Ashford Town 0-1 Bromley - New-look Ashford impress during first outing

Ashford Town fans were given a first glimpse of their new improved side for the first time on home soil on Tuesday, where they were narrowly overcame by Blue Square Southern club Bromley, writes Jack Wilson.

Gareth Williams' angled drive on 19 minutes proved the difference between the teams, but despite the result there was plenty of positives for the Ashford Town faithful to come away with.

Manager Clive Walker opted to start his side off in a 4-3-3 formation, with
Jake Whincup between the sticks and what looks to be his strongest back four of
Anthony Browne, Daniel Brathwaite, Rob Gillman and Nick Humphreys. Kevin Lott and Gary Clarke played alongside captain Lee Spiller in midfield, whilst another new signing, Rob Denness, joined Joby Thorogood and Walid Matata in attack.

Although Walker’s plans were soon hampered when Matata, striving to get on
Thorogood’s deep cross, overstretched and landed awkwardly forcing him
to be replaced by big Steve Sodje.

However. minutes later Ashford Town found themselves a goal down, when Lott
lost out in the middle of the park to Barry Moore, who threaded an inch-perfect ball to the feet of Williams to fire past Whincup.

The home side could only test goalkeeper Sam Moore from long range though -
Spiller’s 25 yard free kick skidded into Moore’s arms and Rob Denness
hit a snapshot wide of the left post.

At the half time interval Walker shuffled his pack, making no fewer than
eight changes.

Brathwaite and Spiller particular shone in the first period against their opponents two steps higher in the football pyramid, but they were replaced by trialist Leroy John and Anthony Allman.

Graham Hill, Ryan Andrews, Tom Adlington, Barry Gardner, Joe Hitchings and
Danny Lye were all brought on to give Ashford some added impetus, and the
wholesale changes nearly paid off ten minutes into the second half.

Gardner broke from midfield to wrong foot Richard Harris before smashing a shot just inches wide of the goalkeeper’s left post.

Another former player, Gillman headed an Allman corner over on the hour
mark, as Ashford began to look the more likely to score.

However, the Ravens showed their class to close the game out, but there was
plenty to be pleased about for the long suffering Ashford Town faithful.

Gillingham youth team player Manny Bains was given a late run out, and although Ricky Spiller, who played for Sittingbourne last season, didn’t come off the bench, it appears Ashford Town have plenty of options ahead of the new season.

Ashford Town: Jake Whincup (Graham Hill), Tony Browne (Ryan Andrews, Manny
Bains), Daniel Brathwaite (Leroy John), Rob Gilman, Nick Humphries, Kevin
Lott (Tom Adlington), Lee Spiller (Barry Gardner), Gary Clarke (Anthony
Allman), Rob Denness (Joe Hitchings), Walid Matata (Steve Sodje).