Two red cards and three goals gave Ashford a convincing win over Beckenham Town, putting them to the top of the league.
The nuts and bolts came into their game with significantly more to play for than their opponents. Ashford, having been unbeaten in four matches needed to beat the becks in order to keep up the pace set by the league leaders Whyteleafe who were one game ahead with one game in hand.
Beckenham sat comfortably in ninth position after a convincing 6-0 win over Holmesdale the previous week. This league match, however important it was, was also a dress rehearsal for the Kent Senior Trophy match the following Sunday.
From the start of the game it was obvious that Alex Wilks would need to be watched closely by the Ashford defence; within the opening ten minutes he was linking up well with his attacking partner Alfie Nunn.
After the initial danger from the young striker Ashford were able to settle down and play calm, relaxed football until their opponents began to use their speed on the counter attack to force Joe Mant into strong handed saves, first from Wilks and then from Nunn on the rebound.
Ashford came straight back though and through their strong presence in the air they had chances of their own from corners, first Jordan Miller failed to steer his effort towards goal before Ben Jordan put his powerful header over.
This pressure came to haunt Beckenham, after Joe Mant was able to reach to claim a cross he kicked the ball downfield, but after the two Beckenham centre backs left the ball for each other, Ronnie Dolan was able to waltz into the area, claim the ball before comfortably sliding it past Rilwan Anibaba to put Ashford 1-0 up.
From the kick off the nuts and bolts lead was nearly doubled courtesy of Gary Mickleborough, after another mistake in the Beck’s defence, the striker was only able to have his shot saved from close range.
Ashford’s lead was doubled just before half time, in the 42nd minute, after a great run from Gary Mickleborough he clipped a ball towards the near post for Pat Kingwell to put into the unguarded net.
Before half time the hosts continued to apply pressure to the weak Beckenham defence and seconds before the half time whistle Adam Cuthbert steered a hopeful long shot wide of the goal.
Within 8 minutes of the second half beginning Ashford’s task was made a lot easier after Adam Wadmore was sent off for denying Kingwell’s chance to surge into the penalty area, leaving the visitors with 10 men.
This, as well as a number of questionable decisions from the referee and his assistants left the Beckenham players frustrated and the amount of dangerous challenges increased, their anger only increased as Jamie Taylor was also sent off after a second yellow card. Both of these red cards mean that the two players will miss the Trophy final on Saturday.
This 65th minute red card allowed Ashford to play with more freedom and composure, despite this, Beckenham were still able to create chances going forward, after Jordan Miller was unable to clear the ball away Travis Gregory was left one- on- one with Mant, but the young goalkeeper only needed to watch as the ball trickled past his goal.
In the final few minutes Ashford continued to push forward and after Beckenham failed to clear the ball away from a corner Sam Conlon was able to convert from two yards to extend his team’s lead to three goals before full time.
After Whyteleafe lost 1-0, this win puts Ashford at the top of the league while Beckenham remain ninth as the two teams prepare to face off in the Kent Senior Trophy on Sunday.
Ashford United: Mant, L Cuthbert, Whiting, Finch (Fisher), Miller, Jordon, Cook, A Cuthbert, Kingwell, Mickleborough (I Jackson), Dolan (Conlon)
Booked: Kingwell
Beckenham Town: Anibaba, Wise (Clews), McNamara, Wadmore, Paul, J Jackson, Taylor, NgBeba, Wilks, Nunn (Marshall), Gregory
Booked: Jackson, Taylor, Nunn, Wilks
Sent off: Taylor, Wadmore
Attendance: 200