Whitmore oversees win

Matt Day scored twice as Ashford United ended a difficult week with victory in this FA Cup preliminary round tie at Kiln Brow on Saturday.

Danny Lye’s departure saw youth team manager Jason Whitmore in charge of the side.

Five senior players were included in the line-up, with John Difford on the bench, facing one of his old clubs.

The rest of the side youngsters, all under 18.

Whitmore said: “I wanted to give the supporters a team who would go out there and give 100%.

“They left nothing out there and gave it their all. The way the senior players embraced the youngsters was fantastic. The level of commitment was excellent.”

He added: “I think the expectation of us going there and winning was none but not from me.

“I went there believing I could win and told the boys before the game I hadn’t gone there to lose.”

Day put the Nuts and Bolts in front after only 12 minutes, volleying home a cross from the left.

The former Millwall youngster doubled the lead five minutes before were REDHILL ASHFORD UTD half-time with a glancing header, converting another cross from the same area. He burst through again minutes later, his attempted lob striking goalkeeper Rhys Hughes who was out of the area, earning the youngster a straight red.

The Surrey side, with no substitute on the bench, handed the gloves to Ashley Snadden.

The stand-in No.1 was caught out 12 minutes after the break, following a back pass from teammate Jon Trotter and United youngster Brandon Williams won the ball and scored into an empty net.

Redhill’s Kerry Kedze went close twice, while Ashford keeper George Kamurasi saved from substitute Tony Halsey.

The home side pulled one back with a minute left when Kedze converted a penalty after United were punished for a push in the box. Kamurasi, Whitmore (Difford 46mins), Avery, Kirby, Sharp, Phillip, Lavender, Davisson, Williams, Woodcock, Day. Subs not used: Howland, Baker, Budgen Cairns. 178

Picture: Gary Browne Danny Lye