Kentish Express Ashford & District
Heathens take over top spot
Ashford & District Sunday League
With both Premier Division games off at the weekend the focus switched to the promotion race in Division 1.
Only six points now separate the top seven teams with at least three sides expected to be promoted to the top flight.
Red Heathens are the new leaders as they move closer to a second successive promotion thanks to a 4-1 win at Lolzors.
Tom Head gave the Heathens a 1-0 half-time lead before the visitors stepped up a gear in the second-half with the strong wind behind them. Craig Haynes increased their lead with two strikes from outside the box before Artsoms Andrejevs made it 4-0. Bradley Freund pulled a goal back for Lolzors following up after Heathens keeper Jason Ovenden had saved from Freund’s original spot kick.
Nailbox were denied an important win as visitors Hythe Royal British Legion netted a last minute equaliser in a 3-3 draw.
Nailbox were 2-1 down with 15 minutes left to play, but late goals from Connor Campbell and Ashley Porter turned the game on its head going into the closing stages. Also on target for Box was Ben Warlosz, while scoring for Hythe were Craig Maxwell and Ben Luckham (2).
Goals from both Teddy Easthope (2) and Jack Taylor helped Cheriton move up to fourth as they beat Stanhope & Beaver Rangers 6-4. Further goals from Alberto Matta and a strike from Ryan Hall increased Cheriton’s lead as they saw off Rangers despite the visitors replying through Connor Friday (2), Luke Walder and Kai Friday.
Ashstone Galacticos were made to work hard for all three points as they ran out 5-4 winners at home to Appledore to move back up to fifth.
Appledore led for most of the match with Mark Hilden scoring twice while both Lee Hollingsbee and Aaron Slann netted for Smugglers. But Galacticos hit back through Sam Wilson (2), Mark Howells, Dan Pinder and Ashley Bungard.
Charing returned from their trip to Troggs 5-0 winners. Reserve team regular Clae Marshall celebrated his call-up by scoring two goals. The tally was completed courtesy of an own-goal and strikes from Luca Fasoli and Matt Jarvis.
Luke Burdon scored five times on his Bromley Green debut as they swept aside Ashford United 3rds in their delayed Ashford Sunday Charity Trophy second round clash, winning 9-2. Burdon was making his first appearance after completing a three-year suspension and netted his first goal inside the first 30 seconds.
Brother Matt Burdon also scored for the hosts, as did Ryan Carter and Connor Little.
United replied through Joey Wealthyland and Rhys Hodges as Green set up a quarter-final clash at home to Lolzors.
Kris Melachrino scored twice as Ashford Cavaliers beat Fox Sunday 4-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the Sheber Trophy. Steve Warren and Gary Blunden were also on target.
Division 2 leaders White Horse were held to a 3-3 draw by Sellindge SSC. Two James Nuttall strikes and an owngoal helped the Horsemen move 13 points clear at the top but they had to settle for a draw as Sellindge hit back with their goals coming from James Gibson, Alex Skippen and Eamonn Ealham.
South Willesborough are up to second as they beat Burton Grove 2-1, through goals from Jordan Horne and Joe Mant. Andy Crouch scored for Grove.
Aldington defeated Mersham Sports Reserves 4-1. Goals from Stephen Cowell, Max James, Matt Moon and Alex Williams saw off the visitors,Craig Lang grabbing a consolation goal for Mersham from the penalty spot.
Lolzors Reserves are through to the final of the Division League Cup thanks to a penalty shootout victory over Biddenden. The two sides could not be separated after a goalless two hours as the game ended at 0-0 after extra-time, but Lolzors keeper Charlie Draper emerged as the hero in the shootout, Pumas earning a place in the final at Homelands on March 31 against either Singleton Barn or Ashford United 3rds.
Singleton improved their Division 3 promotion chances as they beat Ashford Spartans 3-2 away. Goals from Mark Hopkinson, Ricky Harden and Lewis Newcombe saw the Barn move to within three points of second place Biddenden.
Spartans replied through Stefan Dalton and Adam Crowhurst.
Pilgrims and Lydd Grasshoppers played out a 1-1 draw. Ben Phillips netted for the home side, while Dean Clark levelled for the Hoppers.