Sevenoaks Town 3-3 Ashford United - None of my teams roll over and let teams win, says Sevenoaks Town boss Micky Collins

Sevenoaks Town 3 – 3 Ashford United
Location	Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5BX
Kickoff	13/04/2016 19:45

SEVENOAKS TOWN  3-3  ASHFORD UNITED
Southern Counties East Football League
Wednesday 13^th April 2016
Stephen McCartney reports from Greatness Park

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Micky Collins says none of his teams roll over after showing character to salvage a point to extend their unbeaten run to thirteen games.

A crowd of 131 fans were at Greatness Park to watch an entertaining game as Ashford United showed no hangover from losing the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy Final on penalties (7-6 after a goal-less 90 minutes) to Kent Invicta League side Sheppey United on Sunday.

Ashford United, who went into the game lying in third-place in the Southern Counties East Football League table on 62 points from 33 games, raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 22 minutes through Pat Kingwell’s 35-yard screamer and Chris Saunders.

Sevenoaks Town, in fifth-place on 53 points from 33 games, pulled a goal back early in the second half through right-back Chris Edwards, before Ashford United restored their two goal lead through a cracking strike from striker Shaun Welford, who scored his 34^th goal of the season.

Sevenoaks Town battled back through and were given a lifeline through an own-goal from Ashford winger Mikey Dalton, before central midfielder Joe Bingham drilled in a 35-yard stunner at the end.

“Poor first half, better second half, simple as that mate,” said Collins after his side’s ninth league draw of the season.

“I thought first half we didn’t turn up. It looked like we hadn’t played for two weeks.

“Ashford looked like they’ve come out because of not winning (the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy) on Sunday and were fired up and wanted it more than us.

“I thought we created quite a few chances first half but we switched off in certain areas and we addressed it at half time and I thought second half we were the better side.

“Character? You expect that of your teams. None of my teams roll over and let teams win. 

“I went in at half-time and had a moan. I thought we created enough chances to still be in the game at 2-0 and then to get to 2-1 I thought we could go on and at least get a draw and then we conceded, again switched off, got caught out, poor individual error, again and then after that it’s the Alamo.

“It’s like are we going to get a second? Are we going to get a third? Are we going to get a fourth? Unfortunately, they stopped at three but I’ll take a draw.”

Ashford United player-manager Danny Lye admitted the pressure was off his side tonight and they could actually enjoy the game.

“Yes, it’s good. It’s a good work-out,” said Lye, who came on for the final six minutes after staying in his technical area for Sunday’s Final.

“First half was a good first half. We changed things around second half, they got back in it but we’ve got nothing to play for now apart from trying to get results but we’re looking for next year and trying a few formations out and trying a few people out.

“We started well. I said to the boys we were all laughing and joking and very relaxed. It’s been more relaxed than it has been all year because we’ve had quite a lot of pressure games recently because we’ve been in the hunt for everything.

“So we said to them ‘enjoy it!’ but don’t enjoy it too much that you don’t start and work hard. We started well. We got the ball down and played well.”

Sevenoaks Town created the opening chance of the game after 102 seconds.

Edwards swung in a corner from the right towards the near post where central defender John Lord peeled off his marker to plant his free header over the bar from eight-yards.

Bingham then whipped in a cross from the left and Harrison Carneige raced in to plant his header just wide before Ashford United opened the scoring with 09:32 on the clock.

Central defender Kingwell collected a loose ball and was given licence to roam forward and unleashed a screamer from his right-foot, which screamed past the diving keeper and found the top left-hand corner from 35-yards to score his third goal of the season.

Lye said: “It was a great goal. He missed a penalty at the weekend so to score that, it was a nice goal and what a goal!”

Collins added: “That’s an absolutely fantastic strike, no goalie’s saying that!

“But I’ve got to question our boys because we’ve allowed him to take it from the back right the way up the park and we haven’t stepped in and put a challenge in.

“He’s delivered it and scored a great goal, that’s credit to him because it’s a fantastic finish but we’ve got to go and address that. We’ve got to stop that from happening and that’s what I questioned and moaned at half-time.”

Carneige cracked a left-footed drive from the edge of the Ashford penalty area which was saved comfortably by the vocal George Kamurasi at his near post.

