Ashford United celebrated promotion to the Ryman League in some style as Danny Lye’s team beat Rochester United 7-0 at Homelands.

 

Going into the game Ashford were tied on 89 points with Crowborough Athletic but had the comfort of a better goal difference and just had to better or match Crowbororugh’s result at Hollands and Blair to go up.

As it was Crowborough were held to a 0-0 draw at Hollands and Blair so Ashford did their bit to go up by two points in the end.

Ashford had won their last five league games and also bagged the Kent Senior Trophy on 10^th April so were looking to complete a league and cup double.  Once again, it was Ashford’s Assistant Player Manager, Shaun Welford who was the catalyst for the Nuts and Bolts with a hat-trick taking his total to the season to 48 which is a new club record.

Rochester came into the game 14^th without a win since 11^th March but Matt Hume’s side were comfortably clear of relegation.

They had been beaten 0-8 at home by Ashford in their previous encounter back in October but at the outset of this game it looked quite a tricky game for Ashford and there were a few nerves in the opening half hour as Rochester despite going a goal down hung in the game until just before the break.

However, a rather harsh red card for centre half Aaron Burrett six minutes after half time for two cautions really ended the game as a contest.

In front of a huge crowd of 802 and on a pleasant sunny day, Ashford began on the front foot and saw an early header from a corner by Pak Kingwell blocked and then in the 8^th minute, a corner from Ben Davisson came to Captain Stuart West but guided his header past the right post.

Rochester almost spoilt the party when Alex Kendall got his head to the ball from a cross as keeper George Kamarasi came out to clear but his header towards goal lacked power and was cleared.

Welford needed three goals to break the record and was unlucky not to score when a free kick from David Botterill was flicked on to the ex-Maidstone United man whose header was tipped superbly over the bar by keeper Michael Elder.

Three minutes later though, Ashford went in front when Dan Stubbs’ ball forward down the right was latched onto by Welford who beat Vince Collis for pace and strode into the area and from ten yards hit a shot which under the body of Elder and into the net.

This should have settled nerves but Rochester to their credit came back well and Collis, Michael Hurcombe and James Alderman all saw close range efforts frantically cleared away.

Ashford were unlucky when a twenty five yard strike from Welford was pushed onto the crossbar by Elder.  Then Stubbs volleyed wide of the left post from Welford’s left wing cross.

In the 39^th minute, Ashford got the breathing space they needed with a second goal when from a throw in down the left the ball was flicked to the far post to Stubbs who from five yards directed his header on goal which Elder claimed but the ball was clearly over the line and a goal was given.

With news going around at the break that there was no score at Hollands and Blair, it seemed Ashford unless complacent were pretty much home and hosed.

Early in the second half, Stubbs fired wide from Welford’s cross but Rochester who had stuck to their task well were perhaps harshly penalised in the 51^st minute when Welford was released down the right and as he neared the touchline was adjudged to have been pushed to the ground by Burrett.

A penalty was given but Burrett had been booked for a foul in the first half and was rather unfortunate to receive a second yellow and was sent off.

Welford struck home the penalty with typical assurance to leave him level with Stuart Zannone’s club record of 47 goals.

Ashford could now relax with a three goal lead and a man advantage and did plays some fine football in the last half hour.

Welford came close with a header wide of goal and was denied by another good save by Elder.  Then Frazer Walker curled a shot wide.

In the 71^st minute, Ashford scored a fourth when Jason Goodchild was played in down the right by Ryan Palmer and hit a powerful shot which beat the keeper at his near post, high into the roof of the net for his sixth goal of the season.

Rochester gamely carried on and Collis teed up Tom Box for a shot which just cleared the crossbar.

Ashford though had so much quality going forward and they scored a fifth in the 74^th minute when Walker and Welford combined to play in lively substitute Palmer who inside the area turned past two defenders and confidently placed the ball into the net from ten yards.

Rochester gave Kamurasi a bit of action when from a free kick just outside the area, Dan Nash’s strike was comfortably saved by the giant keeper.

Going into the last few minutes more goals seemed on the cards and Welford finally got the hat-trick he had been seeking all game with seven minutes to go when he showed predatory instincts to follow up his shot which was parried by Elder and following up he lashed the ball into the net.

Then with three minutes to go, the scoring was completed and a great day for Ashford was confirmed when Rory Hill set up Palmer who slid a close range shot under the body of Elder to make it 7-0.

