Sevenoaks Town v Ashford United. Kent Senior Trophy Second Round. 17th of October 2015.

Sevenoaks Town       0       Ashford United 3

 

From Ashford United’s Milton Keynes Correspondent

Today was Kent Senior Trophy Second Round day. A total of 32 clubs were involved – 17 from the Southern Counties East League, 14 from the Kent Invicta League and West Wickham, from the Southern Amateur league, (who actually progressed to the Third Round, this afternoon, after a 4-2 win over Croydon). Ashford’s previous match in this competition was, of course, the Final, in 2014, which ended in a 4-0 defeat to Beckenham Town, a punch-up involving Becks’ players and a section of Ashford supporters and a ban for both clubs from the 2014-15 competition. Ashford United’s return to the competition saw them given a fairly tough draw, away to Sevenoaks Town, in the picturesque setting of Greatness Park.

Sevenoaks Town FC is not one of the “heavyweights” of the SCEFL, having only progressed from the Kent County League in 2003, but Mickey Collins has put together a useful side during his tenure as manager, which began just over a year ago, shortly before my previous visit to Greatness Park. That game resulted in Paul Chambers’ Ashford side being very pleased to get away with a 2-2 draw, in that season’s league match here. One of Oaks’ goals on that occasion was scored by Louis Sprossen, a winger who made a couple of substitute appearances for Ashford earlier this season, and who scored for FC Elmstead last night, in their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Erith Town in this competition.

Ashford came back from being 2-0 down, in last season’s game, through goals from Andy Irvine and Lloyd Blackman. Irvine’s strike partner that afternoon was Stuart Zanone, who played against Ashford two weeks ago, in the 4-2 defeat to Greenwich Borough - so it was a surprise to see Stuart making his debut for Sevenoaks, his fourth club of the season, this afternoon. Wherever Stuart goes in his career, he’ll always be an Ashford legend, after his record-breaking 47 goals last season, and he was partnered up front, today, by one of my other all-time favourite players: Adrian Stone. Adrianho came up through the youth ranks at Ashford Town, and was a prolific centre-forward for us, before being given his marching orders by Tim Thorogood for some disciplinary infringement, at the same time as Sam Saunders. While Sam has gone on to play for Dagenham & Redbridge, Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers, Adrianho has played for a whole string of non-league clubs.

It was good to see them both, this afternoon – and, happily, for the travelling Ashford faithful who made up a fair percentage of today’s crowd of 70, both had a quiet game. Adrianho showed some neat touches, but never had a sight of goal. Stuart had a very comfortable afternoon, wrapped snugly in Pat Kingwell’s pocket. (Yes, the big man quietly put in yet another flawless performance, today).

The Ashford United line-up hinted at a slight change in selection policy – probably due to today’s match being a cup game. All of the adults, (a.k.a. Player-Manager Danny Lye, Player-Assistant Manager Shaun Welford and Player-Coach Paul Booth), were in the dug-out, leaving the “kids” to start the game. And Danny Lye’s squad building process took another step forward, with two more lads making their debut.

One of the new boys was George Kamuresi, a signing from Grays Athletic, and quite possibly the largest goalie I have ever seen. Apparently, the greatest challenge for The Management has been to find a pair of green shorts large enough for him, and he turned out in a green top that seemed to be bursting at the seams. To deal with the important matter at hand, he was extremely impressive – or as impressive as he could be in the context of having a quiet game. He was vocal throughout, organising the Ashford defence, and was able to pluck high crosses out of the air with the ease of an 8-foot tall basketball player dunking the ball into a basket – and he stopped whatever shots he was required to save.

The other debutant was Tom Fagg, a tall, blond striker, with more than a passing resemblance to Peter Crouch, but without the full height advantage. Tom was given his chance by Danny Lye almost as soon as Ashford’s second goal went in, having been an unused substitute in the game away to Greenwich Borough. Fagg, of course, is a famous Ashford name. I have memories of The Great Joe Fagg from my youth – a huge personality, commonly known as “Mr Ashford”. He was the owner of the Fagg’s Fleet haulage company, a tireless charity fundraiser and (I believe) the father of the Ashford Carnival. In football terms, Joe Fagg was Ashford Town’s first manager after the Second World War, and led the club to the Kent League championship in 1948-9. I wonder if Tom is any relation ?

In front of Kamuresi were three players who will be familiar to long-standing Ashford fans, in this ever-changing side – Pat Kingwell and Luke Cuthbert in central defence, and Luke’s brother, Adam, at right-back. The back four was completed by Chris Elliott. The remainder of the team consisted of the new brigade, in what was largely a 4-5-1 formation. Seb Schoburgh, in his third appearance for the club, was the lone striker. Ryan Palmer, Josh Woolley and Ellis Green provided plenty of pace and flair from midfield, with Jack Healey and Mickey Dalton tending to sit back in a more defensive role today.

What Danny Lye and The Management are trying to achieve at Ashford is becoming clear. Many of us have been disappointed to see some favourites, and some stalwarts, leave the club recently, but they are being replaced with a squad of real quality. It is obvious that the likes of Green, Palmer and Schoburgh have played at a higher level – that’s written all over them – and both Josh Woolley and Mickey Dalton showed real signs of skill, this afternoon. Jack Healey also cut an impressive figure in Ashford’s midfield. He’s built like a centre-half – every bit as tall as Pat Kingwell, but broader and stronger across the shoulders - and must have been a great loss for his previous club, Lordswood.

The substitute’s bench was completed by Mickey Phillips and goalkeeper Nick Luen, (with Danny Lye in a purely white collar role, not actually named as a sub). Gibraltar international Jamie Bosio was in attendance, and warmed up with the squad, but, surprisingly, was not named in the 16.

