Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hotel make third semi-final
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH SMITH ON TARGET AS MARKET WIN MUCH POSTPONED LAST EIGHT TIE
Market Hotel secured their place in the semi-finals of the Bodkin Cup with a 3-0 win against Premier Division rivals Kennington.
The fixture went ahead at the fourth time of asking following three postponements due to wet weather, and it was Market who went through to face Division 2 title contenders Bromley Green next weekend.
Steve Harris opened the scoring before player-of-the-match Ryan Smith doubled the lead. Tom Ripley added a third as Hotel made it through to their third semi-final of the season.
Luke Burdon scored twice as Bromley Green set up an Ashford Sunday Charity Trophy semi-final clash against holders Market Hotel with a 2-0 home win against Lolzors.
Burdon made it 12 goals in his last four games for the Green with another brace against their Division 1 opponents as Gary Gibbs’ side continue their chase for an incredible quadruple this season.
In the Premier Division, two deflected Gary Mickelborough strikes earned Brewmaster High Halden a 2-0 win at Mersham Sports to lift themselves up into second.
Nailbox staged two amazing comebacks before seeing off local rivals Cheriton AFC in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to book their place in the final of the Val Helen League Cup.
Nailbox scored two injury-time goals to make it 3-3 and send the game to extra-time, before Ashley Porter levelled again late in extra-time to force penalties, with the Nailbox triumphing 4-2.
Cheriton led 2-0 thanks to two Jack Taylor strikes, but Nailbox pulled a goal back midway through the second-half when Aiden Norris finished well.
It looked as if it was game over when Teddy Easthope smashed the ball into the roof of the net to give Cheriton a 3-1 lead in the 87th minute but Porter and Michael Gattrell scored very late on.
Teddy Easthope’s half-volley at the start of extra-time restored Cheriton’s lead, but Porter popped up with three minutes left to make it 4-4 and it was Nailbox who ran out winners in the shoot-out thanks to Jake Carey’s save from Cheriton’s Dave Palmer. Nailbox face Stanhope & Beaver Rangers in the final on April 7.
Radoslav Davidov returned to the Red Heathens side with a bang as he netted a hat-trick in their 5-1 Division 1 home win against Hythe RBL.
The Reds are now five points clear of Lydd Grasshoppers, and six points clear of third place Nailbox with six games left to play.
Davidov’s treble moves the Bulgarian forward onto 14 goals for the season, while Craig Haynes added the other two for the hosts, cancelling out Charlie Partridge’s strike.
Lydd Grasshoppers moved up to second place with a 2-2 home draw against bottom-of-thetable Troggs. Goals from Jordan Boorer and Robbie Tyas weren’t enough as Troggs returned home with a share of the spoils thanks to Richard Moon and Alex Philpott.
In-form Stanhope & Beaver Rangers brushed aside Charing 7-0 thanks to Jordan Hill’s hattrick. Sean Magri added two more for Rangers while both Luke Walder and Anthony Finch completed the scoring for the hosts.
In Division 2, Ashford Cavaliers made light work of Mersham Sports Reserves winning 7-1 to return back into the top two.
Steve Warren was on top form, scoring four times for the Cavs as they won their first league fixture since October in style. Midfielder Kris Melachrino added two with one from forward Bradley Godden.
Mersham remain rooted to the foot of the standings without a league victory from their 15 games this season.
Andy Crouch scored twice as Burton Grove ensured of their place in the division for another season with a 3-1 home victory against South Willesborough. Due to how tight the table is they are also just three points behind second-place Ashford Cavaliers.
PJ Wright added a third for the hosts to cancel out Jordan Horne’s strike.
Lolzors Reserves secured the Division 3 title with a game to spare thanks to their 3-2 away win at Pilgrims Senior.
Two goals from Mike Norris and one from Aiden Bourne sealed glory as Lolzors turn their attention to attempting to complete a league and cup double in next Sunday’s League Cup final against Ashford United 3rds. Biddenden’s hopes of runners-up spot hangs in the balance as they were beaten 3-2 at Charing Reserves. Strikes from Blake Crawley and Joe Munday were not enough as Charing replied via Tony Spicer, Dan Moore and Kevin Friend to move up to seventh in the table.
There was a rare goalless draw played out at the Ridge between Ashford United 3rds and Singleton Barn. Roger Hadlum’s side saw their title ambitions end as both teams saw this as two points dropped in the race for promotion to Division 2.