Ashford United went top of the Isthmian South East division with literally the last kick of their Tuesday night contest against Sevenoaks Town under the Medway lights at the Bauvill Stadium.
Playing their second match at Chatham because of pitch issues at Homelands, Kevin Watson’s side made their second trip up the M20 in four days and for 89 minutes the two sides were locked together at 1-1 after Danny Parish’s super far post header gave the “home” side the lead only to have it cancelled out by Emmanuel Mensah’s speculative effort that embarrassed keeper Jacob Russell.
Then, after sub-Alex Addai was sent off just moments after coming on, deep into stoppage time, the hard-working Parish fed Tom Carlse in the inside left channel and the full backs driven cross eluded whizzed past keeper Amadou Tangara and was turned into his own net by the desperately unlucky Jahmal Howlett-Mundle for the late, late winner.
In an absorbing game that bubbled along just under the surface, both sides had their chances in a tactical opening half. Lanre Azeez drilled an angled effort juts too high before Parish drilled wide after a great touch from Noah Carney.
Whilst at the other end, Dan Bennett fired straight at the keeper after good combination from Kieran Cadogan and Fumnaya Shomotun, before the Ashford goal had a real let off after an innocuous looking ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and Cadogan was able to get the ball past the keeper only for Jonah Tolulope to save his side with a goal line clearance.
On the stroke of half time, a huge throw into the Sevenoaks box fell to Ben Gorham and the defender was inches away as he hooked the ball over his shoulder and the ball whistled inches wide.
The second period was ten minutes old when Parish found space at the back post to brilliantly power home a header to give Ashford the lead – a lead that was to last just five minutes as Mensah’s long range effort deceived Russell and went into the net.
Parish brought the best out of Tangara with a low drive, the keeper making a fine full length save.
The visitors then had sub Addai shown a straight red card by referee Roberts for a “challenge” moments after coming on in the 74th minute, and despite the numerical advantage, Ashford failed to register a chance worthy of the name before deep into stoppage time, Parish found the onrushing Carlse and his drilled centre flew into the net off the desperately unlucky Howlett-Mundle and the game was won as Sevenoaks barely had time to restart.
ASHFORD UNITED – Russell, Simms, Carlse, Ovenden, Tolulope, Gorham, Azeez (Bola), Dymond, Carney, Parish, Ramadan (Draycott)
Subs – Towens, Ter Horst
SEVENOAKS TOWN – Tangara, Aboagye, Miller-Neave, Warren, Bray, Howlett-Mundle, Shomotun, Mensah. Cadogan (De Silva), Bennett, Baugh (Addai)
Subs – Thompson, Francis
REFEREE – Mr Roberts
Images courtesy of Ian Scammell