Ashford seal derby delight

Ashford men’s 1sts took the derby spoils and gave their goal difference a significant boost with a 5-1 SE Division 1 East win over Folkestone 1sts on Saturday.

The opening half was deadlocked until late on when Ashford struck thanks to a Will Elgar drag flick from a short corner.

Kiagh Bridges then slotted home via the Folkestone keeper’s pads to make it 2-0 at the break.

Folkestone halved the deficit after the interval but Ashford captain Riki Johnston fed Bridges who teed up and drove the ball into the net to restore the visitors’ two-goal lead.

Player-of-the-match Lawrence Richards kept further Ops attacks at bay before Johnston took a quick free hit along the baseline uncontested to set up Frankie Andrews for Ashford’s fourth.

Jack Manning-Press added a fifth, sending the ball goalbound after another cross from the baseline. Ashford men’s 2nds also hit five - although opponents Gore Court 2nds made a game of it with four goals of their own - in SE Division 1 Invicta.

Oli Kent claimed a hat-trick and Luke Wicken was also on the scoresheet.

The men’s 4ths are joint top in SE Division 4 Invicta with Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sevenoaks 6ths their fourth in five games.

Gary Maryan opened the scoring from close range and a superb individual goal from Andy Hill just before halftime doubled the advantage. The spoils were shared when Ashford ladies’ 1sts took on BBHC 1sts in SE Division 1 East.

BBHC made the better start and ended the first half 2-0 ahead. Ashford struck early after the break, a strong run from the forward line allowing Amelia Lall to sweep the ball into the corner, and it was 2-2 when Rebecca Reynolds reverse hit the ball to Olivia Phillips, who tapped past the keeper.

Ashford ladies’ 3rds lost for the first time in SE Division 3 Invicta this season, going down 2-1 to K Sports 1sts.

Sports took an early lead and it needed some fine saves by player-of-the-match Alice Goodman to keep Ashford in the game before Linda Charlton set Amelia Jacobs up for the equaliser.

The second half was end to end but Ashford lost the game when, under pressure, they conceded a penalty flick which was converted.