Kentish Express Ashford & District
Spurned chances costly
Ashford United missed the chance to go second in the Isthmian South East after they were beaten at leaders Sevenoaks on Saturday.
The defeat, which now leaves the team fourth in the table, means United have now suffered consecutive league defeats after starting the campaign with five wins out of five.
Manager Tommy Warrilow says his side matched the hosts for long spells in the match, adding that the scoreline flattered the fellow Kent side.
He said: “The first-half we played okay – we were just making mistakes in bad areas and giving Sevenoaks opportunities.
“I’m disappointed with the goals we’ve conceded, especially two from corners with no challenges.
“We did get in about four or five times, and had a disallowed goal, so we kept knocking on the door, but we were poor at both ends because we should be finishing and defending better.
“If you put the two of those together, the result isn’t that surprising, so although it wasn’t a proper 3-0 we have to accept it and move on.”
Warrilow’s side spurned a number of chances to grab an opener during the first-half.
Strikers Jay May and David Smith both missed good chances to get the away side in front.
Yet with the game looking goalless heading into the interval, Sevenoaks made the crucial breakthrough three minutes before the break – defender Daniel Cumber prodded home directly from a corner after being unmarked in the box.
Throughout the second half Ashford were again guilty of not being clinical in front of goal and were made to pay when the home side doubled their lead with 10 minutes left to go.
Striker Adrian Stone scored an almost identical goal to the hosts’ first, as poor United marking allowed him to head home straight from another corner.
Despite United being given a man advantage late on with a red card for defender Ryan Fowler, the Nuts & Bolts conceded their third in stoppage time. Some more poor defending allowed substitute Louis Collins to round keeper Sam Mott and tap home.
Ashford: Mott, Osinfolarin, Wisson, Kamara, Aboagye, Prescott, Henry, Ibrahim, Condon, May, Smith. Substitutes: Walder, Lee Wharton, Lake, Binder, McIntyre. Attendance: 163.