Kentish Express Ashford & District
United up and running
Ashford United left the Mayplace Ground with all three points on the opening day of the Isthmian South East season.
A tight game against Phoenix Sports produced three goals in nine minutes just before the hour with Jay May’s header providing decisive.
Ashford boss Tommy Warrilow said: “It was a hard-fought win and a good win because Phoenix at home are a difficult team to break down.
“The most important thing was to get the three points and we’ll address everything else afterwards.
“We wanted to start on the front foot and we did so I’m well pleased.”
The home side started brightly and shaded the first half, going close through Kenny Aileru more than once.
Jeff Duah-Kessie missed a great chance to open the scoring just after the break and then came the goal rush.
David Smith got the first with a smart finish on his United debut before Lauris Chin reacted quickest in the box following good work from Aileru.
But Ashford retook the lead when May headed home an inswinging corner and only the bar denied the visitors soon after in similar circumstances.
United managed the game well after that and goalkeeper Sam Mott was largely untroubled.
“The performance was OK,” said Warrilow. “There’s still a lot more to come from us but it was the first game.
“We’ll have a look at it after a dozen games or so and then we’ll start dissecting it.
“Tashi-Jay Kwayie’s turned up very late to sign for, which is a fantastic signing and we had someone sitting out on Saturday, which we’ve never had.
“There are loads of positives. ISTHMIAN LEAGUE
South East Division
Results: Saturday: Burgess Hill 7 Hythe 2, Cray Valley 0 Hastings 0, East Grinstead 1 Haywards Heath 2, Faversham 3 Guernsey 3, Phoenix Sports 1 Ashford 2, Ramsgate 1 Chichester 2, Three Bridges 0 Sevenoaks 1, Whitehawk 3 VCD 2, Whitstable 1 Sittingbourne 1, Whyteleafe 2 Herne Bay 2.
Tuesday: Chichester 2 Whyteleafe 3, E Grinstead 3 Guernsey 3, Hastings 2 Faversham 0, Haywards Heath 5 Burgess Hill 1, Herne Bay 3 Phoenix Sp 1, Hythe 2 Whitstable 0, Sevenoaks 1 Whitehawk 1, Sittingbourne 1 Cray Valley 3, VCD 4 Three Bridges 3.
Fixtures: Monday: Burgess Hill v Chichester, Cray Valley v Sevenoaks, E Grinstead v Hastings, Phoenix Sports v VCD, Ramsgate v Sittingbourne, Three Bridges v Ashford, Whitehawk v Haywards Heath, Whitstable v Herne Bay, Whyteleafe v Guernsey.
Tuesday: Faversham v Hythe.
FA CUP
Preliminary Round
Fixtures: Saturday: Beckenham v Ashford, Bridon Ropes v Chichester, Burgess Hill v Sevenoaks,
Chertsey v Erith & Belvedere, Cray Valley v Whyteleafe, Haywards Heath v Tunbridge Wells, Herne Bay v AFC Croydon, Phoenix Sports v Staines, Sheppey v Glebe, Sittingbourne v Uxbridge, South Park v Canterbury, Steyning Town v Ramsgate, Sutton Ath v Ashford (Mddx), Tooting v Faversham, VCD v AFC Uckfield, Whitstable v Newhaven.
Sunday: Cray Wanderers v Hythe.
SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE
Division 1
Results: Friday: Thamesmead 2 FC Elmstead 2.
Saturday: Bridon Ropes 1 Greenways 3, Holmesdale 3 Stansfeld 0, Kent Football Utd 1 Meridian 4, Rochester 2 Forest Hill 1, Rusthall 6 Lydd 0, Snodland 3 Lewisham 4, Sutton Ath 1 Croydon 3.
Fixtures: Thursday: Thamesmead v Kent Football Utd.
Saturday: Lydd v Meridian, Rochester v Kennington, Stansfeld v Snodland.
Monday: Croydon v Holmesdale, FC Elmstead v
Sutton Ath, Kennington v Greenways, Kent Football U v Rochester, Meridian v Bridon Ropes, Rusthall v SC Thamesmead, Snodland v Lydd.
“We just need to work on a few things but there were a few results on Saturday which I don’t think anyone saw coming and it’s still early days.
“Hopefully we’ll only get stronger.
“You want to play well, obviously, but you realise at the start of the season that it’s going to take a few games for everyone to get going.
“The result was the most important thing and to get three points at a difficult place was even more pleasing.”
Ashford: Mott, Aboagye, McIntyre, Walder, Wisson, Kamara, Ibrahiym (Henry 77mins), Prescott, May, Smith (Kwayie 81mins), O’Connor (Lake 63mins). Subs not used: McCarthy, Gold.
Attendance: 131.