Ashford United kicked off their FA Vase Second Round game against Littlehampton hoping to get the furthest in the competition since their reformation in 2011.

Paul Chamber’s side went into the game unbeaten at homelands since early September, but with Jordon Miller out, Tom Scorer took the number two shirt from the full back.

The nuts and bolts sit in 5th position in the Southern Counties East Division with their opponents in 3rd in the Sussex County League Division 1.

Both teams had chances early on in the game, Littlehampton’s Dan Simmonds had the first chance of the game, but his looping header was caught from Ashford’s young goalkeeper Joe Mant.

At the other end Ashford’s danger man, Tom Scorer had his shot from a tight angle deflected over.

The game was very slow paced, from kick off both teams tackles were badly timed, dangerous and overall, not easy to watch.

The referee avoided giving out cards, but was forced when Gary Petes continued to foul Scorer.

As tensions on the pitch increased, the amount of scoring opportunities became limited, leaving any goal to be vital if the teas wanted to avoid a replay.

Ashford’s top scorer Sam Conlon was given space in the box from a cross, but his glancing header went straight into the hands of Jon Hendricks.

The best chance the Gold’s had in the first half came from Simmonds, after a long ball he was able to beat the offside trap leaving him one on one with Mant, however, his shot went straight to the Ashford goalkeeper, who didn’t even need to move from his position.

Soon after Ashford’s Buster Smisson was given a chance to give the home side the lead, but after good work to cut inside his left footed shot was too weak and gathered easily by Hendricks.

Ashford continued to pressure the visitors, after Liam Whiting hit a hopeful shot from 40 yards out which required a remarkable save, both Smisson and Scorer had chances saved.

The major incident in the first half came after the final chance, Tom Scorer’s cross was too far in front of Luke Cuthbert.

After this, Cuthbert and the Littlehampton defence exchanged their thoughts which escalated into a mass brawl.

In the confusion the half time whistle blew and Mitchell Hand got sent off. Once the two teams finally retreated to the changing rooms the violence continued in the Homelands Stand.

Away fans set off smoke bombs and attempted to assault fans and stewards, it took club officials from Littlehampton to restore order from their fans. The police were called but no arrests were made.

Once the second half began there was no sign of the earlier confrontation, both teams refrained from making too many late tackles and the away fans went back into the stand.

This lack of any physicality turned the second half into a dull, boring half, with both teams seeming happy to settle for a replay; a large amount of substitutions in quick succession, leaving both teams unable to pass the ball around wasting time.

Ashford had most of the chances in the second half, from the first corner of the second half the ball pinged around the six yard box, finally the ball fell to Adam Cuthbert who fired it far over the bar.

Gary Clarke also was given a lot more space in the second half, his first effort came from 20 yards out, but his shot was blocked by Josh Bates.

His central midfield partner, Cuthbert was given a free kick from the edge of the penalty box, although the initial shot was powered into the wall, he was able to hit a volley over the large group of players in the area to force another great save from Hendricks.

With only five minutes left, Littlehampton had their best chance of the game. Substitute Ben Gray got past his marker and shot across Mant, who was able to parry the shot away into the path of Alex Kew, he should have scored but Mant was able to get up quickly and dive to his left to deny Kew.

With seconds left Ashford had the final attack of the game. Gary Mickleborough was on a run down the right wing, after stopping to gain some space he was able to put a cross into the area, the ball was too low for Gary Clarke to use his head, instead he adjusted his body and unleashed a perfect scissor kick into the near post to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Ashford will continue to the Third Round of the FA Vase on the 7th December, they will also be given £800 from the FA prize fund.

Their next game is away to Holmesdale in the league.

Ashford: Mant, T Scorer, Whiting, Clarke, L Cuthbert, Jordon, Fisher, A Cuthbert, Smisson (Drydon), Conlon (Mickleborough), Byrne (B Scorer)

Booked: Byrne

Littlehampton: Hendricks, Wiggins, Hand, Bates, McKay, Curnow, Humphreys, Petes, Gaskin, Simmonds (Gray), Packor (Kew)

Booked: Petes

Sent off: Hand