The Ashford keeper then launched a big kick straight down the middle and after Welford’s right-footed volley was blocked, his strike partner Paul Booth hit a looping right-footed volley just past the top of the far post.

Kamurasi pulled off a fine save to prevent Sevenoaks Town from scoring a deserved equaliser.

Striker Chinedu McKenzie cut into the penalty area after starting his run from the wing and his right-footed drive from 16-yards was destined to fly into the top left-hand corner, only for the big keeper to dive high to his right to push the ball behind for a corner.

Lye said: “He pulled off some great saves and to be honest that was the difference between the two halves.  He came off at half-time to give Dan Cook a game.

“George is a big presence and he makes a difference.  We haven’t seen Dan play, I wanted to see what he could do.  We took George off, Dan isn’t a bigger presence as George. He hasn’t played competitive football for a year and a half so we needed to see what he could do.”

“I’ve lost count how many chances that we had in the first half. That’s just us at the moment. We’re not clinical enough and if we are we’re making games a lot easier for ourselves,” added Collins.

Edwards clipped the ball down the right channel and McKenzie let the ball drop from over his shoulder to hook his right-footed volley into Kamurasi’s hands from 22-yards.

But clinical Ashford United doubled their lead through Saunders’ first goal for the club.

Former Charlton Athletic midfielder Ben Davisson swept forward a free-kick from the half-way line and Booth threaded the ball through for Saunders to ride a strong challenge from Lord to slot his right-footed shot under the keeper, the ball nesting into the bottom right-hand corner.

“A well-worked goal. I said the four midfield players that we’ve put in today for work-rate because on Sunday our midfield didn’t work hard enough. We didn’t get around the ball and that’s what I wanted today and they worked hard to create that and timed their runs. It was a good goal.

“I didn’t even know they were unbeaten in 12, I don’t follow other teams, I worry about our team.  Two-nil we were cruising, it was good, it was enjoyable.”

Collins added: “Again, not picked up a runner comes from midfield, two midfielders we haven’t picked up and he’s run though and scored. Good finish.

“You’re still in a game of football because you’re only 2-0 down, we’ve proved but things have got to improve and you either address it yourself or you hope your lads step up and do it.

“Unfortunately today we weren’t at the races so I’ve got to step in and try to organise it a bit better which we did and luckily half-time came at the right time for us.

“It would’ve been nice to get a goal before half-time but we didn’t.

“It’s sloppy, very sloppy all over the park. I’m going to use the word complacency tonight because we’re 12 games unbeaten and they think they can turn up no matter who they’re playing and get a result and football’s not like that at any level.”

Dalton played the ball in from the right and right-back George Savage stung Ben Bridle-Card’s fingers from 30-yards.

And central midfielder Saunders looked up to drill his right-footed shot past the left-hand post from 35-yards.

Sevenoaks Town were to be denied a goal on the half-hour mark as Luke Cuthbert made the first of his two vital goal-line clearances.

Bingham’s driven shot deflected into Carnegie’s path and Kamurasi failed to get both hands on to the ball and the wingers chip went over the keeper’s head but Luke Cuthbert got back to head the ball off the line.

Welford launched a trademark long throw into the Sevenoaks penalty area from the left, the ball was headed clear by Gary Stock and Josh Wooley dragged his 35-yard drive past the far post.

Stock, who was taken off at the break, played the ball out to Michael McKenna who laid the ball off into McKenzie’s path just inside the penalty area on the left-hand side but Kamurasi got his big frame down low to his left to parry the ball before collecting at the second attempt.

Collins added: “Good save. George is a good keeper, he’s a good lad and he moves around, he’s mobile. He makes it very difficult to score past him.

“Listen, Chin tonight could’ve had five goals! He should’ve had five goals!”

McKenna then centred from the right and McKenzie shrugged off Savage’s challenge to sweep his shot over the bar from eight-yards.

Both managers were asked their thoughts at the break.

Collins, who was without suspended pair Adam Marsh and Kieran McCann, said: “Yes, I had a moan. I had a moan at half-time. I picked on a few individuals, picked on them collectively. I made a change brought Chamacho on. I thought we lacked a bit of legs in midfield. I thought they pulled us around too far and it made a big different for us.”

Lye added: “I asked them if they enjoyed it, the first half? They all said yes because Sunday they didn’t enjoy the game because we were direct and we didn’t pass it. We got the ball down tonight and passed the ball.”

