Ashford United 7-1 Binfield - I was really pleased with how ruthless we were at times because we've been quite critical about not being clinical enough, says Ashford United's boss Kevin Watson

Ashford United 7 – 1 Binfield
Location	Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR
Kickoff	10/09/2023 15:00

ASHFORD UNITED  7-1  BINFIELD
The Isuzu FA Trophy First Qualifying Round
Sunday 10 September 2023
Stephen McCartney reports from Maidstone Road

ASHFORD UNITED manager Kevin Watson says his players’ recording the club’s highest margin of victory in The FA Trophy adds something else to their convincing victory over a struggling Binfield.

The weakest link in Binfield’s side was goalkeeper Harvey Rackley-Hayes, who has now leaked 27 goals in the Berkshire side’s first eight games of the season.

The goalkeeper was twice beaten at his near-post by team-mates centre-half Daniel Lewis and attacking midfielder Finn Harvey, as Binfield gifted Ashford United a two-goal lead inside 31 minutes, in 31 degree heat in Chatham.

Ashford United stormed into a 3-0 lead through winger Lanre Azeez before Binfield midfielder Benjamin Stallard slotted home on the stroke of half-time.

Johan Ter Horst came off the bench to drive home Ashford’s fourth goal – after Binfield dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half - before striker Noah Carney scored on the counter-attack.

Ashford United increased their lead with two headed goals from holding midfielder Harvey Brand and centre-half Ben Gorham to make sure this was the highest victory in The FA Trophy by any Ashford Town or United side.

Binfield arrived in Chatham rooted to the foot of the Isthmian League South Central table with one point from three games, while Ashford United sit in seventh-place in the much stronger Isthmian League South East Division with six points from two league outings.

Binfield manager Garry Haylock must find a much better goalkeeper if the club are to avoid relegation at the end of the season, as Rackley-Hayes was awful.

“Look, objective achieved first and foremost regardless of the scoreline,” said Watson, whose side were dumped out of The FA Cup in the Preliminary Round by league rivals Beckenham Town 3-2 here.

“We were disappointed going out of The FA Cup in the round we did, so that was important in the Trophy - the only other national competition that we’re in - that we try to perform quite well in.

“The boys’ were disappointed after The FA Cup and the message in there, you can be disappointed but what are you going to do about it?  I felt they, as a whole, performed ok and the scoreline was quite pleasing.

“That (record FA Trophy win by any Ashford side) is a good stat to know and we’ll share that with the players because I think that adds something else to the win I suppose.  We just need to carry the good aspects into the next game.”

Watson named striker Danny Parish in his starting line-up but a hamstring injury forced him to withdraw, so in came former Folkestone Invicta record goalscorer Ian Draycott, who was forced off with a calf injury.

“Danny’s had some hamstring injury and he felt ok in the week but in the warm-up when he was doing some shooting, he felt it a little bit.  It’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination.  He didn’t feel comfortable starting, so we just swapped that around,” revealed Watson.

When asked about the other knock to his players, Watson revealed: “Vance Bola got kneed into his back in a collision in the middle of the pitch and he tried to carry on.  It might be painful for a couple of days but it’s an impact one, so he should be ok soon.

“Ian Draycott had to come off through injury (his calf).  He was unable to train on Tuesday.  We thought he’d be ok to play some minutes today.  Lewis Knight, who came on today, he’s got a groin strain.”

Ashford United fans have raised £4,865 for Adem Ramadan, who suffered a serious leg break in the derby at Hythe Town last month.

Watson added: “He’s alight. He’s come to terms with it. What’s quite pleasing is there’s a possibility he might not need an operation now, which is a huge positive in terms of his recovery time.  But until he gets that final scan and gets the cast off, we won’t know.

“I’m in regular contact with him.  I spoke to him on Friday, the players speak to him quite a lot. We try to support him while we can and we’ll continue to do that.”

Ashford United set the tone and came out with all guns blazing, with right-back Bradley Simms only long throw being allowed to bounce inside the box and Rackley-Hayes plucked the ball out of the air with both of his arms raised above his head after only 78 seconds.

Gorham fed the ball into a deep Carney, who fed Azeez in the centre and he laid the ball off to Vance Bola, whose first time swept shot from 18-yards was comfortably saved by Rackley-Hayes low to his right with four minutes and 45 seconds on the clock.

Left-back Tom Carlse was allowed to dart in from the left into the edge of the box before drilling a right-footed angled drive across the keeper and past the far post, just 97 seconds later.

Another chance came dominant Ashford United’s way (6:56) when attacking midfielder Ian Draycott laid the ball inside to Carney who drilled a right-footed shot across the well-beaten goalkeeper and past the right-post from 18-yards.

