Ten-man United fall to late winner

ASHFORD UNITED 2 CHICHESTER CITY 3 Report: Joe Harbert

Ashford United suffered a blow to their hopes of automatic promotion as they conceded a late winner to Chichester at Homelands on Saturday.

United, who succumbed to their fifth defeat of the season at home in the league, missed the chance to break clear at the top of Isthmian South

East following a host of weekend postponements in the division.

Despite his side having to play the second half with only 10 men after defender Mo Kamara was sent off just before the interval, boss Tommy Warrilow still felt frustrated.

He said: “We deserved something out of the game, but came away with nothing so I’m obviously disappointed.

“We should have been out of sight by half-time, but we didn’t take our chances and then we gave two of the three goals away ourselves.”

United, who had kept seven clean sheets from their previous 10 games in the league, conceded the opening goal just seven minutes into proceedings. A long ball forward from Chichester goalkeeper Steven Mowthorpe was misjudged by Kamara – the defender’s backward header only falling into the path of Robert Hutchings, who squeezed the ball home at the far post. Warrilow’s side responded five minutes later when Aaron Condon and Tom O’Connor combined well down the left, before the latter’s cross was headed in by Tommie Fagg on the penalty spot. With chances to then complete their comeback missed throughout the remainder of the half, United were dealt a hammer blow with just seconds to go until the interval.

Kamara was shown his marching orders for the second time in the space of just four weeks when he was sent off for violent conduct after a foul on Chichester’s Matt Axell.

Yet the Nuts & Bolts didn’t let the decision affect their football when play got under way for the second period – striker George Purcell brilliantly fired home on 50 minutes after the ball was squared to him by David Smith.

But with further opportunities then crucially squandered United were ultimately unable to hang on to their lead against their 11-man opponents. Ben Pashley struck home the equaliser with half an hour to play, before Lloyd Rowlatt grabbed the winner with a terrific effort from 20 yards with just three minutes to go.

Ashford: Mott, Ossai, Kamara, Bourne, McIntyre, Prescott, Fagg, O’Connor, Condon, Smith, Purcell: Subs: Wilson, Stone. Not Used: Kwayie, Hook.

Attendance: 333