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Winning start for Ashford's under fourteens

The newly-formed Ashford Town under fourteen football team played their first ever competitive games when they competed in the Tenterden Tigers tournament recently, writes Stephen McCartney.

Considering the team had never played together, they quickly settled into their first game and took the lead after only five minutes when Danny Smith found the target.

However, it was to be his last contribution as a knee injury meant he was unable to compete in the remainder of the tournament.

An Alex Shell penalty, after he was brought down inside the penalty area, secured the 2-0 win.

Ashford's second group game resulted in a comfortable 3-0 win with a brace from Sheldon Clottey and one from Ricky Harden, which secured top spot and a place in the final.

The final game was a tighter contest, but the defensive duo of Danny Shearing and Nicholas Walshaw were outstanding, and once again, the pace of Clottey proved too much for their opponents' back line, as he grabbed the vital first goal with a clinical finish.

A mazy run from Owen Kessock added a second of the game and clinched the trophy, which was lifted by skipper Danny Shearing, celebrating his birthday, to give the under fourteen's their first piece of silverware.

Overall, it was an excellent team effort, with goalkeeper Matt Reeve not conceding a goal and Laurence Harvey outstanding in midfield, it was a promising start for the team.

Source: www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

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