Leaders quick to make amends

CHICHESTER CITY 2 ASHFORD UNITED 3

Ashford returned to winning ways with a crucial victory at promotion-chasing Chichester on Tuesday evening, writes Joe Harbert.

Just three days after the West Sussex outfit returned from Homelands with three points and the same winning scoreline, the Nuts & Bolts

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE South East Division

P W D L F Ashford ........ 29 19 2 8 74 Hastings ....... 27 17 8 2 51 Whitehawk ... 27 15 8 4 53

Cray Valley ... 26 15 6 5 45

Herne Bay .... 27 14 6 7 51 Whyteleafe ... 26 13 6 7 45 Chichester .... 24 12 6 7 43

VCD .............. 29 11 612 45 Phoenix Sp... 26 12 212 45 Sevenoaks ... 27 10 8 9 39

Hythe ........... 28 10 711 32 Haywards H . 26 10 9 7 37 Guernsey ...... 28 9 9 10 39 Whitstable .... 27 9 8 10 37 Burgess Hill.. 26 9 3 14 45 Sittingbrne ... 27 8 4 15 30 Faversham ... 29 6 7 16 28 Ramsgate .... 28 4 7 17 30 T Bridges ..... 28 5 3 20 34 E Grinstead .. 25 1 7 17 25

Results: Saturday: Ashford 2 Chichester 3, Ramsgate 3 Faversham 0, Sevenoaks 2 VCD 1.

Tuesday: Burgess Hill 1 Hastings 3, Chichester 2 Ashford 3, Haywards Heath 2 Sittingbourne 1.

Fixtures: Saturday: Chichester v Sevenoaks, Cray Valley v Ramsgate,

A 38 20 32 24 39 35 33 52 40 34 37 32 47 39 58 37 51 61 60 59

Ps 59 59 53 51 48 45 42 39 38 38 37 36 36 35 30 28 25 19 18 10 responded perfectly to keep the pressure on the sides below them in Isthmian South East.

Manager Tommy Warrilow, whose side edged closer to securing an all-important playoff spot with their 19th victory of the campaign, says United fought hard to emerge with the win.

“The boys dug in, but we made hard work of it at times and gave Chichester a penalty bang on half-time, but apart from that we played well during

Faversham v East Grinstead, Guernsey v Burgess Hill, Hastings v Whitstable, Haywards Heath v Phoenix Sports, Herne Bay v Sittingbourne, VCD v Ashford, Whitehawk v Three Bridges, Whyteleafe v Hythe.

Tuesday: Burgess Hill v Ramsgate, Chichester v Haywards Heath, Cray Valley v Whyteleafe, East Grinstead v Phoenix Sports, Sittingbourne v Sevenoaks.

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE

Division 1

P W D L

Kennington... 24 16 4 4

Rusthall ........ 23 16 2 5

Holmesdale .. 22 14 6 2

Rochester ..... 23 14 3 6

FC Elmstead. 23 13 6 4

SC T’mead ... 24 12 5 7

Stansfeld ...... 21 12 4 5

Lewisham .... 23 10 4 9

Greenways ... 24 10 311

Croydon ....... 22 10 3 9

Sutton Ath .... 22 8 6 8

Forest Hill ..... 24 9 3 12

Lydd ............. 25 6 4 15

Meridian ....... 23 4 5 14

Bridon Rps ... 24 4 2 18

Snodland ...... 23 3 5 15

F 67 68 47 54 47 56 36 47 68 46 48 39 38 23 44 22

A 33 30 14 33 30 31 28 53 60 39 36 46 66 63 68 60

Ps 52 50 48 45 45 41 40 34 33 33 30 30 22 17 14 14 the first half,” he said.

“Obviously the second-half was a real battle, so overall we’ve taken three points off a good side, and with nine to go we’ve got to chalk the games off now.”

In difficult conditions and enduring their second long journey in the space of just 10 days, Ashford took the lead on 11 minutes at Oaklands Park.

