Ashford Town 2-1 Kingstonian

Adam O’Neill’s strike four minutes from time ensured Ashford Town took the points in a compelling tussle at the Homelands, writes Will Sun.

George Fenwick had given Ashford Town the lead with a header from an Ian Ross corner, but Kingstonian soon found themselves level when Mazin Ahmed tucked the ball home from six yards.

Although with 86 minutes on the clock the ball fell kindly for O’Neill in the area and the striker, on loan from Tonbridge Angels, hooked the ball home to the delight of the home faithful.

Ashford Town started the game with a new centre back partnership, as Dan Tanner was forced out with a knee ligament injury, and Barry Crawford has left the club after a dispute regarding his fitness.

Marc Cumberbatch moved back from centre midfield to return to the defence alongside Nick Fenwick, who was making his starting debut.

And Ashford started the game brightly, as they shut out the Kingstonian strike force and even had a half chance of their own when Tom Adlington’s long ball just eluded George Fenwick leaving Luke Garrard to claim at the second attempt.

But Garrard had no chance to stop George Fenwick’s rocket header on 28 minutes, as the tall striker rose to head in Ian Ross’ cross into the back of the net.

Although the old adage that a team is most vulnerable after they have scored certainly proved to be true, as less than a minute later the K’s had equalised.

Martyn Lee delivered a perfect cross that Ian Ross came to clear, but the veteran left back slipped allowing Mazin Ahmed to slot under Simon Overland.

Ashford were lucky not to have found themselves a goal down moments later, when the unmarked Stephen Broad headed inches wide.

With the next goal crucial in shaping the rest of the game, both sides understandably started tentatively.

Lee tested Overland with a well-struck shot, but this was the only chance in the opening second half minutes.

On 75 minutes Richard Taylor flashed a shot wide for the K‘s, as the visitors began to look the more likely to grab the points.

However, with the game seemingly heading for a draw O’Neill, in only his second start for the club, found space for Joby Thorogood to pass into and despite claims for offside and handball, O’Neill hooked the ball right-footed into the corner of the net.

O’Neill turned provider for Joby Thorogood soon after, but Thorogood’s goal scoring drought continued as he put the ball wide when he was one-on-one with Garrard.

Ashford Town: Simon Overland, Tom Adlington, Ian Ross (Joe Hitchings 69), Marc Cumberbatch, Nick Fenwick, Anthony Allman, Joby Thorogood, Simon Glover, Adam O’Neill, George Fenwick, Ken Jarrett-Elliott.  Subs: Matt Carruthers, Luke Coleman

Kingstonian: Luke Garrard, Asher Hudson, Steve Symes, Stephen Broad, Daniel Lavender, Richard Taylor, Mazin Ahmed, Scott Corbett, Tony Reid (Daniel Morris 60), Adolf Amoako, Martyn Lee.

MOM: Nick Fenwick

Attendance: 207