Lye decided to give Kamurasi a rest for the second half but the decision to bring on sub keeper Dan Cook backfired on him.

Ashford winger Wooley went on a jinking cross pitch run where he skipped past three Sevenoaks players but once inside the penalty area he dragged his right-footed shot past the far post from 16-yards.

Edwards tried to score from a crazy angle when he whipped in a curling free-kick from the left by-line trying to find the top far corner, only for the ball to land on the roof of the net.

But Sevenoaks Town did score their first goal in the 64^th minute through Edwards’ fourth goal for the club.

Half-time substitute Steve Camacho played the ball inside to Edwards, who hit a low right-footed drive into the bottom left-hand corner from 35-yards.

Collins admitted keeper Cook was at fault for his side’s opener.

He said: “I don’t think it was a bang! Goal! It weren’t a bad shot. I think the goalkeeper went down three days too early but to be fair to Chris if you don’t shoot you don’t score.

“We needed a bit of luck to get back in the game and we got it.

“Chris has been doing that all season with some great strikes but we put that one down to goalkeeper error or a bobble on the pitch but we’ll take it because it says 2-1!”

Lye agreed, adding: “To be fair, big George would’ve saved it but I’m not sure Dan Cook thought it was going wide or not but it’s one of them. He’s a bit rusty, maybe he’s positioning is not quite right to save it. They scored and they’re back in the game.”

Booth played in Wooley, who was denied a goal by a fine stop by Bridle-Card, who used his legs to loop the shot over the crossbar.

Wooley swung in the resulting corner from the right towards the far post where Welford’s downward header from eight-yards was saved by Birdle-Card.

But Welford restored Ashford’s two-goal lead with his 34^th goal of the season after 59 minutes before being immediately replaced by Michael Phillips.

The goal oozed quality as left-back Adam Cuthbert advanced high up Sevenoaks half of the pitch to whip in a quality cross into the penalty area and Welford controlled the ball with his chest before cracking his right-footed volley into the bottom left-hand corner from 10-yards.

Lye said: “Great goal because I was winding the pair up, Boothy and Welford just before. I asked them which one wants to come off?

“It’s a great goal, a great turn, chest and finish. Because he scored I pulled him off and left Boothy on!

“He said to us before the game he needed seven more to hit 40. Fair play to the man, he’s always got a goal in him. He’s been on a bit of a drought lately, he hasn’t scored in the last two!

“We took Welford off and put Michael Phillips on to give him some minutes in behind Boothy and they got themselves back in the game. We lost our shape, I think they got their second goal and it’s game on!”

Collins added: “Good ball, great delivery. Lordy’s got caught under it and Shaun’s done what he’s always done in his whole career. If you allow Shaun time in the box he’s going to chest it down and score. Great finish, really good finish!”

Phillips almost made an immediate impact when his pass gave Booth a chance but his right-footed volley was blocked by an alert Bridle-Card on the edge of his box.

Booth played a cross-field pass which was hooked on the volley by an unmarked Wooley at the far post but he sliced his shot past the near post.

The introduction of Michael Fahm lifted Sevenoaks’ spirit and raised their urgency levels.

Edwards put McKenzie through on goal and his shot beat Cook but Luke Cuthbert saved the day for a second time by sliding to clear the ball off the line as it was destined to nestle inside the bottom far corner.

“Another couple of chances go begging,” said Collins.

“I’ve got to be honest at 3-1, we were kicking down the slope a bit. I thought we’re camped in (their half). I thought are we going to get our second goal? Are we going to get back in it at 3-2? I really thought we would get at least a draw and fortunately, luckily enough we got it!”

Ashford United gave Sevenoaks Town a helping hand by scoring an own goal in the final sixteen minutes.

Edwards floated in a free-kick from the left, the ball was flicked on by a towering Bingham and Dalton steered the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

Collins said: “The boys are saying in there it’s an own goal. Macca’s trying to claim it. Fahm hasn’t said he’s got it at all. I think it’s come of one of theirs?

“I don’t know who’s claiming it? I’m not interested really. Three-two, I don’t care who scores.

“It’s game on. Go on and win it! We’re back in it and it’s down to use to at least salvage a draw out of a good performance and fortunately we did!”

Lye cleared up the unfortunate own-goal scorer.

