper George Kamurasi making a double save from Charlie Smith’s penalty, before Ollie Lee put Whitstable ahead from the follow-up corner.

Boss Danny Lye said: “We didn’t play particularly well and haven’t been as consistent as we would like in pre-season but there are no points at stake and we have to get on with it.”

Lye put his players through a training session after Saturday’s Southern Counties East League curtain raiser – the Roy Vinter Shield – was called off after opponents Sevenoaks Town manager Micky Collins refused to play, citing problems with a sprinkler, claiming the Homelands pitch was unplayable.

Lye added: “I don’t know why he created such a fuss and I think he had an agenda from the moment he turned up.

“If he didn’t want to play the game, he only had to pick up the phone and tell me. I didn’t speak to him myself, the boys were warming up in the normal way and I just sat on the wall watching events unfold.”

United accused opponents Sevenoaks of a lack of respect after the game between the respective champions and League Cup winners was postponed an hour before kick-off.

The SCEL are awaiting reports from referee Chris Myatt and both clubs before deciding what action to take but United chief executive Don Crosbie says they don’t want the game rearranged.

Collins was unhappy with a sprinkler in the middle of the pitch.

Mr Don Crosbie said: “He (Collins) didn’t want to play.

“You could see that in his body language. He kicked a hole in the sprinkler.

“We covered it with rubber crumb but he still wouldn’t play.

“We asked the referee at 2.15pm if he would play the game and he said ‘ yes’ but Collins had already left the ground by then.”

Mr Crosbie added: “I think Sevenoaks got the hump because they wanted to stage the game themselves.

“We said as league champions it was our right to host it, none of their hierarchy were here.

“Sevenoaks showed us total disrespect and Collins’ behaviour means he is not welcome at the club.”

Oaks chairman Paul Lansdale, refused to comment on the postponement, saying it was now in the hands of the Football Association and the SCEL.

He added: “I couldn’t be at the game myself due to a personal commitment and other members of our committee were on holiday.

“I did email Ashford last Thursday informing them of that.”