Kentish Express Ashford & District
Albion stage comeback to make cup progress
Division 1 side Albion recovered from going two goals behind in their Bodkin Cup second round clash against Premier Division leaders AFC Locomotive to run out 5-4 winners.
Andy Ward grabbed the winning goal late on to send the Albion through to the quarter-finals.
Loco raced into an early lead thanks to Luke Burdon’s firstminute strike and a penalty by Pat Kingwell. Player-manager Robbie Greenfield pulled a goal back from the penalty spot before two Sam Conlon strikes saw the game swing in Albion’s favour. Mark Howells added a fourth for the visitors but Locomotive hit back to level the game up again as first Carlum Macleod found the back of the net before Jamie Hurst equalised with a fantastic free kick to make it 4-4.
With the game heading to the lottery of penalties, Andy Ward popped up to grab the winning goal and seal a memorable win for the Albion. Completing the quarter-final line up are 18-times winners Market Hotel who comfortably beat Premier Division rivals Mersham Sports Club 7-1. Forward Ryan Philpott scored a hat-trick, Ryan Taylor added two more with Harry Goddard and debutant Josh Hastings completing the scoring. Pilgrims were one of four Division 3 teams to defeat and knock out higher division opposition in the Sheber Challenge Trophy second round.
Xavier Marshall, Bradley Humphrey and an Aaren Carlton penalty saw them win 3-1 at AFC Guildhall. Folkestone United Reserves staged a remarkable comeback to knock out Division 2 side Appledore coming back from 3-0 down to go through 4-3 winners. Rhys Hodges, playermanager Aaron Slann and Bradley Osborne scored for Appledore.
Bromley Green beat Ashford Spartans 3-0 at Sandyacres. Bradley Taffurelli scored twice and Luke Couper added a third for the hosts.
Two goals from Aiden Bourne helped unbeaten Division 3 side Lolzors comfortably see off FC Folkestone 4-0. Saul Persad and Abib Koke also scored.
Ashford United 3rds avoided a potential banana skin as they came away from their trip to Singleton Barn 3-0 winners. Goals from Alfie Dryland, Kris Melachrino and Sam Wood proved decisive.
Ben Allen continued his prolific form with a brace as Troggs saw off neighbours Biddenden winning 3-1. Liam Austen added a third for Tim Archer’s side to cancel out Morgan Waite’s reply.
Park Farm Rangers just got the better of Ashford Dynamo, winning 1-0 thanks to Joe Ogunbiyi’s goal.
Ollie Gray scored two goals as Charing Reserves beat Waterside 3-2. Gray’s brace and a goal from Ross Bampton cancelled out strikes by Wayne Everest and Maxwell Virani. Michael Yianni netted a hattrick as Premier Division Sangdate completed an early season double over bottom side Red Heathens, winning 6-2. Ten-man Aldington battled back to earn a valuable point as they held Stanhope & Beaver Rangers to a 1-1 draw. Lewis Bagshaw’s penalty had given Stanhope the lead and the morning got worse for Aldington as defender
Sean Halls was red carded.
But Stuart Taylor levelled to deservedly earn his side a share of the points.
Division 1 leaders Sellindge dropped their first points of the new season as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Horsebox Bars. Liam Middleton (2) and Pete Sikora goals were cancelled out by Ashley Boyd, James Nuttall and Keelam Hobbs for Horsebox.
Charing won 3-2 at South Willesborough thanks to Josh Hatcher, Brett Hamer and Sean Wallis.
Division 2 newcomers Egerton moved up to third as they beat Burton Grove 7-3. Striker Bradley Freund netted a second hat-trick this season as Egerton raced into a 4-0 lead in the first 20 minutes. Justin Howard (2), Jack Sullivan and Matthew Wright also scored. Goals from Callum O’Neill and Jack Brown helped Fox Sunday end league leaders Hythe Athletic’s unbeaten start to the season as they triumphed 2-1 at Sandyacres. O’Neill opened the scoring in the first half before Brown volleyed in Fox’s second, only for Sam Puxley to pull a goal back for Hythe with 20 minutes left to play.
The only game in Division 3 saw top beat bottom as tenman Lydd Town Under-21’s enjoyed a 4-1 home victory against Mersham Sports Club Reserves. Two goals apiece from Jordan Spann and divisional top scorer Josh Mills sealed the points for the hosts. Luke Goddard grabbed a consolation goal for Mersham.