Times have been difficult for the club over the years but the fans have stuck by them and this promotion was a just reward for their loyalty.

Big days now await in the Ryman South and a number of Kent derbies.

For Rochester United, they are a club still growing and looking to maintain foundations for a prosperous future but today they were really in the role of possible gatecrasher to Ashford’s party and the home side just had too much class on the day.

 

Ashford United: George Kamarasi, Stuart West, Frazer Walker, David Botterill, Richard Avery (George Savage, 61), Pat Kingwell, Dan Stubbs (Ryan Palmer, 56), Ben Davisson, (Adrian Stone, 75), Shaun Welford, Jason Goodchild, Rory Hill.

Subs not used: Luke Eldridge, Joe Vines

Booked: Stubbs, Welford

Rochester United: Michael Elder, Dan Nash, Steve Rothery, Sam Parrish, Aaron Burrett, Tom Box, Alex Kendall (Paul Porter, 69), James Alderman, Dan Gonzalez-Bello, Michael Hurcombe, Vince Collis (Matt Hume, 76).

Sent Off: Burrett – 2 cautions, 30, 51

Booked: Alderman

 

Referee: Alasdair King

Assistants: Jerry Annandale, Steven Tunnicliffe

 

Attendance:   802

 

 

Alternative report by Darrell Harman

Ashford finally got over the winning line with a demolition job on Rochester & now can look forward to Isthmian League football.

The crowds came in expecting a win whilst at Gillingham, Crowborough were hoping for a slip up & victory for them but alas it did not happen.

Ashford came out of the blocks quickly as if they wanted to get the win as soon as possible, in the 8^th minute a Ben Davisson corner to the back post found skipper Stuart West but his header went wide.

In the 15^th minute they nearly got the goal they craved for when Dave Botterill’s free kick into the area found central defender Pat Kingwell on his own 8 yards out & his header forced Michael Elder to push it over the bar.

Two minutes later Shaun Welford received the ball on the right & ran towards the goal & his shot from 25 yards slipped through Elder’s hands & crept over the line in which the stadium erupted. Rochester were now playing catch up & apart from a few occasions they did not cause any problems.

In the 27^th minute it nearly became two when Welford & Jason Goodchild combined leaving Welford to try his luck from 25 yards but his shot came back of the bar, five minutes later Botterill picked up a loose ball & from 20 yards saw his curling shot go just past the post.

In the 35^th minute Rory Hill slipped Welford in & his cross from the by-line found Dan Stubbs who from 8 yards volleyed past the post. Ashford finally got their second in the 39^th minute when a Welford long throw into the area was flicked on by Kingwell for Stubbs on the back post to head in from 3 yards.

The second half saw Ashford in total control & in the 49^th minute Welford ran past Aaron Burrett & slipped the ball into the path of Stubbs who controlled it but saw his shot go just past the post.

In the 51^st minute the game was over for Rochester as Welford went into the area & was fouled by Burrett which saw him get his second yellow & so was off but also a penalty given, after a minute Welford stepped up & shot low into the bottom left hand corner, the Party was now beginning to start.

In the 55^th minute another chance came when Goodchild chipped to the back post for Welford & his diving header was saved by Elder at the second attempt. Six minutes later Welford had another chance when Botterill crossed from the left & Welford’s header went just past the post, it seemed like the Ashford players were trying to set up Welford to score one more to break Zac Attwood’s record of goal in a season.

A minute later & Hill on the left cut inside & saw his shot fumbled by Elder to Welford but off balance his shot went wide. Ashford got their fourth in the 70^th minute when a long clearance was flicked on by Welford for Goodchild to run onto & he went into the area before smashing the ball past Elder.

In the 74^th minute Ryan Palmer in the area passed to Welford but his shot was deflected for a corner a minute later Palmer in the area twisted & turned before shooting Ashford’s fifth.

Ashford were now trying to emulate the score at Rochester earlier in the season & in the 83^rd minute Welford got his hat trick & the record for the season (48) when in the area he turned & twisted before shooting home from 10 yards.

In the 89^th minute Rochester nearly got a consolation goal when James Alderman was sent through on goal but George Kamurasi came out smothered his shot & in the 90^th minute Palmer ran through the Rochester defence & from 15 yards shot home.

The final whistle went & the crowd poured onto the pitch to celebrate with the players, they were finally going up after a few turbulent years & the future looks a lot rosier than this time last year.