Ashford Town 2-4 Cray Wanderers

Ashford Town were blown away by a clinical first half Cray performance which propelled the Kent side into the next round of the Westview Cup, writes Will Sun.

In a devastating 25 minute spell the visitors bagged three goals, and despite Luke Coleman slotting home early on, Ian Jenkins’ side went in 3-1 up at the break.

From then on it was clear Ashford were playing for pride, but Cray kept their foot on the gas to extend their lead just after the hour through Leigh Bremner.

16-year-old Joe Hitchings powered in an angled drive to give Ashford some hope, but it was all too late as Cray held on to run out comfortable winners and set-up a tie with Ashford’s FA Trophy conquerors Waltham Forest.

Ashford went into the game with major selection issues, with Adam O’Neill, Drew Watkins and Matt Carruthers all being cup-tied. And as if it couldn’t get any worse, Anthony Allman had to pull out just hours before kick-off following a work-related problem.

Barry Crawford took up a place alongside Dan Tanner in the heart of defence, with Marc Cumberbatch slotting into midfield and Ken Jarrett-Elliott impressing after his impact appearance on Saturday to find a space in the starting eleven.

However after just three minutes Town found themselves a goal down when Colin Luckett’s cross swung into the danger zone and eluded the Ashford defence to bounce agonisingly into the top corner.

Moments later though the home side drew level when Joby Thorogood’s cross was headed at the near post by George Fenwick, only to be saved for the ball to then fall to the feet of Coleman who tapped in from two yards.

The visitors restored their advantage midway through the first half when Bremner took two bites at the cherry to put the ball past Overland after the on-loan Daggers man had initially made a low save.

Bremner’s strike partner Gary Abbott got in on the act three minutes later when he tapped in at the back post past Ian Ross covering on the line to double Cray’s lead.

George Fenwick forced Steve Northwood into a stunning fingertip save from a well-struck volley in the first chance of the second half, but Cray soon put the game beyond Ashford’s reach when Bremner headed in a second after shaking off his marker and rising to nod in Ross Lover’s free kick.

Hitchings, who has sat on the Ashford Town bench for over 1000 minutes this season, then made an appearance as a second half substitute, and it took him little over ten minutes to bag his first Ashford goal from just inside the area.

Nevertheless the 65 supporters were left to ponder a third cup exit as the Ashford season worsens.

Ashford Town: Simon Overland, Tom Adlington, Ian Ross, Dan Tanner (Nick Fenwick 74), Barry Crawford (Joe Hitchings 69), Marc Cumberbatch, Joby Thorogood, Simon Glover, George Fenwick, Luke Coleman, Ken Jarrett-Elliott. Sub: Lee Ealham

Cray Wanderers: Steve Northwood, Matt Lee, Colin Luckett (Junior Baker 45), Danny Whelan, Ian Rawling, Dean Morris, Ross Lover, Adam Young, Gary Abbott (Jamie Wood 72), Leigh Bremner (Ian Jenkins 89), Lewis Wood. Subs: Mark Willy, David Hall

Attendance: 65