Despite playing for over fifty minutes one man short, Ashford United’s greater finishing enabled the hosts to beat VCD Athletic in an entertaining Isthmian League South East division encounter.

Whilst it may have been a grey day, weather-wise, Louis Collins lit up the afternoon for his onlooking parents and the Ashford supporters with a high quality hat-trick.

It took the home team just two minutes to go ahead when Miquel Scarlett slung in a cross and Harrison Hume rose to direct his header inside the far post.

Six minutes later, Collins opened his account for the afternoon with a clever flick that deceived goalkeeper Andy Walker from Noah Carney’s low centre.

After a further five minutes, the Vickers halved the deficit when Taite Holtam could only palm out a low driven in cross by Gael Kileba and Alfie Evans was first to react when firing home.

Suddenly, Ashford started to struggle as the Vickers sensed their unease at the back. Courtney Barrington fired a shot towards the top corner and Holtam was relieved when William Moses put his head bravely in the path of it and nodded it over the bar. Charlie Heatley’s first time shot when meeting Evans’ corner was blocked over before Kileba missed a glorious opportunity when Freddie Cowin did well to pull it back to him and he failed to hit the target from eight yards.

Another great chance came and went when Evans picked out Harry Lawrence and he side-footed it straight at Holtam who held on gratefully. It seemed to be only a matter of time before the visitors would equalise, especially when Roarie Deacon was dismissed for being too vocal about a decision resulting in a second yellow card in four minutes.

However, that appeared to galvanise the Nuts and Bolts and it was they who drew next blood, two minutes after the red card. Collins delivered a deep corner, Jack Dixon headed it back across goal and Moses got on the end of it to knock it past Walker.

Both teams made changes at half time, but after Barrington turned on the edge of the box and fired over, the hosts scored twice more in quick succession. First Collins played a one-two with Dixon before sliding it past Walker, then Liam Gillies clipped a pass in behind the VCD defence and there was never any doubt that the Ashford striker would finish to complete his hat-trick.

Although the visitors did not throw in the towel, Ashford kept them to few clear cut openings. Harry Sargent drew a good save out of Holtam and Bethel Gboda hit a twenty yard effort straight into the arms of the hosts’ custodian.

Ollie Freeman volleyed over when he would probably have expected to hit the target before the team from Crayford scored a consolation. Barrington slipped it past Holtam and the goalkeeper showed good sense by not fouling him and allowing him to roll it in.

Victory for Ashford was enough to take them two places up the table, only in the bottom four on goal difference while the Vickers were left to look over their shoulders as they are now only two points above the safety line.

Ashford United: Holtam; Scarlett, Dixon, Moses, Penn; Gillies (Dupray 62), Deacon; Carney (Brooke 46), Hume, Collins (Eruotor 84); Lockyer (Aibangbee 73). Sub not used: Fletcher.

Goals: Hume (2), Collins (8) (48) (51), Moses (40)

Yellow cards: Lockyer (28 foul), Deacon (34 foul), Dupray (64 foul), Penn (90+4 foul)

Red card: Deacon (38 second yellow dissent)

VCD Athletic: Walker; Lawrence, Christie (Fenn 46), Sargent, Cowin (Gboda 55); Bird (Freeman 55), Bryon (Rutherford 74); Kileba (Ikebuassi 67), Evans, Barrington; Heatley. Subs not used: None.

Goals: Heatley (13), Barrington (78)

Yellow cards: Lawrence (19 foul), Cowin (45+2 foul), Bird (53 foul).

Referee: Billy Wootten

Assistant Referees: Rhys Jeffery and Nik Garside

Attendance: 416