ASHFORD UNITED won this exciting encounter played at Chatham Town FC by the odd goal in three, but left it very late to secure the victory. Which, for the moment, places them at the top of the table.

Ashford were without Lewis Knight and Harvey Brand but there was a very welcome return for club captain Bradley Simms, and Noah Carney started his first match since signing for the club.

The early exchanges were even with Ashford having the first meaningful attempt on goal when after 14 minutes good work by Noah Carney released Danny Parish but his shot was just wide.

Five minutes later Sevenoaks had an excellent chance when following something of a scramble in the Chatham goal area Kieran Cadogan was able to lift the ball over Jacob Russell towards goal but Jonah Tolulope was on hand to clear.

Half time came with no score

The second half began in much the same vein. Ashford started much the better and really brought the game to Sevenoaks.

Their reward came in the 55th minute.
A great cross field pass found Bradley Simms who carried out an excellent run as an overlapping full back before pulling the ball back into the penalty area where is was flicked on and Danny Parish rose majestically to head the ball into the net, giving Sevenoaks ‘keeper Amadou Tangara no chance.

Five minutes later Sevenoaks were level. Emmanual Mensah ran with the ball towards the Ashford penalty area and released a shot from the edge of the area which appeared to deceive Jacob Russell and somehow found its way into the net.

For the remaining half hour of normal time some of the old clichés can be used to describe the activity ‘end to end’, ‘nip and tuck’ to name just two.
Two good sides, both setting out to win the game and providing the spectators with some exciting football.

The ninety minutes achieved and the game went into what used to be called injury time’, when the referee played the time he (or she) had taken off for stoppages.
Now it can almost be likened to extra time and on this occasion worked in Ashford’s favour.
Some eight or nine minutes into this time Tom Carlse made a searching run into the Sevenoaks penalty area he reached the goal line and pulled the ball back very hard across the goal where it struck, with full force, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle of Sevenoaks and flashed into the net for Ashford’s winner.

An exciting game keenly contested by both clubs and enjoyed by the spectators. Yet the records will show it was a game where three Ashford players were cautioned.
Three Sevenoaks players were cautioned a fourth was sent off for receiving two yellow cards and the Sevenoaks manager was also cautioned.

Simply put it was just NOT that sort of game and neither, in my opinion, did it warrant such punitive measures
We now look forward to our visit to Hythe Town on Monday.
Star man – Danny Parish (Ashford United)
Kevin Watsons MOTM - Noah Carey
Entertainment Value ****
Attendance 146
COYNAB