Corinthian Casuals 0-3 Ashford Town

Luke Coleman bagged a brace as Ashford Town eased their way to a vital three vital points against basement boys Corinthian-Casuals last night, writes Will Sun.

The on-loan Gravesend & Northfleet striker Coleman took only two minutes to break the deadlock, when he latched onto Joby Thorogood’s low cross at the near post and expertly flicked the ball past the stranded Colin Harris.

Coleman grabbed a second, five minutes into the second half, when Matt Carruthers pulled his corner back to Coleman who applied the finishing touch with the outside of his left boot.

George Fenwick completed the rout just after the hour mark when his strike partner Coleman released the tall front man who slotted home with nonchalant ease.

Ashford Town were hit with the late withdrawal of Joe Hitchings from the starting eleven, who was due to replace Anthony Allman who had been nursing a back injury. This left Ken Jarrett-Elliott to come in, leaving the visitors with just two subs.

Although Ashford put these late setbacks behind them as they got off to a lightning start, opening the scoring before many of supporters even took their seats.

Joby Thorogood made space down the right channel, and fizzed across a dangerous low ball that Coleman got on the end of to give the Kent side the initiative.

However the Casuals didn’t throw in the towel, as Ken Jarrett-Elliott was forced to make two outstanding goal-line clearances after some slack marking from two Corinthian corners.

George Fenwick nearly bundled Matt Carruthers’ free kick in just before the half time break, but Town’s one goal lead looked fragile against a determined Corinthian side.

Nevertheless Luke Coleman ensured Ashford doubled their lead with 50 minutes on the clock, when he finished in style with a flick of his left boot after latching onto Carruthers’ corner.

Although Town, tenacious in the tackle, typified by the outstanding Carruthers, did not sit back on their two goal lead, and they could have added to the margin four minutes later but for the assistant referee’s flag to rule out a George Fenwick effort.

At the other end Simon Overland pulled off a truly world-class save from Lee Matthews right footed shot, before Coleman delivered an inch-perfect pass for Fenwick to finish to wrap up a comprehensive victory.

Ashford Town: Simon Overland, Tom Adlington, Dan Tanner, Marc Cumberbatch, Nick Fenwick, Ken Jarrett-Elliott, Joby Thorogood, Simon Glover, Luke Coleman, George Fenwick, Luke Coleman, Matt Carruthers. 
Subs: Adam O’Neill, Jamie Leggett

Corinthian-Casuals: Colin Harris, Alfie Amponsa-Bonsu (Jamie Goodwin 63), Dale Hennessy, Andy Gibbons, Chris Horwood, Craig Dunne, Lee Matthews, Andy Davidson, Danny Green, Jamie Byatt, Aaron Cole-Bolt.
Subs: Matt Smith, Rico Morris, Jamie Goodwin, Izadine Hartgha, Dave Tidy

Attendance: 70

MOM: Dan Tanner