Blairs Wembley journey ended at the first attempt as Ashford United showed their class and won comfortably on Saturday afternoon at Star Meadow.
Blair started the quickest as in the first minute a ball across the area to the back post found Sam Wright but he side footed wide, after that Ashford took control of the game.
In the seventh minute Lanre Azeez put Alex Afrofi in but as he steadied himself Dan Ellis came out and saved his shot. Three minutes later a corner to the back post saw Connor Dymond rise, his header beat Ellis but not Richard Davis who headed it off the line.
Two minutes later Ian Draycott saw his 20 yard effort go just past the post. In the 23rd minute Ashford finally took the lead when a long ball forward on the left saw Akrofi ran onto it, he advanced into the area and from an acute angle shot past Ellis.
A minute later, it was two when the ball in the area saw Akrofi shoot but it was half saved by Ellis, but Draycott quickly nipped in and chipped it over Ellis from five yards.
The rest of the half saw Ashford dominate and manager Kevin Watson would have been impressed from what he saw from his new side.
The second was a lot closer as Blair came out with a little bit more spirit while Ashford put in a professional performance, and kept their lower League opponents out.
The first half chance of the half came in the 52nd minute when Harvey Welford saw his 20 yard effort pushed round the post by Jacob Russell. Two minutes later Ashford nearly increased their lead when Akrofi put Stanley Oldfield in on goal but Ellis saved it and conceded a corner.
A minute later Akrofi on the edge of the area tried his luck, his curling effort was pushed around the post by Ellis. In the 60th minute after only being on for two minutes Armand Grosha saw his twenty yard effort go just past the post.
Three minutes later Ashford wrapped up the tie when Tom Carsle on the left saw his low cross to the back post when Draycott was, he knocked it in from three yards.
In the 70th minute it could have been four when Carlse got to the by-line crossed into the six yard box where Harvey Brand was but his header from five yards out flew over the bar.
The game petered out as Ashford showed their class and saw the game out but Blair can take positives out of the second half as they at least competed.
Hollands & Blair:
- D.Ellis 2. B.Horley 3. R.Davies 4. L.Allan 5. D.Davis (30) 6. R.Gilman
7. J.Simon 8. S.Stace 9. T.Walmsley 14. S.Wright (58) 11. H.Welford (82)
Subs Used: 12. D.Anderson (30) 16. A.Grosha (58) 16. M.Peter-Brown (82)
Subs Not Used: 15. F.Gooding 10. E. Boicha
Bookings: 7. J.Simon (85)
Ashford United:
- J.Russell 2. H.Brand 3. T.Carlse 4. R.Ovenden 5. L.Knight 6. B.Gorham
7. L.Azeez (45) 8. C.Dymond 9. A.Akrofi 10. I.Draycott 11. A.Ramadan (50)
Subs Used: 12. N.Carney (45) 14. S.Oldfield (50)
Subs Not Used: 17. C.Towers
Bookings: 1. J.Russell (58)
Referee: Mr C.Wild
Assistants: Mr.C.Parkinson & Miss B.Kelly
Att: 240