Ashford Town 2-1 Tilbury - We should have won by more, admits Walker - EXCLUSIVE

ASHFORD TOWN 2-1 TILBURY
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 4^th August 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from The Homelands

Ashford Town warmed up to their Ryman League Division One South campaign, one that promises so much, with a comfortable win over a Tilbury side that will be facing Dartford in Ryman League Division One North this season.

But Darts boss Tony Burman shouldn’t be too concerned about the Essex side, who failed to impress at a revamped Homelands, as the English summer returned with a vengeance.

“I thought first half we should have been four up,” admitted Clive Walker, the newly appointed manager of Ashford Town, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.”

Tottenham based, Ashford Town striker, Walid Matata, 25, who once again arrived to the ground late, and missed the team photographs before this pre-season friendly, is expected to have recovered from his back injury for Redbridge’s visit next Saturday.

And powerfully built striker Rob Denness, a summer signing from Chatham Town, was forced off late in the first half, having strained his calf.

It took just thirteen minutes for the Kent side to open the scoring, through midfielder, Danny Lye.

Ashford, playing a 5-3-2 formation, combined well down the right-hand side during the first half, with Tony Browne and Lee Spiller, team-mates at Dover Athletic, linking up well.

And Browne’s throw was hooked towards the edge of the penalty box by striker Joby Thorogood and Lye, who played for Bearsted in the Kent Senior Trophy final against Whitstable Town four months ago, drove a left-footed half-volley past Antone Goutard from fifteen-yards.

Denness then played a ball over the top of the Tilbury defence for Browne to whip in a right-footed cross, but defender Benga Saunga was relieved when he saw his clearance, whilst stretching, fly just over the top of the near post.

Tilbury, however, created their only chance of the first half, in the 25^th minute, moments after the players took a drinks break, as the game was played in hot conditions.

Ashford goalkeeper Graham Hill was relieved to see Luke Stanley’s long-range shot crash against his crossbar, after the ball sailed over his head, but the goalkeeper was able to pluck Ayo Adetayo’s resulting header out of the air from underneath his crossbar.

Another cross from Browne presented Ashford with another chance, but Joby Thorogood powered his header wide, but his blushes were saved by an offside flag.

Ginger-haired central defender, Nick Fenwick, got into the action on the half-hour mark.

Whilst seeing the goalkeeper off his line, Fenwick swung a right-footed hanging cross-come-shot from 40-yards towards goal, but this dropped just over the near post.

And a move involving Spiller and Thorogood presented Denness with a chance, but the teenage striker blazed over.

Browne’s ball over the top gave Ashford another chance later in the half.

Lye managed to get behind the defence, rounded the goalkeeper, before squaring the ball to Thorogood, but the tiny striker miss-kicked the ball, and the chance went begging.

And early in the second half, Another former Dover Athletic player, Hemel Hempstead based left-back, Daniel Brathwaite crossed towards the far post but Nick Humphrey, his former team-mate at Crabble, glanced his header wide.

But Ashford doubled their lead within three minutes of the second half, from a corner kick.

Brathwaite’s near-post corner was met by central defender, Rob Gillman, who hooked the ball past substitute goalkeeper Richard Wray to give Ashford a deserved two-goal lead.

Another chance went begging in the 55^th minute when Browne whipped in another excellent cross from the right, which sailed over Steve Sodje’s head, but Lye sent the ball over the near post whilst stretching, from just six-yards out.

And like most friendlies, a whole host of substitutions were made by both managers, and the game stopped flowing.

Slack defending, however, led to Tilbury pulling a goal back with fourteen minutes remaining, when John Hafford fired past substitute goalkeeper, Jake Whincup and into the far corner.

“We made it difficult second half, but I did make a lot of changes, second half,” admitted Walker. “Sometimes it takes a while to settle in.

“But first half an hour we did well, probably my strongest side, they looked a dominate bunch.”

Skipper Lee Spiller was also pleased with the performance from his team-mates, but admitted the heat took it’s toll on them during the second half.

The 29-year-old said: “Thought we passed the ball really well, moved the other team around a lot. The shape was good and we looked defensively strong, but I think we got a bit tired second half with the heat.”

Next up is a trip to Kent League side Hythe Town, who beat their Ryman Premier League neighbours 3-1 last week, on Tuesday night, before their last warm-up, at home to Redbridge next Saturday.

Then it’s the mouth-watering Ryman League opening day clash against Kingstonian, here at The Homelands, on Saturday, 18^th August.

Speaking about the K’s, Walker said: “They’ve had a lot of changes from last year. They’ll be strong, they always are.

“They’re a big club at this level, they’ll always be up there, strong.

He added: “They’ll be competing for something.”

Walker then takes his side to former club, Chatham Town, on Tuesday, 21^st August, and the former Dover Athletic boss is expecting a scrap at Maidstone Road against Phil Miles charged up players.

“Won’t be easy, at night, Chatham, never is there,” he warned. “Always a hard place to win it, but these are the places you’ve got to win it.”

Ashford Town: Graham Hill (Jake Whincup 67), Tony Browne, Daniel Brathwaite (Paul O’Brien 75), Nick Fenwick (Tom Adlington 64), Rob Gillman, Nick Humphrey, Anthony Allman (Kevin Lott 59), Lee Spiller, Rob Denness (Steve Sodje 40, Adrian Stone 56, Leroy John 75), Joby Thorogood (Joe Hitchings 67), Danny Lye (Gary Clarke 61).

Goals: Danny Lye 13, Rob Gillman 48

Tilbury: Antone Goutard (Richard Wray 45), John Whiteman (Junior Ashman 61), Lloyd Antony, Nathan Phillip, Benga Saunga, Jamie Knight (Danny Smith 45), Luke Stanley, Jamie Twist, Kaunle Palmer (Kurt Smith 45), Lee Spinger (John Hefford 45), Ayo Adetayo (Courtney McClean 55).

Goals: John Hefford 74

Attendance: 108
Referee: Mr Stuart Butler (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Paul Beadle (Sevenoaks) & Mr Mark Huggins (Tunbridge Wells)