“It’s one of them. The cross, big George would’ve come out and clears that, he comes out and demands the area.

“We’ve got back before the keeper, not knowing each other and Mikey Dalton’s sorts of ending up putting it in the back of the net!”

Carnegie raced to the by-line to cut the ball back for McKenna to hit his right-footed shot on the turn which only just sailed past the top of the far post.

Fahm charged down the left and centred towards the far post but only McKenzie will know why he skied the sitter over the bar from eight-yards inside the final 10 minutes.

Collins said: “It’s not been his night tonight, Chin! Whether it gets a bobble or whatever I think he’s got to get something behind that and get it over the line!

“He’s just not delivered. Last week we’ve gone to Erith Town and he’s got the only goal of the game and won us the game and it’s not his night tonight and I’ve just said that to him.”

Lye added: “I forgot about that! It’s a big miss! I came on to see if we could see it out but to be fair to them they scored a good goal.”

But Sevenoaks continued to press and Bingham received a square pass from Carnegie before hitting a right-footed screamer into the top right-hand corner from 35-yards to salvage a point to keep Sevenoaks Town’s longest unbeaten run at this level of football going.

Collins said: “He’s got that in his locker. For me he hasn’t had a great game and that’s what he’s said in there. He said he’s had a poor game and still got a goal.

“When you’ve got quality in your side like that, at times you need them to deliver and he’s done it. He has had a quiet game but he’s got further up the park which we asked him to do and he’s hit a great strike and worthy of an equaliser at last.”

Lye added: “It was a good goal, a great finish, a great finish! Three-three, to be fair last 20 minutes they got themselves back in the game.

“It was an enjoyable night for us all. We’re happy, we’re smiling, go again, two games left to go.”

Sevenoaks Town host runners-up Hollands & Blair on Saturday before Collins returns to Erith & Belvedere, where he won the Kent League double in his last job, on the final day of the season (23 April).

“I’m pleased. Thirteen unbeaten, the run goes on and for us it’s a work in progress.  It’s two games to go. It was a good test for us tonight, a really good test.

“Ashford are a good side. When I was at Sevenoaks initially and the early part of this season we would’ve lost that game. We would’ve lost it. We never had the spirt or the quality in the side to come back from a 2-0 down or whatever and we’re a bit better and a bit more solid.

“We’ve got Hollands & Blair on Saturday and that will be a tester again.”

Ashford United travel to relegated Holmesdale on Saturday, before hosting champions Greenwich Borough on the last day of the season.

“Holmesdale, we’ll change the team back again. We’ll play a different formation and try a couple of bits that we’re looking for next year now,” said Lye.

“Greenwich, last game, which will be a good game and we’ll see what happens.”

Lye deserves a medal for keeping his players’ minds focused on football during a troubled season off-the-pitch.

He revealed: “We’ve got budget talks tomorrow to discuss playing budgets for next year. I want to get my business done early with signings so I can enjoy the summer.”

When asked his aims for next season, Lye simply replied: “To win it. We wanted to win it (the title) this year. Until the 10 points (deduction) it would’ve gone down to the last game – but you don’t play football to come second!”

Sevenoaks Town: Ben Bridle-Card, Chris Edwards, Craig Lawrence (Michael Fahm 65), Gary Stock (Steve Camacho 46), John Lord, Jack Miles, Tom Menditta, Joe Bingham, Chinedu McKenzie, Michael McKenna, Harrison Carnegie.
Subs: Stephen Okoh, Harry Earls, Joe Fuller

Goals: Chris Edwards 54, Mikey Dalton 74 (own goal), Joe Bingham 90

Booked: Steve Camacho 83

Ashford United: George Kamurasi (Dan Cook 46), George Savage, Adam Cuthbert, Luke Cuthbert, Chris Saunders, Pat Kingwell, Mikey Dalton, Ben Davisson, Shaun Welford (Michael Phillips 60), Paul Booth (Danny Lye 84), Josh Wooley.

Goals: Pat Kingwell 10, Chris Saunders 22, Shaun Welford 59

Booked:  Chris Saunders 37, Mikey Dalton 74, Josh Wooley 78

Attendance: 131
Referee: Mr Daniel Proctor (Dartford)
Assistants: Jerry Annandale (Tonbridge) & Mr Chris Clarke (Aylesford)