Kentish Express Ashford & District
Ashford stay calm in stormy weather
Whitstable Town 1 Ashford United 3
Ashford United came from behind to beat Whitstable Town 3-1 on Saturday thanks to two late goals.
The Nuts & Bolts were trailing against the Isthmian South East’s bottom side at the break.
United laid siege to the Town goal in the second half but had to be patient. The equaliser was scored by Jarred Trespaderne on 67 minutes but there was just five minutes left when a scrappy second put them ahead. Tashi-Jay Kwayie grabbed a third to seal the points in tricky conditions at The Belmont.
Boss Tommy Warrilow said: “I love Whitstable, I enjoy going down there in the summer, but not in a storm and it was blowing a hooley. It showed another side to our game where we can roll our sleeves up and dig in. After the game they knew it was a good hard-working performance.”
There wasn’t much in the first half, as both sides tried to adapt in strong winds and rain.
“Everyone is expecting you to roll teams over (at the bottom) but it doesn’t happen like that,” said Warrilow. “They brought in some players prior to the game and the weather was bad, but fair play to the fans who travelled.
“The first half was much of a muchness, a slight advantage to them with the wind.”
The Oystermen - who had already seen a goal ruled out for offside - went ahead on 43 minutes, breaking forward following a United set-piece.
Charlie Heatley - one of three new signings in the Whitstable team - broke forward and rounded the keeper, who slipped, before slotting home.
Warrilow’s half-time teamtalk was measured. He said: “We didn’t need a bomb under it. It was a horrible day, they just needed to use their heads and do the right things on the day.
“We had chances that we didn’t take and we said at halftime we had to be on the front foot a little more and get around them, get in behind them more.
“Second half it was attack after attack, they had a few on the counter, but it should have been double the score in the end. We really had a go and their keeper has made some saves, blocks on the line, shots over the bar. The second might be a bit lucky, but it was coming.
“You do get concerned, you look at the watch and the half is flying by, you are creating all these chances and you have to keep your cool.
“Second half we were brilliant, we worked hard, did all the ugly things, we chased things in groups and got in great areas and we kept going, our fitness levels showed.
“We chipped in with a third goal and that was more of a realistic scoreline, but it should have been more.”
The second goal was awarded to Jack Steventon, prodding home following a scramble in the box, while Kwayie slotted in the third during stoppage time.
Warrilow also felt they had two “stonewall” penalties not given, one for handball and one for a trip in the box, but thankfully for his team that didn’t matter in the end.