Kingstonian 3-0 Ashford Town - Lovell: K's three-goal victory was flattering

The K’s went into the game second in the Ryman League Division One South table - three places and four points above the Kent side.

But the 3-0 scoreline was the most flattering result that you’ll see all season as Lovell’s men were by far the better side - they just didn’t take their numerous chances.

Kingstonian, who met Bristol City at Ashton Gate in the fourth round proper in 2001, went on to record their biggest ever victory over Ashford Town, courtesy of goals against the run of play from Tommy Williams, Carl Wilson-Denis and Max Hustwick.

Ashford Town kept faith with the same eleven players that thumped Leatherhead 5-0 at The Homelands in midweek and it appeared early on that the side would emulate that against the unbeaten Surrey giants.

Right-back Jimmy Elford sent his shot, after just 80 seconds, over the bar from the edge of the penalty box as did Danny Lye.

K’s goalkeeper Luke Garrard picked up a rolling back pass from central defender Hustwick after 12 minutes as Bradley Spice tried to latch onto a through ball from strike partner Paul Jones, but Orpington referee Mr John Rowbury failed to award Ashford Town a free-kick just inside the penalty area where the offence took place.

Ashford Town created another half chance after eighteen minutes, with defenders combining from a free-kick.

Elford’s free-kick from half-way was glanced wide by skipper Sean Ray as the visitors dominated the first half.

Kingstonian’s first chance, however, arrived just before the midway point of the half.

Central midfielder Tommy Williams swept the ball out to danger man Dean Lodge down the left and after bursting forward and cutting inside, his right-footed shot from twenty-yards sailed over Josh Willis’ crossbar.

But they broke the deadlock, completely against the run of play, after 28 minutes.

Ashford defender Daniel Brathwaite failed to cut out a long hoof forward by Jon Coke and striker Wilson-Denis exchanged a one-two with Bobby Traynor.

Wilson-Denis’ run took him towards the by-line and his superb cross was met by a towering header from the unmarked Tommy Williams, which he glanced past the diving Willis into the top left-hand corner from eight-yards.

The goalscorer then drilled a corner kick to striker Traynor, who dinked his shot towards goal, through a crowded penalty area, but nineteen-year-old Willis beat the ball away on the far post.

But Ashford’s leading marksman, Mitchell Sherwood, squandered an excellent chance to equalise with seven minutes to go before the break.

Striker Paul Jones did well to shield the ball down the right hand side and cut the ball back to Tony Browne, in support.

Browne swung in a cross into the penalty area and Sherwood directed his header from eight-yards into Garrard’s grateful arms.

The diving Gerrard pulled off the save of the match soon after, sticking out his left arm, to prevent Sherwood scoring with a fierce deflected angled drive.

But despite being the better side, Ashford Town went into the break a goal down but their dreams of a lucrative FA Cup run ended thanks to two goals in a devastating four minute spell.

The otherwise quiet Traynor sprinted past Elford and Ray before slipping the ball to Lodge, who centred low across the face of goal for Wilson-Denis to sweep home from just four yards out at the far post.

Kingstonian’s flattering third, arrived just 203 seconds later.

Tommy Williams’ near post header was met by a free glancing header from Hustwick at the near post, which flew into the top near corner.

Jones drilled a right-footed shot across the face of goal but also wide of the far post on the hour mark as the Kent side came to terms with being 3-0 down, despite being the better side at the time.

Their best chance of the second half arrived halfway through the half when Brathwaite floated a free-kick into the penalty area and Ray’s glancing bouncing header brought a smart low save from Garrard.

With Ashford changing their formation to try to force their way back into the game, Kingstonian finished strongly and could have added more salt into their opponents’ wounds.

Phil Williams - a Dartford flop last season - played in fellow substitute Neil Lampton, whose looping shot evaded the diving Willis and substitute Lee Hockey, to drop agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

Phil Williams then won and took a corner and this was met by Hustwick, who powered a header just wide.

