Reds return empty handed

Whitstable

Whitstable Town were left to rue a couple of decisions after a 4-2 defeat at Southern Counties East League, Premier Division leaders Ashford United on Tuesday night.

They had a goal disallowed and appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Paul Greenfield and left Homelands with nothing to show for a battling performance, having led 2-1 early in the second half.

United boss Danny Lye and assistant Shaun Welford, both played under Town boss Scott Porter when in charge at Hythe, and the latter fired Ashford in front after 13 minutes, beating Dan Eason with a shot from the edge of the box.

Darren Marsden, like Eason, an ex-united player, was the first to be frustrated, seeing his burst from midfield into the box ended by an offside flag.

Town shrugged that off by scoring shortly before and after half-time.

Kane Rowland, back in the side as he continues his dualregistration stay at Margate, levelled shortly before the break with a good finish and then Ollie Lee volleyed them in front.

However, the lead lasted only four minutes, Rory Hill making it 2-2 after Town failed to clear a free-kick.

They were out of luck again when home goalkeeper George Kamurasi seemed to bring down Rowland in the penalty box but Town’s confident shouts fell on deaf ears.

The game developed into an end-to-end contest with one or two challenges increasing the yellow card count in the game.

Then, just to increase Town’s frustration, Mr Greenfield did point to the spot when Welford went down in the box before getting up to score his second goal.

Town conceded a fourth on the stroke of full-time, netted by United substitute Luke Eldridge.

Hill went close to getting a fifth before Marsden had a couple of late chances near the end.

The win put United top again, as Town reflected on a fifth away league defeat of the season.