This top of the table clash was a feisty affair with 9 bookings, 4 goals, a saved penalty & the Ashford Manager Danny Lye sent from the bench.

However, it royally entertained the biggest crowd of the season. Ashford were under no illusions they had to win against their closest rivals otherwise promotion would have to be next season & to begin with they were nervous with Crowborough on the front foot, but as the game went on they controlled it & won quite easily in the end with a Rory Hill hat-trick.

The game started with Crowborough taking the game to Ashford & in the 5^th minute Eddie Smith was put through into the area but his weak shot was saved easily by George Kamurasi.

Ashford had their first chance in the 8^th minute when Rory Hill saw his shot from 30 yards saved by Dan Ellis, but he would become the hero.

A minute later Tom Boddy in the area fell over after a challenge & the ball went to Zac Attwood but from 10 yards he blasted his shot over the bar, in the next minute Dave Botterill received the ball from Hill & from 25 yards his shot went just past the post.

In the 20^th minute Crowborough scored to give them first blood when Ross Treleavan received the ball on the right, controlled it & shot past Kamurasi from 20 yards, this silenced the home crowd.

Twelve minutes later & it could have been level when Jason Goodchild latched onto a back pass went into the area & tried to go past Ellis but he got the ball off Goodchild’s feet.

A minute later Sam Crabb on the right crossed into the area for Smith who knocked it back for Attwood but again his shot from 10 yards went over the bar.

In the 39^th minute Ashford equalised out of nothing when Hill collected the ball on the left wing & then went on a mazy run beating three defenders & the from 20 yards shot past Ellis, this suddenly woke Ashford up & from now until the end controlled the game with Crowborough having few chances.

In the 41st minute Danny Stubbs crossed to the back post where Hill was but his header went past the post, two minutes later Hill on the left got to the by-line but his cross ended up on top the net then there was relief all around the stadium when Pat Kingwell’s clearance was charge down by Smith who looked up saw Kamurasi off his line & from 25 yards he tried to lob him but ended up shooting past him & the post.

The second half saw Ashford take control of the game as in the 49^th minute Hill put Shaun Welford through on goal & Ellis came out & grabbed the ball but lost it & the ball went out for a corner.

Four minutes later a corner into the Crowborough area was missed by everyone except Welford on the back post but from 10 yards he blasted over the bar.

In the 62^nd minute came a contentious decision as the referee Mr Dempster gave a free kick against Ashford which upset Danny Lye who came on to the pitch to remonstrate with him & he got his marching orders.

Three minutes later & Ashford had a glorious chance to take the lead when a free kick lumped forward was flicked on by Welford for Hill in the area & he was fouled & a penalty was given, up stepped Welford & his low drive to the bottom left hand corner was superbly pushed away for a corner by Ellis.

In the 70^th minute they did take the lead when Hill 25 yards out centrally jinked his way forward & from 25 yards saw his deflected shot beat Ellis.

Crowborough would now have to show some ambition & as they poured forward Ashford had the chance to counter attack & in 78^th minute Hill ran forward for 60 yards but his shot went wide, in the very next minute a Ben Davisson corner to the back post found Welford whose header was cleared off the line by Ellis’s foot.

In the 81^st minute Ashford secured the win when a free kick 19 yards out saw Hill’s curling effort hit the post & go in despite Welford knocking it in & claiming it but it went to Hill for his hat trick.

The final whistle went & the majority of the crowd went wild as the title race is now in the hands of Ashford.

 

ASHFORD UNITED:

1. KAMURASI 2. G.SAVAGE  3. F.WALKER  4. D.BOTTERILL  5. R.AVERY  6. P.KINGWELL  7. D.STUBBS  8. B.DAVISSON 9. S.WELFORD 10. J.GOODCHILD  11. R.HILL (90)

SUB USED: 14. J.VINES (90)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. R.PALMER  13. L.ELDRIDGE  15. A.STONE  16. M.DAY

BOOKINGS: 4. D.BOTTERILL (29)  10. J.GOODCHILD (62)  11. R.HILL (62) 7. D.STUBBS(80)

SENT OFF: DANNY LYE (62)

 

CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC:

1. ELLIS 2. S.CRABB  3. T.BODDY  4. L.CAREY  5. J.TURNER  6. J.BARTON  7. R.TRELEAVEN (84)  8. J.WILDER (86) 9. Z.ATTWOOD 10. E.SMITH (74)  11. H.MUGGERIDGE

SUBS USED:  16. D.PERRY (74)  15. T.PEARSON (84)  17. T.VICKERS (86)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. S.CARRINGTON  14. D. TEAR

BOOKINGS: 8. J.WILDER (54)  9. Z.ATTWOOD (64)  5. J.TURNER (65)  11. H.MUGGERIDGE (90+3)

 

REFEREE: Mr K.DEMPSTER

ASSISTANTS: Mr J.DAN-PYE & Mr H.PHILLIPS

ATTENDANCE: 357