Watson said: “It was a little bit frustrating because I felt we had some really good chances and some really good positions and we’ve been quite critical about not being clinical enough.  When they don’t go in you think is it going to be another day where we get opportunities and don’t convert them?  But over the course of the match, I thought we were more ruthless today.”

Binfield weathered the storm and created their first opening in the 18^th minute.

Liam Campbell – who plays on the left of three central defenders – drilled a left-footed free-kick into the three-man wall from 30-yards and the deflection took the sting out of the shot and Ashford goalkeeper Jacob Russell made a comfortable save in the centre of his goal.

Binfield gave their hosts a helping hand in the first goal of the game, timed at 23 minutes and 7 seconds on the clock, as Ashford United produced a well-worked move.

Azeez played the ball into a deep Draycott – some 10-yards from the half-way line, before his first time pass released Azeez down the right and he delivered a low cross towards the near post, which Binfield skipper Lewis turned in past his own goalkeeper just eight-yards from goal.

“I thought it was quite a good move to get him in. It went into the front and then back into midfield and it’s gone around the corner and a good run from Lanre and he’s in the right area and he’s tried to do the right thing,” said Watson.

“I haven’t thought about own goals if I’m completely honest. I think it was a good passage of play that got there, so pleasing to take the lead.”

Binfield’s holding midfielder Reechan Esprit played the ball into central midfielder Dontaye Whittaker, who fed three-goal striker Noah Chengun, who was in oceans of space to drill a right-footed drive flashing just past the foot of the left-hand post from 35-yards.

Rackley-Hayes was beaten at his near post for a second time as Binfield gifted Ashford United their second goal, timed at 30 minutes and 44 seconds on the clock.

Gorham clipped a long ball out of defence with his right-boot and substitute Alex Akrofi brought the ball under control with his chest before skipping past the hapless goalkeeper, who was relived when former Bromley and Beckenham Town defender Michak Stanic-Stewart got back to clear the rolling ball off the goal-line.

However, Binfield’s defence switched off, as Simms recycled the ball back into the box towards the near post from the right and Harvey was in almost the exact place as Lewis to turn the ball past his goalkeeper.

“Again, I think with those ones, like the second one, if you put in a delivery like that and it’s difficult to defend, things like that can happen, so I’m not going to take away what led up to it,” added Watson.

Ashford United finally scored a goal of their own, romping to a three-goal lead with 32 minutes and 11 seconds on the clock.

Akrofi was inside the final third and slipped a fine through ball for Azeez, who ghosted past Lewis before skipping past the goalkeeper before slotting his left-footed shot into the empty net.

Watson added: “Really good play from Alex, good vision, lovely weight of pass.  We get into some positions like that and sometimes the weight of the pass and that bit of quality wasn’t there but it was today from Alex.

“A really good run from Lanre, kept his composure, so pleased to go 3-0 up at the stage.

“After that in the game was probably the part that we reflect upon where we need to be a little bit better because what the players try to do, they try to kill the game a little bit and manage the game but you can manage the game and be patient and still keep the ball moving but we slowed down the game and that allowed them to come on to us…”

The impressive Akrofi cut in from the left before drilling a right-footed angled drive which whistled past the far post from 25-yards, as Ashford United’s first half dominance continued.

Campbell and left-wing-back Zeid Hannachi linked up well down the left before Hannachi’s reverse pass played in Whittaker down the left and he cut into the Ashford box before Russell smothered the ball at feet on the edge of his six-yard box.

Ashford United gifted Binfield their consolation goal when it arrived with 45:01 on the clock.

Brand had his pocket picked inside a crowded defensive third by Stallard, who travelled towards the edge of the box before slotting the ball underneath Russell (who had sprinted out to the edge of his box in a central position) to score from 18-yards with his right-foot, to score his first goal of the season.

“We use the term risk and reward quite a lot with the players and the passage of play that led up to their goal was our own fault really in terms of where we gave possession away and got caught with possession to allowed them through on goal,” said Watson.

“Do you know what? I don’t really class any blame on Harvey for that goal.  Yes, He’s in possession of the ball when it got turned over but actually he shouldn’t have received the ball in the first place because he wasn’t in the right place with the amount of time to be able to do anything, so it was more leading up to that but we don’t have a blame culture at the club.”

Reflecting on his half-time thoughts, the former Cray Valley boss said: “Just about more about the last phase of the first half and how we can keep control of the game but still keep the ball moving at a pace so be patient, doesn’t mean slowing play down.”

Binfield came out like a completely different team and dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half, with plenty of possession and camped inside the Ashford half, with Hannachi seeing plenty of the ball down the left.

Binfield produced a well-worked move and called Russell into making a comfortable catch at the second attempt after only 44 seconds.

