Rampant United put on five-star display

ASHFORD UNITED 5 EAST GRINSTEAD 0

Ashford United returned to winning ways with a nearperfect display against East Grinstead at Homelands on Saturday, writes Joe Harbert. A brace from Aaron Condon, as well as goals from Jay May, David Smith and new signing Adrian Stone gave the team a seventh win from their last eight games in the league. Manager Tommy Warrilow believes his side merited their 15th victory of the campaign. “Before the game I reminded the boys of where they are in the league and how well they’ve done to get here, but I also told them what they need to start eliminating,” he said. “Last week against Cray Valley we didn’t clear our lines and take our chances, but today we did and it was a good display from the lads overall.” The hosts immediately demonstrated their superior position in Isthmian South East – taking the lead after just five minutes. New signing Giorgio Russo floated in a cross from the right and May, unmarked in the box, headed the ball past Wasps keeper Benjamin Dudzinski.

However, the visitors showed why they have picked up points against the likes of Hastings and Whitehawk, as they frustrated Ashford to few chances shortly afterwards.

Yet United got the game’s crucial second goal just 10 minutes before the break, when a Condon free-kick evaded everybody to find its way into the far corner.

The Nuts & Bolts then made it 3-0 on 55 minutes, when a deep Jake McIntyre cross found May – the centre-forward managing to hook the ball back across goal, where Smith was eventually able to prod home.

Former Hythe striker May was again involved when Ashford got their fourth of the game with 19 minutes left to play. United’s No.9 saw his header in the box saved by Dudzinski, but Condon was on hand on the edge of the penalty area to smash the rebound home for his second of the afternoon and 15th of the season. Mo Kamara, booked in the

12th minute, was sent off in the 74th minute following a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge. Soon after, United brought on the returning Stone, and the former Sevenoaks man wasted no time in adding to his Ashford goal tally.

The 37-year-old, who rejoined the club last week to play under boss Warrilow for the third time in his career, sublimely rifled the ball into the net to ensure all four of United’s frontline got themselves on the scoresheet during the game.

Ashford: Mott, Russo, Kamara, Bourne, McIntyre, Prescott, Ossai, O’Connor, Condon, May, Smith. Subs: Wilson, Stone, Osinfolarin. Attendance: 269