Kentish Express Ashford & District
United undone by defensive mistake
HAYWARDS HEATH 1 ASHFORD UNITED 0
Ashford United suffered back-toback league defeats as they lost 1-0 to Haywards Heath Town in Sussex on Saturday.
Only days after their disappointing 3-1 defeat against Guernsey, Tommy Warrilow’s side were again left emptyhanded, despite losing for just the second time on the road this season.
It meant the Kent side dropped to fifth in Isthmian South East by the end of the afternoon’s action, following their third loss in five games.
United midfielder Tom O’Connor says he has no doubt the team will bounce back from the result, despite United gifting the hosts their first-half winner.
“They scored from our mistake,” the 23-year-old said.
“We tried playing the right way out from the back, but unfortunately we got caught out.
“We kept pressing towards the end – I thought maybe we might get one back, but they defended well and put their bodies on the line.”
He added: “We are much better than Saturday’s performance, and we know we need to perform better. I’m positive it will change soon.”
Heath, who moved up to 14th in the table by the final whistle, started the game the stronger of the two sides.
Efforts from Trevor McCreadie and Ryan Warwick, the former also making his 100th appearance for the club, were the closest the home side came to breaking the deadlock at the Hanbury Stadium.
Yet with the match looking goalless heading into the interval, United defender Mo Kamara was caught out in possession midway through his own half just two minutes before the break.
The centre-back’s error allowed the home side to grab what turned out to be the match winner – striker Kieran Rowe robbed Ashford’s No.6 before then rounding both Matt Bourne and Sam Mott to tap into an empty net.
Throughout the second-half, the Nuts & Bolts spurned numerous chances to draw themselves level as they piled the pressure on the Heath defence.
However, keeper Luke Glover proved to be a constant thorn for the visitors, keeping out the likes of Tashi-Jay Kwayie and Aaron Condon with some smart saves.
Defender Kamara even had the chance for redemption late on when he surged into the box, only to see his shot parried to safety by Glover in what was the last bit of action during the game.
Ashford: Mott, Aboagye, Kamara, Bourne, McIntyre, Wisson, Prescott, Condon, Kwayie, Smith, May. Substitutes: O’Connor, Gold. Attendance: 102