Whittaker played the ball into Harvey, who cut inside Rhyle Ovenden, before feeding Campbell, who unleashed a left-footed stinging drive from 40-yards towards goal, which Russell dealt with.

Harvey broke down the eight and linked up with right-wing-back Troy Murray, who whipped in a cross from within the right channel but Whittaker glanced his free header across Russell and past the far post from eight-yards.

Lewis’ quickly taken free-kick caught Ashford out, as Harvey played the ball into the impressive Whittaker, who drilled his right-footed shot screaming past the right-hand post from a central-position 25-yards from goal.

Watson said: “Look, you always want to be the team with the most possession, most managers want to do that and we had a good idea because I went to watch them, so we had a good idea of the way that they would play and we knew that they will try and play and their manager’s been quite vocal about that.

“I’ve said it previously in other games when there’s been spells when we get less possession and still be in control of the game, so yes, they did have some territory and the ball was in our half and it’s just about concentration and just shuffling across the pitch to eliminate chances really.”

Ashford United grabbed their fourth goal – against-the-run-of-play at the time – with 15 minutes and 59 seconds on the clock.

Carney’s fine through ball split open Campbell to put in Ter Horst, who kept composed to place his clinical right-footed finish underneath the goalkeeper to roll his shot into the bottom far corner from 12-yards.

“Look, again, a lovely weight of pass and quality from Noah there, a great run by Johan, a really good composed and a really accurate finish into the bottom corner,” added Watson.

Binfield created another headed chance to score in the 66^th minute after Stanic-Stewart, Murray and Harvey linked up and Harvey’s cross from the right was met by Stallard’s diving free-header from 14-yards, which flashed across the keeper and went past the far post.

Murray and Stallard then linked up to feed Hannachi, who cut in from the left and dug the ball out from underneath his feet before hitting a right-footed shot across Russell and past the far post from 25-yards.

Ashford United notched a counter-attacking fifth goal, with 25 minutes and 24 seconds on the clock.

Binfield lost possession inside the centre-circle and Carney broke and fed Ter Horst, who released the pacey Akrofi on the right and the winger put it on a plate for an unmarked Carney, to sweep his first-time shot into the bottom left-hand corner of an empty net from 15-yards, as Rackley-Hayes went missing again.

Watson said: “Look, that was really selfless of Alex there to have the vision to play it across to Noah like that.  Noah’s had the confidence to carry on his run. He’s still got to finish it.  You can see those missed don’t you, but it’s a bit of an open goal but that was a good move.”

Brand was up for an initial Akrofi set-piece, as he headed in Ashford’s sixth goal of the game, with 29:21 on the clock.

Ovenden hooked the ball back into the final third for Carney and Akrofi whipped in another great cross towards the back post for an unmarked Brand to send his diving header into the left-hand corner of the net from inside the six-yard box.

“A great ball from Alex, really, really good ball. I don’t think we do that enough. That quality of ball and that inviting ball,” said Watson, who then heaped praise on the versatility of former Beckenham Town defender Brand.

“Look, Harv, that’s what he’s about. His fearless and he’s chosen the right thing. I think some people miss that because they try to volley it but he’s headed that home and the position he was playing today, he’s had to make up some ground to get into that position.”

Reflecting on Brand playing in defensive midfield, Watson replied: “It’s a new role and we’ve discussed it with him.  I think he can be really effective in that position. I also think he can be effective at wing-back, full-back and centre-half.

“The danger you have with players like that is you end up rotating them too much and there’s no growth in learning and when we brought Harv in – I’ve liked him for a number of seasons – and there was a pledge to improve his game, so we’re not going to mess him about in that respect but he’s certainly an asset to be able to play in a number of positions.”

Harvey played the ball to Murray, who cut into the edge of the box and his 22-yarder was comfortably saved by the former Ramsgate goalkeeper.

Binfield substitute winger Bradley Worsfold played the ball inside to Esprit, who spun Brand before drilling his left-footed 35-yard drive past the right-hand post as Binfield continued their tactic of shooting from range.

Ashford United rattled in their record breaking seventh goal with 42:40 on the clock.

Akrofi whipped in a right-footed quality delivery from the left into the area of uncertainty and Gorham guided his downward free header across the keeper to find the bottom far corner from eight-yards, as all five of Ashford United’s goalscorers opened their accounts for the season.

“A great ball again by Alex, his distribution from set-pieces and wide areas today was exceptional and again a good finish from Ben,” said Watson.

“When you find yourself in space like that, in the timing of the run and technically it was a really good, composed header.”

Binfield went close to scoring a second (44:36) through Murray’s right-footed drive from 25-yards, which only just cleared the far post.

