| Hastings United | (1) 2 | - 0 (0) |
Ashford Town (Middx)
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Adams pen 12, 48
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A goal in each half from Sam Adams eased United to a comfortable Pilot Field victory this afternoon in their first ever meeting with Ashford Town (Middx), as Nigel Kane's side continued to adapt nicely to Premier Division football. Sam's first was from a twelfth minute penalty, awarded for a clumsy foul on Ade Olorunda, while his second was a thumping left foot volley from Ade's right wing cross. Danny Ellis hit the post in the first half, while Russell Eldridge, John Bradley and Ade all went close after the interval, as United put in another dominant display on a baking hot afternoon, Lee Worgan once again going through ninety minutes without being seriously tested by the visitors.
After the handsome midweek victory over Maidstone, Nigel saw no need to tinker with his sixteen man squad, naming the same starting line-up and formation, as well as the same five substitutes as he had on Tuesday evening. The visitors had started their second season at Premier Division level with a 5-4 home defeat against newly promoted AFC Hornchurch and a goalless draw at Carshalton, but perhaps looked destined for another tough season, having flirted with relegation during the previous campaign, albeit one in which they did at least lift the Westview League Cup. Ashford's line-up will have contained few familiar faces from United's point of view, but featured plenty of experience in keeper Paul Burgess, a veteran of over 600 games for the club, and defender Jason Chewins, who made more than 500 appearances for Aldershot Town in their rise through the non-league ranks to the Conference. Chewins played as part of a three man defence, with Ashford stringing five across the midfield, a break from the 4-4-2 formations that United had come up against in the first two matches.
United looked relaxed from the opening kick off and seemed intent on picking up where they had left off on Tuesday, although they were unable to truly test Burgess in the early stages. It was the visitors who fashioned the first good chance of the game, the lively Anthony Joseph finding time and space down the right and cutting the ball back to John Palmer, who completely scuffed his close range shot, allowing Lee Worgan to watch the ball roll harmlessly wide. From out of nowhere, United then took the lead, as Ade chased Jimmy Elford's long ball down the left hand side, accelerated away from Chewins and into the area, beating Adam Logie to the ball and inviting a challenge from the defender, which the referee penalised with a penalty, Sam confidently sending Burgess the wrong way from the spot. Ashford went close to an instant reply, when Russell Canderton crossed from the left and right wing back Vinnie O'Sullivan met the centre with a glancing header that flew only narrowly wide with Lee well beaten. Thereafter, United were seldom threatened though, and they were the width of the post away from doubling the lead in the eighteenth minute, Lee Carey's cross picking out Jimmy at the far post and as the ball was played back across goal, Danny Ellis' powerful shot from ten yards out rebounded off the upright to safety. The sweltering conditions began to catch up with the players as the half wore on and, while United appeared to be in command of proceedings, goalscoring chances were at a premium, and Logie's caution for a poor tackle on Ade was the only incident of note as the interval approached with United looking comfortable, if somewhat vulnerable, with just a one goal lead.
Within three minutes of the restart though, the second goal had been scored, and the points were already looking safe. Ade broke down the right hand side and tried to pick out Sam with an early cross, the ball being cleared straight back to him for a second attempt, which this time found its target, Sam smacking a first time left foot volley past the helpless Burgess from fifteen yards. Danny Ellis' long run then set up Sam to curl a shot just wide from the edge of the area, while Ashford had penalty appeals waved away when substitute Scott Todd tumbled over Jimmy's challenge, although his touch had been poor and the ball had already run a long way out of play by the time he had tumbled. Palmer talked his way into a yellow card in protest at the non-decision, later joined by his teammate Darren Deegan, and Lee Carey, both for fouls. United went in search of a third goal, and John headed just wide from Ade's cross, while Russell saw a goalbound effort blocked on the line by Chewins, and Burgess saved brilliantly from Ade, who had turned superbly past Canderton to find himself free on goal. Having used all three substitutions, United were left sweating on Sam's fitness in the latter stages, when he injured his right hand setting up Danny Ellis for the final chance of the afternoon, but he soldiered on until the end, as United easily saw out the remaining ten minutes to give Lee Worgan his second clean sheet in a row.
Having played one of the title favourites and one of last season's rivals in the first few days of the season, today's game was always going to provide United with a clearer indication of their ability to survive in the Premier Division, and they passed the test with flying colours. Perhaps a bigger examination of United's prospects will come on Bank Holiday Monday, when they make the short trip up the A21 to take on still winless Tonbridge Angels at Longmead.
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| Hastings United (4-4-2) | Ashford Town (Middx) (3-5-2)
| 1 Lee Worgan | 1 Paul Burgess
| 2 Danny Spice | 2 Vinnie O'Sullivan
| 3 Jimmy Elford | 3 Jason Chewins
| 4 Kevin Rose | 4 Russell Canderton
| 5 Sean Ray (c) | 5 Adam Logie |
6 Lee Carey | 6 Ricky Wellard
| 7 Danny Ellis | 7 Paul Johnson
| 8 Tim Olorunda | 8 Gavin Bamford (c)
| 9 Ade Olorunda | 9 John Palmer |
10 Sam Adams | 10 Anthony Joseph
| 11 Russell Eldridge | 11 Darren Deegan |
Substitutes |
| 12 Scott Kirkwood (for A Olorunda 76) | 12 Rob Hughes (for Wellard 58)
| 14 John Bradley (for T Olorunda 60) | 14 Scott Todd (for Joseph 45)
| 15 Rhys Whyborne (for Rose 59) | 15 Micky Cook
| 16 Tom Cusden | 16 Jon Coleman (for Canderton 58)
| 17 Nima Cham | GK Josh Richardson
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Attendance 392
Referee Lloyd Rendell (Worthing)
Assistants Robert Wilkins (Worthing) & Mark Thompson (Hurstpierpoint)