Saturday's Match Reports

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Erith  & Belvedere 1-3 Croydon
Kent League Premier Division
By Thomas Hawes

Erith & Belvedere succumbed to their first defeat of the season as Croydon secured a vital first win in their quest for the Kent Premier League title.

The Trams win was made even more sweeter following comments made in the week by Deres boss Chris Cosgrove predicting a comfortable Deres win.

Understandably, Cosgrove’s comments only gave the away side extra motivation to win and get their campaign back on the tram-track following a midweek draw at home to new boys Holmesdale.

Following a cagey opening 15 minutes, where neither side really threatened the goal, it was the Trams who broke the deadlock after 16 minutes.

Former Dere Danny Beszant then proceeded to blast Croydon in the lead with a rocket of a shot from 8 yards out, leaving Adrian Deane on the goal-line no chance of clearing the ball.

Croydon pushed on sensing more goals against a Deres defence lacking the pace of the Croydon attack. On 21 minutes, the Trams had a goal disallowed for a foul, but on the half hour the visitors had more reasons to celebrate.

After good build-up play on the right the ball was sprayed out to the left to the unmarked Michael Azzopardi who slid the ball past Wallis to double the Trams lead.

The icing on the cake for the Trams came on 81 minutes when Theo Fairweather beat the offside trap and blasted the ball past Grant Wallis to make it 3-0 to Dickson Gill’s side.

The now prolific Nick Smith was soon to get his fifth goal in 3 Kent League outings as he latched onto a through ball and this time beat Harwood to make it 3-1, but it proved to be just a consolation for the Deres.

Erith had further opportunities to cut the deficit as Paul Gross headed the ball against the crossbar on 86 minutes, but Croydon held on for the win.

ERITH & BELVEDERE: Wallis, Crawley (Dunkley 79), Deane, Maycock (Fitzpatrick 69), Gross, Morgan. Bedford, Johnson, Hassett, Nougher, Button (Smith 55).
Subs: Hardie, McKenna.

CROYDON: Harwood, Young, Amaning, Hill, Brown (Simon 85), Dabrowa, Beszant, Scott (Warner 83), Fairweather, Murdoch, Azzopardi (Griffith 88).
Subs: Leggett, Wye.

Attendance: 106

Folkestone Invicta 1-4 Wealdstone
Ryman Premier League
By Richard Murrill

Folkestone Invicta’s Ryman Premier League season got off to a terrible start when they were comprehensively beaten 4-1 at home to Wealdstone at a sunny Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Invicta had approached the start of the new season in confident mood but were given a severe reality check as they were beaten on the opening day for the fourth successive year since switching from the Southern League to the Ryman League and for the seventh season out of the last eight.

Wealdstone themselves have been switched back to the Ryman League from the Southern League and had conceded five goals on their two previous visits to Folkestone.

But the visitors dominated Saturday’s encounter from the start to give themselves a dream start to the season.

To make matters worse for Invicta, they had James Everitt sent off for a second yellow card in the 88^th minute.

Invicta gave league debuts to new signings Roland Edge, David Piper and Leigh Bremner and had goalkeeper David Hogan on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge in place of the injured Charlie Mitten.

Centre forward Ellis Remy’s absence with an ankle injury and Mark Saunders’ suspension denied Invicta an aerial presence against big opposition who were able to dictate the game.

Alan Massey got up to head at Hogan from a free kick on the left hand side after nine minutes.

And fellow centre half Marcus Gross headed wide when Luke Muldowney sent the game’s first corner over from the right hand side two minutes later.

Wealdstone were soon ahead though when Lee O’Leary lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Hogan when the ball broke to him down the middle after centre half Samuel Kola Okikiolu attempted to intercept.

Invicta’s best and only real chance of the first half came after 20 minutes when visiting goalkeeper Mitch Swain saved from James Corbett on the right hand side of the penalty area after Damian Abel had played the ball into the box when Gross’ attempted clearance fell to him.

Wealdstone soon lost centre half Gross to injury but were able to take that potential blow in their stride.

Invicta would still have had hopes of saving the day at the start of the second half, but it was the visitors who were again soon on top and three goals within the opening 15 minutes after the interval put the result beyond doubt.

The warning signs were there when Chris O’Leary was just wide at the far post in the 47^th minute when Massey met a corner from the right.

And the visitors did not have to wait long for their second goal as Lee Chappell headed in after 49 minutes when he met Jomo Faal Thomas’ deep cross from the right with Hogan rooted to his line after Chris O’Leary had won the ball in midfield.

Wealdstone nearly increased their lead in the 55^th minute when Massey played the ball through to Peter Dean down the left hand side of the penalty area, but this time Hogan got down to save.

A Massey header was cleared off the line following a corner from the right two minutes later.

And striker Dean made it 3-0 in the 57^th minute when he volleyed in substitute Fergus Moore’s cross from the right.

Dean struck again with his second goal in three minutes to make it 4-0 after 58 minutes with a confident strike across goal into the far corner of the net from the left hand edge of the penalty area when centre forward Stephen Hughes headed the ball on.

The home side were then denied any sort of lifeline when Corbett shot just wide of the post when the ball broke to him in the middle after 68 minutes.