Campbell was in oceans of space and the centre-half cracked a stunning left-footed drive from 40-yards, which cannoned off the top of the left-hand post, before Worsfold put over a cross from the right but Whittaker nipped in front of Gorham to send his header over the crossbar at the end of Binfield’s worst performance in nine FA Trophy outings.

“It was an incredible strike wasn’t it? It’s hit the bar.  When teams shoot from range like that you don’t think there’s much of a danger but if someone catches one like that, it can well end up going in,” added Watson.

“We were disappointed not to keep a clean-sheet today. I think as a management team you always look at things like that but really pleased with how ruthless we were at times.”

Watson, meanwhile, has promised changes for Wednesday night’s trip to Ramsgate in the Velocity Cup Second Round, before returning to Chatham to play Phoenix Sports on Saturday, before travelling to Metropolitan Police in The FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round on Saturday 23 September.  

Ramsgate are in sixth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division table with six points from three games, while Steve O’Boyle’s newly-promoted side are second from bottom with one point from four, while the Police are one place above Binfield, with one point from four games.

“We’re out of two competitions, in terms of the Kent Senior Cup and The FA Cup, so we like to progress in that (Velocity Cup), but we have to be sensible about it in terms of managing people’s minutes,” said Watson.

“We don’t want to risk people but we don’t want to go to Ramsgate with too much of a mix-match team really.  It could be an opportunity, we had some of the youth involved with us over pre-season, so we may need to register them because we don’t want to leave ourselves light.

“In terms of our preparation (for Metropolitan Police), one of the management team will go and try to get down there and watch them at some point.

“I don’t know too much about them but in these cup competitions if you’re going to progress and do quite well, you’re going to face good teams. It’s interesting when you face teams in other leagues because you know less about them.  When I went to watch Binfield, I didn’t know many of their boys, so you’re watching it from a slightly different lense but we’ll do our homework on Metropolitan Police between now and that game.

“We’ve got the Ramsgate game that we need to prepare and focus on that.  One game at a time for want of a better term, old cliché, but it’s true.  You don’t look too far ahead and then we’ve got an important game against Phoenix, which will be tough.”

Ramsgate and Ashford United are both expected to be fighting it out for the league title and Watson was asked about his league aspirations at his new club.

“I’m aspirational in a sense of whichever club I’m working with you want to do well but there’s 20 managers in the league that have got the same aspiration haven’t they, so I’m no different in that sense.

“I don’t know at this point. I think it’s really early to say. I think it’s a strong league.  When you do look at this league compared to some of the others, it always feels like a strong league because there’s some really good teams in it.

“You don’t look at the league and make naïve assumptions that any games are easier than the others. What’s really important is that we need to perform and just concentrate on ourselves really.”

Ashford United are still waiting for their new artificial pitch to be laid at Homelands Stadium. This was their third game on Chatham Town’s artificial pitch and Watson revealed their home coming is not too far away.

Joint-chairman Don Crosbie says it is costing the club £4,500 in lost revenue each week they are playing away from TN26 – but isn’t in a position to confirm which match will see Watson’s men come home.

Watson said: “It (the date) is just reliant upon those companies doing the work from this point. We went down there on Thursday with the team for something to eat and a team meeting and it has made progress.  The surface is flat with the stone that has been put on it and they have to come back and do the tarmac and lay the carpet on.

“The chairman’s statement said hopeful by the end of the month but that’s dependant on people’s availability.

“But once again we like to thank Chatham because it’s a nice place to come and play. If you’ve got to groundshare, it’s not a bad place to groundshare, is it?”

Ashford United: Jacob Russell, Bradley Simms, Tom Carlse (Lewis Knight 80), Harvey Brand, Jonah Tolulope, Ben Gorham, Vance Bola (Alex Akrofi 29), Rhyle Ovenden, Noah Carney, Ian Draycott (Johan Ter Horst 48), Lanre Azeez.
Subs: Danny Parish, Connor Towens

Goals: Daniel Lewis 24 (own goal), Finn Harvey 31 (own goal), Lanre Azeez 33, Johan Ter Horst 61, Noah Carney 71, Harvey Brand 75, Ben Gorham 88

Booked: Jonah Tolulope 51, Tom Carlse 68

Binfield: Harvey Rackley-Hayes, Troy Murray, Zeid Hannachi (Bradley Worsfold 78), Daniel Lewis, Liam Campbell, Michak Stanic-Stewart, Benjamin Stallard, Reechan Esprit, Noah Chengun (Connor Jeanes 72), Finn Harvey (Ismail Amiri 78), Dontaye Whittaker.
Subs: Montgomery Brady, Thomas Henry

Goal: Benjamin Stallard 45

Booked: Benjamin Stallard 45, Bradley Worsfold 85

Attendance: 90
Referee: Mr Craig Charles
Assistants: Mr Craig Wood & Mr Myles Hewson