Kentish Express Ashford & District
No reward as own goal sets the tone
Ashford boss Jason Whitmore was left scratching his head after Tuesday’s defeat at Herne Bay.
The Nuts & Bolts dominated the first half but missed a twice-taken penalty and lost two players to injury.
They fell behind to a freak own goal midway through the first half when Micky Phillips passed the ball into the net from just inside the penalty area and after misunderstanding with keeper George Kamurasi.
The visitors had a great chance to equalise just before half-time when they were awarded a penalty.
Matt Day’s spot-kick was saved and although the referee ordered a retake for encroachment by Benjamin Hunter, the Bay keeper also kept out Day’s second effort.
Whitmore said: “We started well, HERNE BAY ASHFORD UNITED the football was excellent and the chances we created clear-cut. We had to take some of them.
“We wanted to press high, push them back and we kept them in their half for nearly the whole of the first half.
“One-all would have been the least we deserved at half-time but someone stamped on Jon Difford’s foot so he had to come off.
“Matt Day was already on for George Humber, who looked bright, so it was a massive loss him coming off.”
Dave Botterill, who’s not yet fully fit, had to come off just after the hour and with all three substitutions made, Phillips had to struggle on for the rest of the game.
Ashford hit the post and had a shot cleared off the line but two goals in four minutes from Junior Aikhionbare and Nassim Dukali secured the points for Herne Bay.
Whitmore said: “It didn’t matter what we did, we were never going to score. We were up against it at 2-0 and heads dropped.
“Even the players couldn’t believe it but when you’re on top, you’ve got to take your chances. If you don’t, it can come back to bite you and it did on Tuesday.”
Kamurasi, Eldridge, Sharp, Botterill (Bingham 64mins), Difford (Afoke 46mins), Kingwell, Phillips, Davisson, Watters, Humber (Day 23mins), Richardson-Brown. Sub not used: Boateng. 269.