Kentish Football 
Ashford Town 0-1 Walton Casuals - Pressure mounts on under performing Ashford
However, the three points were no less than the Casuals deserved, as they outplayed Ashford throughout the game and were rewarded when the ever-threatening Carley fired a shot that snuck under the diving Whincup.
Luck did shine on Ashford in the other Ryman League Division One South games though, as Godalming, Chatham and Corinthian-Casuals all lost to prevent John Cumberbatch’s side dropping into the bottom two.
But if the Homelands faithful are to see their side perform like they did in this crucial clash any more times this season, relegation could prove to be on the cards, and in the immediate future it could cost Cumberbatch his job.
Leaving star striker Walid Matata out of the starting line-up was one of many baffling decisions the Ashford Town boss made, as Cumberbatch changed his side at the eleventh hour to accommodate Steve Sodje in place of the late arriving Matata.
Sodje partnered Fenwick in attack, and the result was clear to see.
Ashford’s forward line was slow and lumbering, and lacked pace to trouble the opposition defence.
And it was no surprise that Ashford’s meaningful attempts in the first half could have been counted on one finger, let alone one hand.
George Fenwick’s instinctive strike flew inches wide midway through the first half in what was Ashford’s only effort, a poor return considering Ashford put three past Kent League side VCD Athletic in midweek.
Walton Casuals on the other hand always threatened, but for all their huffing and puffing in the final third even they could only test Whincup once.
Ex-Hammers star Tony Gale was in the technical area as Director of Football for the Casuals, and it was he who encouraged his son Anthony to burst forward on the right touchline and deliver a low cross that Scott Pinnock turned goalwards only to be tipped over by Whincup.
In the second half Ashford were up against another gale, except this one came in the natural form of a strong wind blowing right into Whincup’s face.
The young goalkeeper struggled to deal with the conditions, as he hooked a number of goal kicks straight into touch.
Predictably it was substitute Matata who looked the most likely to breach the backline of Walton, and he nearly did when he latched onto a through ball only to curl a shot onto the bar.
Ashford came close again when Marc Cumberbatch headed Allman’s chipped free kick past Reed only for Cayford to clear off the line.
The Casuals, who lived up to their name with the scruffy schoolboy look of captain Scott Harris, began to slowly apply the pressure in the last half hour, and came close with a Carley header that Whincup saw wide.
However, it was a different story when ex-AFC Wimbledon man Carley struck a shot past Whincup with 90 minutes on the clock.
Just as it looked the game would reach an inevitable goalless draw, Carley showed his striking instincts by skidding a shot off the surface and past the Ashford goalkeeper.
Whilst the victory all but ensures the Stags will be playing Ryman League football next year, it is a different story for Ashford.
Clearly new faces need to be brought in, and with the transfer deadline day looming at the end of the month, Cumberbatch has his work cut out.
Ashford Town: Jake Whincup, Jamie Smith, Ken Jarrett-Elliott (Tom McGowen 67), Simon Glover, Marc Cumberbatch, Gary Clarke, Anthony Allman (Joe Hitchings 88), Ambrose Kamara, Steve Sodje, George Fenwick, Ian Ross (Walid Matata 45).
Subs: Tom Adlington, Ryan Andrews.
Walton Casuals: Matt Reed, Jermain Hinds, Sol Patterson, Steve Sutherland, John Ambridge, Michael Cayford, Anthony Gale, Craig Carley, Sol Pinnock (Anton Stephenson 82), Scott Harris, Greg Ball (Michael Carpenter 67).
Subs: Michael Cobden, Chris Sedgewick, Luke Dowling.
Attendance: 200
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd