Kentish Express Ashford & District
Opener brings plenty to cheer
Ashford launched the new Kent/ Sussex Regional 2 season with an encouraging 5-1 derby win over Folkestone 2nds at Ball Lane on Saturday.
New skipper James Chamberlain and Andrew Hill both scored twice in a match which also saw impressive debuts for Jack Manning-Press and brothers Tom and Ben Shepherd.
The performance lacked impetus at times but Ashford were content to keep the ball for periods and made good use of the time and space given to them.
Ashford went ahead when Adam Fox picked up a through ball from Ben Dawson and drove round the baseline, before firing across the D towards the backpost.
The ball was deflected out to Lewis Elgar whose shot found the backboard.
Chamberlain made it 2-0 with a deflection after Hill had sent the ball goalwards but Folkestone halved the deficit when an forward stole into the D to bury a shot beyond Rob Allan.
This galvanised Ashford into action and they made it 3-1 on the stroke of halftime with an replica of their second goal, again scored by Chamberlain.
Ben Shepherd went close to a fourth in the second half with a shot that went wide but they suffered a blow when Steve Barrett was sin-binned.
However, they maintained their two-goal lead and breathing space was obtained when Hill converted from a penalty corner midway through the second half.
He then repeated the feat five minutes later.
He thought he’d scored a hat-trick, only to be denied by a contentious umpiring decision but Ashford were happy enough. They travel to Horsham on Saturday.
Alfie Miller hit a second-half hat-trick as Ashford 2nds won 8-3 away to Tunbridge Wells 2nds in Kent Division 2.
Fielding several players up from the 3rds, Ashford pressed from the start and led 4-0 at half-time.
They suffered a blow in the second half when Kevin Miller was sidelined after receiving a stick to the eye and Wells managed three quick goals.
However, with each Wells goal, Ashford hit back and added four more themselves with three coming from man-of-the-match Miller.
Chris Bollom, Sam Hunt, Kevin Miller, Ben Smitherman and Tom Lightfoot were the other Ashford scorers.
Ashford 3rds travelled to New Beccehamian with a depleted side and no umpire so it was left to captain Matt Carter, Joe Elgar and Simon Clayson to share the officiating.
With Greg Harrison controlling the game from centre midfield and Simon Clayson keeping things settled in defence, Ashford soon took the lead when a run from Harrison set up Carter.
Clayson’s solid presence at the back was missed in the second half as he took his turn to umpire but again Ashford started well with Joe Elgar seeing one effort disallowed before being denied by the home goalkeeper who also blocked well from Will Clayson.
The next chance fell to Carter after a fine pass from James Syrett and he made no mistake, taking one touch before hitting a reverse stick shot into the bottom corner.
New Beccs pulled a goal back with nine minutes left, which led to a tense finish but Ashford held on.
The 4ths overturned a half-time deficit to win 3-1 away to Deal 2nds in Kent Open Premier C.
The visitors played at a much higher tempo after the interval and levelled when Roger Lightfoot struck direct from a short corner.
Andrew Shepherd then scored from the top of the circle to make it 2-1 before Craig Macara pounced from a short corner rebound to complete the scoring.
The 6ths had a tough day against K Sports 2nds, losing 8-1 at home.
A mixture of new and younger players only means the side will improve with confidence as the season goes forward.
Kim Cameron’s treble helped Ashford ladies come from behind to win 4-3 at Redbridge & Ilford in East League Division 2 SE.
The home side scored an early goal but Ashford equalised from a short corner with a top corner deflection from Cameron.
A second successful short followed, giving Emily Jakeman the chance to score from a rebound but R&I’s centre forward twice struck on breakaways to give her side a 3-2 half-time lead.
Ashford dominated the second half and were rewarded with a further two goals from Cameron.