Striker George Purcell netted his first goal of the evening and his second for the team since

Kent F Utd .... 24 1 5 18 21 81 88

Results: Wednesday: Rochester 2 Bridon Ropes 2.

Saturday: Bridon Ropes 1 Holmesdale 2, Rusthall 5 Kent Football Utd 0.

Fixtures: Saturday: Greenways v Holmesdale, Kennington v Rusthall, Kent Football Utd v Bridon Ropes, Lewisham v Stansfeld, Lydd v Rochester, Meridian v Croydon, Sutton Athletic v Snodland.

Monday: SC Thamesmead v Stansfeld.

Tuesday: Meridian v Forest Hill, Sutton Athletic v Bridon Ropes.

Wednesday: Lewisham v FC

Elmstead, Snodland v Greenways.

ASHFORD SATURDAY LEAGUE Fixtures: League Cup, semi-final:

The Fountain v Smarden.

Premier Division: Charing v Tenterden Town Res, Lenham Wanderers v Woodchurch.

Division 1: Lydd Town A v South Willesborough, Woodchurch Reserves v Bromley Green, Pilgrims v Biddenden Juniors.

Division 1 Cup, preliminary round: Len Valley v Rolvenden.

ASHFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE Division 1: Folkestone United 8 Hythe Royal British Legion 2.

Peter Pain Memorial Division 2 League Cup, quarter-final: Troggs 3 South Willesborough 2.

Division 3: Smeeth & Brabourne 0 Ashford United 3rds 5.

Fixtures: Bodkin Challenge Cup, quarter-final: Brewmaster v Market Hotel.

Ashford Sunday Charity Trophy, second round: Mersham Sports v Kennington Sunday, Nailbox v Bromley Green, Sellindge v Red Heathens.

Division 1: Appledore v Charing Sunday, Hythe Royal British Legion v Folkestone United.

Val Helen Division 1 League Cup, quarter-final: Lydd Grasshoppers v Horsebox Bars.

Division 2: AFC Guildhall v Ashford Spartans, Ashford Cavaliers v Burton Grove, Lolzors Res v Fox Sunday,South Willesborough v Park Farm Rangers, Troggs v Biddenden.

Aford Awards Division 3 League Cup, semi-final: Bromley Green Res v Folkestone United Res.

Division 3: Charing Sunday Res v Aldington Res, Kingsnorth Pilgrims v Ashford United 3rds, Pilgrims v Singleton Barn, Smeeth & Brabourne v Mersham Sports. arriving from Great Wakering Rovers last month.

However, United’s lead lasted for a matter of seconds, as Chichester duo Kaleem Haitham and Rob Hutchings combined to allow the former to level the scoreline.

Yet in what turned out to be a frantic opening 15 minutes, Ashford restored their lead courtesy of former Sevenoaks man Adrian Stone.

The 37-year-old headed in past keeper Steven Mowthorpe to grab his first goal for the club since returning to Homelands in January, and the game’s third goal in just three firsthalf minutes.

The visitors then put some breathing space between themselves and their opponents 15 from the break – Purcell firing home to double his account for the night and make it 3-1 to the Kent outfit.

However, the home side gave themselves a vital lifeline with a minute of the first period remaining – Haitham getting his 12th of the season from the penalty spot to move Chichester to within a goal of levelling the match.

Although Miles Rutherford’s team then pushed hard for an equaliser throughout the next 45 minutes, it was Warrilow’s side that emerged 3-2 winners this time, and their three points kept them top of the table on goal difference from Hastings. Ashford: Mott, Ossai, Kamara, McIntyre, Wilson, Prescott, Osinfolarin, O’Connor (Smith), Condon, Stone Purcell. Subs: Kwayie, Hook, Wisson. Att:135

Picture: Andy Jones FM30454578 Ashford’s David Smith takes on the Chichester defence on Saturday

Pictures: Andy Jones FM30454581, left; FM30454570, right Left, George Purcell drives forward against Chichester on Saturday. Right, Tommie Fagg congratulated after scoring United’s first goal in Saturday’s match.