Ashford United’s first game in the Bostik South ended in defeat on Saturday afternoon when they lost 1-0 to Carshalton.

The visitors broke the deadlock on the brink of half time when Brendan Murphy-McVey tucked home from close range.

Rory Hill had a chance to level the game in the second half from the penalty spot but his effort from twelve yards hit the bar.

The afternoon got even worse for United when, on 86 minutes, Pat Kingwell was sent off for a foul on Michael Campbell.

This was Ashford’s first season in the fourth level of non league football since their reformation in 2011 and they were given a tough challenge to start the season. Carshalton’s front three of Campbell, Tommy Bradford and Mikel Miller would be tough to close down and this showed on six minutes when George Kamurasi got off his line quickly to prevent a successful through ball from Bradford.

Athletic’s quick start continued and, after Murphy-McVey’s corner was headed over by Ola Sogbanmu, Jordan Cheadle hit a low free kick just past Ashford’s goal frame.

It took 36 minutes for Ashford to create a meaningful attack for themselves. Some impressive work from Jason Goodchild gave Tyrell Richardson-Brown time on the edge of the area, but after collecting a pass from the right wing and shuffling the ball across to his right foot, the attacker’s curled effort was blocked.

Carshalton broke the deadlock in the first of five additional minutes at the end of the first half. Some brilliant work from Tommy Bradford brought in three Ashford defenders to try and put the move to an end, only to give Murphy-McVey enough space to collect the resulting pass and delicately put the ball past Kamurasi to give his side the lead at half time.

The second period began with Ashford creating the early chances. Richardson-Brown forced a save from Richard Ossai and the goalkeeper was called into action from the resulting corner where a snapshot from the edge of the area was well kept out.

Carshalton soon worked their way back into the game though. Bradford’s short range effort was well kept out and Kamurasi was called into action moments after when he bravely got in the way of a cross from the left wing, denying Campbell a chance to double his side’s lead.

This was followed by Ashford’s best chance to make the game level again. A great run from Richardson Brown was ended by the striker being tripped and the referee pointing to the penalty spot, only for Rory Hill to hit the bar with the resulting kick.

With time running out in the game, things got even worse for the hosts. Campbell was set to go through on goal for Athletic, only for Pat Kingwell to bring him to the ground as the last defender. With no arguments from the Ashford players, the referee showed the centre back the red card, forcing Ashford to see out the rest of the remaining four minutes with ten men.

Ashford United: Kamurasi, Walker (Difford), Elliott (Williams), Botterill (Stone), Avery, Phillips, Davisson, Goodchild, Richardson-Brown, Hill

Subs not used: Perkins, Lee-Wharton

Carshalton Athletic: Ossai, Price (Healy), Hamilton-Downes (McLaughlin), Adeniyi, Morath-Gibbs, Cheadle, Murphy-McVey (Phillips), Sogbanmu, Campbell, Bradford, Miller

Subs not used: Opoku