Win maintains top three hopes

Ashford United FC youth football

Ashford’s under-15s stayed in contention for third place in the Kent Youth League Central Division with a second win over Ebbsfleet in the space of a week.

The Nuts and Bolts got the better of Fleet in the Kent Cup final, but the visitors to Homelands had Matt Lane’s goal under threat and took the lead on the half-hour mark.

Ashford started the second half with intent and 10 minutes in a corner from skipper Alfie Prior found Jeremiah Bamgbose, who slotted home for 1-1.

Rueben London-Hobbs put the hosts 2-1 ahead when he forced the Ebbsfleet keeper to come away from his line and, with a drop of the shoulder, tapped home.

Nine minutes later it was 3-1 thanks to Gus Barnes.

Ebbsfleet reduced the arrears with a stoppage-time free-kick, but by then it was too late to be anything more than a consolation.

Meanwhile, Ashford’s East Kent Youth League under-15 side travelled to Snowdown but were forced to chase the game after the hosts’ route-one tactic led to the game’s opening goal.

Strikers Ed Milloy and Ben Hopker enjoyed some good link-up play, but it took Milloy 20 minutes to find the net after a defensive error.

Gift Okolie came off the bench to make it 2-1 to Ashford at halftime, while Liam Daly impressed after 23 weeks out with injury, and the visitors looked home and dry when Milloy made it 3-1 from the spot.

However Snowdown got one back and in a late twist rescued a point with a last-gasp penalty after Ashford were denied one of their own when Molloy was sent sprawling.

Match action between Ashford under-15s and Ebbsfleet in the Kent Youth League