After Big George Kamuresi was called on to make an early save from Stuart Zanone, from an acute angle, in the first minute, the first half was a relatively uneventful affair, with players expending most of their energy getting caught offside and bickering with the referee over some fairly minor decisions. The young ref hit back in the 18^th minute, when he showed a yellow card to Sevenoaks’ Tom Ripley, (slightly harshly), after a late challenge on Ellis Green. From the resulting free-kick, on the left side of the pitch, Green and Chris Elliott worked the ball between them, and the move finished with Elliott blasting the ball over the bar from close range and a tight angle, the ball ending up on the steeply rising common land overlooking Richard Stroud’s goal.

Several of the Sevenoaks players questioned why Seb Schoburgh wasn’t booked for a late tackle on Steve Camacho, in the 21^st minute. Five minutes later, however, as a large and noisy squadron of Canada Geese flew over the ground, Schoburgh did well to chase down what seemed to be a lost cause near the left corner flag, turn and make his way into the Sevenoaks penalty area, before hitting a low shot against the foot of the near post.

It was a fairly even first half, although Ashford probably played the better, passing football. It was nice to see an Ashford side knocking the ball around, on the floor, but what the visitors sorely lacked was Shaun Welford’s presence as a target man. Much of the visitors’ forward play focused on the quality and pace of Ryan Palmer, on the right flank, but crosses were often sent into a vacant Sevenoaks penalty area. One such cross did find Schoburgh, in the 34^th minute, but he hooked the ball over the bar – and had been flagged offside, in any case.

Seconds later, Sevenoaks had a free-kick, about six yards inside the Ashford half, which was pumped deep into the visitors’ penalty area. Adrian Stone managed to head the ball goalwards, and his looping effort was about to creep under the crossbar – but Big George plucked the ball out of the air with the ease of a parent helping a child down from the top bed of a bunk. (The Ashford fans are going to like George).

In the 36^th minute, Sevenoaks were having a good spell of pressure, with Ashford struggling to clear their lines. Eventually, Martin Debrah hit a shot on the turn, from about eight yards, but Kamuresi saved well, with his legs.

One feature of the game was Jack Healey generally being “in the wars”. As well as going down with a couple of leg injuries, he suffered two blows to the face in the first half, and went down with an injury to his nose, in the 38^th minute. Jack was off for a full five minutes, as the Ashford physio struggled to stop the flow of blood, and returned to the pitch shortly before the referee blew for half time, with exactly 45 minutes having been played.

So no goals in the first half, with the game due to be decided on kicks from the penalty mark, should the scores be level after 90 minutes.

For some reason, Josh Woolley, who had worn the No.9 shirt during the first half, came out for the second with an “18” on his back – but that didn’t stop him from creating a chance for himself, in the 49^th minute. Picking the ball up about 20 yards from goal, he struck his left-foot shot sweetly, but the curling effort went wide. A minute later, Josh sent in a cross that was easily headed clear by the Sevenoaks defence, instigating a break that was only halted when Mickey Dalton clipped the heels of Gary Stock, as the pair chased after the ball.

Woolley made way for Shaun Welford – a proper No.9 – in the 52^nd minute, and this provided Ashford with that missing ingredient. After this substitution, the visitors were able to take firm control of the game. Almost immediately, Ellis Green, on the left, found Welford with a deep cross, but the Assistant Manager’s header went straight at goalkeeper Richard Stroud. A minute later, however, Ashford went into a lead that they never looked like they would relinquish. Welford began the attack, spreading the ball wide to Ryan Palmer, on the right. Palms fed the ball through to Seb Schoburgh, in the penalty area, who turned and then planted his shot just inside the far post, for his first goal for Ashford.

Sevenoaks’ Steve Camacho had oodles of time in which to line up a shot, in the 61^st minute, before slicing the ball high and wide, but the home side’s best chance to equalise came four minutes later, when Stuart Zanone reminded us of what he is capable of. On the one occasion that he received a well-timed through ball to run onto, he sprinted clear of the Ashford defence. Stuart beat Kamuresi with his shot, but his effort flashed across the face of the goal.

Jack Healey’s physical suffering was ended in the 66^th minute, when he was replaced by regular skipper Mickey Phillips, and Mickey Dalton received a yellow card, in the 70^th minute, for a daft late tackle on Zanone, but the cup tie was effectively decided just three minutes later. Shaun Welford was again the man to make the difference, and, this time, he added his name to the scoresheet. Ryan Palmer cut in from the right touchline, with the ball on his left foot. He sent in a high, looping cross, beyond the far post. Welford appeared to leap above the goalkeeper, nodding the ball into the net, to register a trademark goal – and his ninth for Ashford, at a rate of just a shade under a goal a game.

With Tom Fagg replacing Schoburgh up front on 75 minutes, Ashford played neat, passing football for the remainder of the match, comfortably seeing things through to the final whistle, in spite of a triple substitution made by Mickey Collins with ten minutes remaining.

A seal was placed on a thoroughly good team performance by a stunning individual goal by Ryan Palmer, with 90 minutes on the clock. Picking the ball up from a throw-in, on the right, Ryan produced a neat shimmy to ghost past one defender. A body swerve then sent two more off for a hot dog, as he entered the penalty area with only the goalkeeper to beat, before making no mistake in lashing the ball into the net. It was very much a “worldie”, to go alongside Paul Booth’s volley against Greenwich Borough, two weeks ago.

So Ashford made it through to the last 16 of The Trophy, along with nine other SCEFL clubs, five clubs from the Kent Invicta League and West Wickham.

Another significant point to note is that Danny Lye’s developing team finally managed to string two victories together – for the first time this season.