Kentish Express Ashford & District
Quick one-two earns victory
YOUTH SIDE MISS OUT ON PLACE AT COUNTY SHOWPIECE
Two goals in four secondhalf minutes earned Ashford United another important Southern Counties East League win at Homelands on Tuesday night, writes Andrew Gidley.
However, player-boss Danny Lye admitted the player who scored the first proved a “controversial and debatable issue” – at least inside the home dressing room.
Jon Pilbeam was credited with the opener, with Shaun Welford hitting the second but Lye says his No.2 is claiming both. He said: “Shaun seems to think he got the first but Jon says he got the final touch.
“It’s controversial but Welford wants it because Paul Booth got one against Deal which wasn’t his – and they are chasing the Golden Boot. They can sort it out between them.” “Shaun definitely got the second – the man is 36 but ashford utd tuN WELLs he ran 40 yards to outpace the young defender, which shows his character and heart.”
Wells substitute Joe Nwoko pulled one back seven minutes from time but United claimed the points – topping 50 for the season, leaving them 12 behind leaders Hollands & Blair, with four games in hand.
United suffered some anxious moments in the first half, keeper George Kamurasi was almost caught out on his own 18-yard line attempting a clearance, then scrambled the ball away under pressure, before Chris Seenan headed just wide.
Lye added: “They wanted it more than us in the first half but we came out in the second and showed our class and superiority.”
Gillingham Youth striker Ryan Crandley was inches away with another header, before Pilbeam broke the deadlock, converting new-boy Ben Davisson’s ball in from the left.
Welford showed strength and purpose to get past his marker, before firing home low into the far corner.
The striker also earned a first-half booking after bundling into visiting keeper Steve Lawrence. Nwoko then finished well after a free-kick was nodded into his path.
Ryan Palmer, a target for close marking all night, escaped the shackles to fire over from substitute Tom Fagg’s through ball.
Kamurasi, A. Cuthbert, L. Cuthbert, Kingwell, Dickens, Dalton, Clarke (Booth 61 mins), Davisson, Palmer. Welford (Healey 78mins), Pilbeam (Fagg 83mins). Subs (not used): Hassan, Saunders.
204 Ashford United under-18s missed out on a place in the Kent County Youth Cup final when they were beaten 1-0 at Sittingbourne on Sunday. The youngsters came from 3-1 down at half-time to beat Maidstone United 4-3 in the Ryman Youth League East Division at Homelands on Thursday night. Tom Bugden scored twice with Luke Eldridge and Callum Whitmore getting the other goals. They visit Tonbridge Angels on Monday.