Tough start for Ashford

Ashford United

Ashford United endured a miserable four days after they succumbed to back-to-back home defeats in both the league and the FA Cup.

The Nuts & Bolts got their Isthmian South East campaign off to the worst possible start following a surprise 2-1 defeat to Phoenix Sports on Saturday - a match which also saw star forward Aaron Condon sent off and both Bode Anidugbe and Tariq Ossai substituted through injury.

A first-half strike from new signing Johan ter Horst did appear, however, to be getting United an opening day three points, but late goals from Jeff Duah-Kessie and Ainsley Everett completed a second-half comeback for Phoenix.

Manager Tommy Warrilow admitted his side were simply made to pay for not being clinical in a dominant opening 45 minutes.

He said: “We should have been out of sight with the amount of chances we made in the first half.

“Our end product at times was weak, and of course the sending off certainly didn’t help things.

“But it is what it is - I’m just disappointed after our performance last week that when we went down to 10 men, we couldn’t step it up a bit more in the second half.

“We came unstuck and never got going, and that’s what happens when you don’t take your chances, but you have to accept it and move on.”

Ashford then exited the FA Cup on Tuesday after they were thrashed 4-1 by fellow step four side Bracknell Town.

A brace from both Sebastian Bowerman and Max Herbert proved too much for United in what was a dominant display from the Isthmian South Central side, as they outclassed their opponents throughout. Ashford replied through an own goal on the hour.

As a result, Warrilow will hope his team can return to winning ways and get their first points when they travel to big-spending Ramsgate on Saturday.

The Rams began their own domestic campaign in fine style with an impressive 3-1 win at Chichester at the weekend.

Indeed, United will also come up against a host of former players from last term in the form of Jake McIntyre, Jerald Aboagye, Lee Prescott and Ben Wilson when they make the trip to Southwood.

Last season saw United emerge 4-2 winners at Homelands when the two sides last met, with the reverse fixture cancelled altogether as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Three Ashford district players have been picked by Kent Schools for the county squad this season.

The trio includes brother and sister Charlie and Kaelyn Ransley, who for the under12 boys and under-14 girls respectively.

The pair are indebted to the work at the Matthew Burt Goal Keeping Academy over a number of years.

Also selected was Joshua Cleaver, who is part of the under-14 boys squad.