Ashford continued their fine home form with an emphatic victory over Holmesdale on Saturday afternoon.

The game started quickly for Ashford as in the 2^nd minute a long throw from James Everitt into the area was flicked on to Adam Cuthbert whose first time shot went just past the post, but in the 6^th minute they took the lead when a low cross into the area was half cleared to Stuart Zanone who rifled in his shot from 8 yards.

Holmesdale first effort came in the 16^th minute when John Paul Collier’s free kick into the area found Benga Ogunse but his volleyed shot from 15 yards went wide. Two minutes later Cuthbert latched onto a loose ball & passed to Kieran Byrne whose shot was deflected for a corner.

Ashford’s Joe Mant was called into action in the 24^th minute when Romaria Hart on the run down the left wing passed inside to Mark Axel & his shot from 25 yards was tipped over by Mant.  On the half hour Ashford could have doubled their lead when Tom Scorer latched onto a loose pass went into the area & shot past Alex Hyde only to see his effort come back off the post.

Ashford seemed to have won the game when in the space of 2 minutes they went three up, firstly in the 43^rd minute a long ball forward was flicked on by Zanone for Scorer who ran on & chipped the keeper then in the next minute Gary Clark on the right saw his low cross miscued clearance fall to Scorer who wasted no time in smacking it into the back of the net from 12 yards.

Ashford scored their fourth in the 51^st minute when Byrne on the right passed to Cuthbert who ran into the area & his low cross evaded everyone except Scorer on the back post who stabbed it home to complete his hat trick.

Holmesdale didn’t give in but were second best but in the 56^th minute they nearly broke their duck when a Collier corner to the near post was flicked on for Lee Prescott whose shot hit the cross bar.

Ashford continued to attack & in the 59^th minute Scorer passed the ball inside the full back for Byrne whose low cross forced Hughy Samuels to put it dangerously close to the post.

A minute later Zanone 25 yards out saw his goal bound shot pushed around the post by Hyde.  Another chance went a begging in the 70^th minute when Zanone put Mooney into the area but Hyde came out & blocked his shot with his legs.

In the 82^nd minute Zanone had another good chance when running forward his shot from 18 yards was saved by Hyde’s legs. Holmesdale got a consolation goal in the 89^th minute when a ball forward saw Mant come out to collect it but lost the ball allowing Damel Stewart to go into the area & pass sideways for Hart who from 5 yard slotted into an empty net.

 

ASHFORD UNITED:

1. MANT 2. J.EVERITT  3. C.WRAIGHT  4. L.WINFIELD (68)  5. L.WALSH  6. L.WHITING  7. G.CLARK (80)
2. A.CUTHBERT 9.  S.ZANONE  10. T.SCORER  11.K.BYRNE (66)

SUBS USED:

5. H.PRIDDLE (65) 16. K.MOONEY (68) 14. A.IRVINE (80)

SUBS NOT USED:

2. M.SMISSEN 17. J.HILL

 

HOLMESDALE:

1. HYDE 2. S.HOLLIS  3. M.CUMBERBATCH  4. L.KERR PRESCOTT (45)  5. M.AXEL (68)  6. L.PRESCOTT (75)
2. R.HART 9. B.OGUNSEYE  10. D.STEWART  11. J.P.COLLIER

SUBS USED: 15. H.SAMUELS (45)  14. M.VAZLY (68)  16. L.SOMLE (75)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. R.DEPEEZA

BOOKINGS:  10 .J.STEWART (4) 8. R.HART (12) 11. J.P.COLLIER (12) 3. M.CUMBERBATCH (76)

REFEREE: Mr. P.ZACHWIEWA

ASSISTANTS:  Mr. M.McCAUGHAN & Mr. J.HILLO0

ATTENDANCE: 134