Kentish Express Ashford & District
Loco set sights on another final
Bodkin Challenge Cup
AFC Locomotive marched into the semi-finals of the Bodkin Cup beating fellow Premier Division side Mersham Sports 3-0 at a blustery Pitchside.
Playing against the wind, Loco went 1-0 ahead midway through the first-half when Adam Roberts headed home his first goal of the season from man-of-the-match Lloyd Dehara’s cross.
Mersham pushed the hosts all of the way, enjoying plenty of possession.
Loco goalkeeper Ben Stevens had to be alert to push one effort onto the bar and quickly got back to his feet to push away the rebound to keep the score 1-0 at half-time.
With the wind now on their side, Locomotive doubled through Tom Scorer with a long-range effort.
A double injury blow saw Loco reduced to 10 men and out of subs, having to play out the final 20 minutes a man light but that didn’t stop them from grabbing a third goal to seal the win when Steve Harris scored from the penalty spot after Scorer had been brought down.
Locomotive now face Stanhope Rangers in the last four hoping for a fourth cup final in three seasons. through the first-half when Ben Harding’s pass found former Ashford Cavaliers striker Matt Moon, who slotted home his 20th goal of the season.
Moon then turned provider in the second half, playing in top scorer Luke Burdon to double the visitors’ advantage. Charing pulled a goal back through Richard Floyd.
Willesborough, who won the Division 2 title last season, will be crowned champions if they can win four of their final five fixtures and look odds-on for promotion to the Premier Division even in early February. side to move back up to third.
Wilkes, formerly on the books at both Kennington and Bromley Green, doubled his goal tally for the season with a treble as the Millers’ second string continue to push Prince Albert and Lolzors in the title race.
Willesborough found themselves 2-0 ahead inside the opening five minutes when both Matt Jarvis and Kieran Hawkins found the back of the net and went 3-0 up before half-time thanks to Barry Brown.
Fox made it 3-1 after 55 minutes when Ashley Long scored his first goal for the club. Willesborough quickly restored their three-goal advantage when Wilkes grabbed his first goal.
Adam Ready pulled another goal back for Fox from a long-range freekick and just when it looked like the Fox might just have got themselves back into the game, Willesborough’s trio of substitutions added some fresh legs to their attack as three late goals sealed a deserved victory.
Wilkes scored his second and Willesborough’s fifth before substitute Reece Callahane fired home a sixth to all but seal the win. All that was left was for Wilkes to claim his hat-trick with a tap-in.