Dengate looking forward to Vase test

Coach Chris Dengate says Saturday’s Junior Vase regional quarter-final tie against Royston has all the makings of being a cracker. Hosts Ashford will go into the game on the back of nine successive wins, while Royston are second in Herts/Middlesex 1 having won 11 of their 14 matches. The game is Ashford’s first at home in the competition this season and Dengate is keen his buoyant side make that advantage count. He said: “They’re second in their league so they are a good side but they’ve got a three-hour journey which teams at our level don’t do too often and hopefully getting round the M25 will be terrible! “I’m expecting it to be a big test for us but then that’s what you want, you want to be tested to see where you’re at. “I’m looking forward to it and being that it’s our first home draw, I hope we can put on a good performance.” After being relegated last season, Ashford made a modest start to life in Kent 1 but have turned things around dramatically in the past two months and were the first team to beat leaders Beccehamians the week before last. Dengate says there is no secret formula, just hard work. He also says the players are now enjoying themselves far more. He said: “We were far too lackadaisical at the start of the season. Players thought we would automatically go straight back up and there were some who weren’t working hard enough. “Now everything we do is based around hard work and I’ve also encouraged the players to express themselves more. “We only get to play for 80 minutes a week so they should go out and enjoy it.”