But Traynor showed his class late on when he brought the ball under control, turned and cracked a stunning right-footed curling drive, which bent around the diving Willis only to bounce agonisingly against the foot of the far post.

Hockey brought down a surging Williams run right on the 18-yard line and was booked for his efforts but Traynor was twice denied by Willis.

The 3-0 final scoreline may appear to be a heavy defeat, but Lovell, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, agreed that Ashford were by far the better side and the scoreline was flattering.

“It was (flattering), that’s the disappointing thing,” he said. “We’ve played them off the park. They’ve had one chance in the first half and scored it.

“I said to the boys at half-time ‘we’ve got to get the next goal, the next goal is so important’ and we came out second half bright again but then they get two in a matter of minutes and it kills you, it kills you off.

“Obviously then you’re chasing it, so you change things and put people up and give it a go but up until then, as you say, we were the better side, even in the last twenty minutes we were still the better side.

“We were still creating chances and passing the ball around but fair play to them, they kept on and they play a direct way of football and they’ve got the result so you can’t knock it can you?

“But I’m just disappointed with the way we lost. If we had lost to a better side and a side who absolutely hammered us, I’d hold my hands up, but they know they’ve been in a good game and they know that we were very unlucky, very unlucky.

“We could have had a few (goals) in the first half, their keeper’s kept them in the game with some great saves but like individual errors are costing us again.

“Up until, obviously when they scored their three goals, they had a couple of chances after that, which they will do when you’re pushing men forward but until then it was anybody’s game.”

Despite their FA Cup exit, Lovell cannot point the finger of blame to his players and their travelling supporters, which played their part attracting the K’s largest crowd of the season, were excellent throughout.

Kingstonian fans were stunned to silence when they went 3-0 up - suffering from a state of shock that their side were so clinical.

Lovell said: “I was in a state of shock, but that’s football, it happens, it happens all the time, how many times do you see it?”

“I can’t have a go at my own players, they’ve given everything, worked hard and did everything that we asked them to do but at one end they’re keeper made some great saves and we had chances that we didn’t take and at the other end defensively we’ve given two goals.

“The first one, Daniel Brathwaite should have cleared and they went through and got a cross in and the third one, from a corner, we can’t let that happen. That’s a free header and it’s a goal.

“I was disappointed (with the two goals) but overall play was good, we kept it and passed it well and created a number of good opportunities but didn’t take them today but on another occasion we will.”

The vocal Ashford supporters - who gave their side a rousing reception at the final whistle, were deservedly clapped by club owner Don Crosbie in front of the press box and Lovell described their support as “brilliant.”

Kingstonian: Luke Garrard, Jon Coke, Nick Rundell, Adam Thompson, Max Hustwick, Tommy Williams (Neil Lampton 79), Jamie Beer, Simon Huckle, Bobby Traynor, Carl Wilson-Denis (Jon Neal 61), Dean Lodge (Phil Williams 72).
Subs: Luke Naughton, Julien Thompson, NeJason Turley, Jean Serge Musungu.

Goals: Tommy Williams 28, Carl Wilson-Denis 53, Max Hustwick 56

Booked: Carl Wilson-Denis 52

Ashford Town: Josh Willis, Jimmy Elford (Jimmy Bottle 71), Robbie Ryan, Daniel Brathwaite, Sean Ray, Ryan Briggs, Tony Browne (Andy Doerr 78), Danny Lye, Bradley Spice (Lee Hockey 71), Paul Jones, Mitchell Sherwood.
Subs: Anthony Hogg, James Humphreys, Jamie Riley, Charlie Glyde.

Booked: Danny Lye 85, Lee Hockey 90

Attendance: 401
Referee: Mr John Rowbury (Orpington, Kent)
Assistants: Mr Jeff Lengthorn (New Eltham, London SE9) & Mr Vincent Penfold (Addlestone, Surrey)