Bremner though did mark his debut with a goal when he drilled a low shot into the far corner of the net across goal after striking partner Abel had touched a quick free kick to him following a foot up on the edge of the penalty area.

Wealdstone substitute Graeme Montgomery played another dangerous ball into the Invicta penalty area from the right hand side which big Hughes could not quite get on the end of in the 85^th minute.

Invicta’s afternoon got worse when James Everitt was sent off for a second bookable offence following a late tackle which prompted a fracas between both sets of players on the touchline which also resulted in a yellow card for Wealdstone’s Moore.

The younger Everitt brother had earlier been booked for a 62^nd minute challenge on goalkeeper Swain and had been on the receiving end of a bad Muldowney tackle which brought a 54^th minute booking for the Wealdstone player.

Wealdstone’s Hughes and Massey were also booked after 32 and 60 minutes respectively.

Bremner hit an overhead kick just wide for Invicta in stoppage time when Corbett played the ball in from the right in a move started by Kevin Watson.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Hogan, Piper, Edge, Watson, Friend, Okikiolu, J. Everitt, Briggs, Abel, Bremner, Corbett.
Subs: Burchell, Chappell, Stonebridge.

WEALDSTONE: Swain, Thomas, Chappell, Massey, Gross (Moore 31), Hall, L. O’Leary (Ashe 67), C. O’Leary, Hughes, Dean, Muldowney (Montgomery 75).
Subs: Cooper, DeLisser,

Attendance: 414.

Corinthian Casuals 0-0 Chatham Town
Ryman League Division One South
By Neil Sanders

Both sides deserved credit for a well fought goalless draw in blustery conditions.

Chatham created the better chances in the first half and probably should have been in front by half time.

Dominic Elmes had the best chance with a first time shot after good work by Mark Murison. The latter then created another opportunity for himself with a strong run in to the box, but saw his deflected shot cleared by Pierre Lisbie as it rolled towards the goal.

John Whitehouse was called into action to make a good one on one stop at the feet of Simon Mitchell when the Casuals striker broke clear.

Whitehouse was in action again soon after the interval to tip over a 25 yarder from Scott Hassell as the home side had the better of the second half. Both teams had chances to claim the points in the closing minutes.

James Carr hit the post from a tight angle for Casuals, whilst Bradley King’s header was inches over the bar after Rob Goodger had headed Darren Smith’s free kick back across goal.

There may not have been any goals but this was still an entertaining opening day encounter.

Chatham: Whitehouse, James (Govey 76), Murison, Larkin, Goodger, Best, Smith, Solly, Elmes, Suter, Finn (King 82). Unused subs: Bishenden, White, Boots.

Rusthall 2-0 Crockenhill
British Energy Kent County League Premier Division
By Richard Smith

Rusthall opened their home league campaign under new manager Hugo Langton with a comfortable win against a new look Crockenhill side and should have won by a bigger margin had they not have wasted several good chances in the first half.

Following last weeks draw at Sheerness the Rustics were keen to start their home games well and from the first whistle they looked sharp and played some neat passing football.

It took just seven minutes for the home fans to celebrate the first league goal at Jockey Farm this season, Andy Myles pace found him clear wide on the left and his low cross found Steve Ashmore with space and time to calmly slot home from close range.

On 17 minutes they should have doubled the lead but following another good build up Dave Burren was unable to keep his shot down and in went just over.

With Rusthall's five man midfield looking very solid the visitors were finding it difficult to put the home side under any pressure and when they did find a way through they found the back three of Nick Coxon, James Mills and sweeper Owen Myles in fine form ensuring that keeper Phil Hawkins was not tested in the first half.

Rusthall started the second half again looking to increase their lead but failed to create a clear opening and on 54 minutes lost Ashmore with an injury and he was replaced by Martin Millins.

Still only trailing by the one goal Crockenhill sensed a way back and for a ten minute spell they took the game to the home side and on 61 minutes Phil Hawkins made a superb save diving low to his right.

In the 64th minute Manager Hugo Langton made a double substitution bringing on Kevin Brown and Lee Spiers to replace Rob Perkins and John Penny.

This came back to haunt him on 71 minutes when Owen Myles picked up an injury which after treatment meant he could only continue as a passenger up front.

Rusthall reorganised and were never seriously threatened and on 81 minutes they made the three points safe, a cross from the right was only cleared to the edge of the box and the injured Owen Myles drilled the ball home from 20 yards.

Rusthall look a far more solid side this season with new signing Gary Stock looking very strong in midfield alongside Alan Chapman and the whole side look confident on the ball, they have strength in depth with New signing Lewis Howard still to come in.

Speaking after the game manager Hugo Langton said: "We cannot expect to dominate games for 90 minutes at this level but must remain focused when we are not in control, but I am very pleased with the start to the season we have made".

The Rustics are without a game this week as Centre Half Nick Coxon is getting married, their next game is at home to Fleet Leisure on Saturday 1st September.

Meanwhile, Rusthall have secured a shirt sponsorship deal with The Computer Repair Shop, St Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells which is one of the largest sponsorship packages the club have made in their 108 year history.

RUSTHALL: Hawkins, Mills, O.Myles, Coxon, Ashmore(Millins 54), Perkins(Brown 71), Stock, Chapman, A.Myles, Penny(Spiers 71), Burren.

Attendance: 53

Ashford Town 0-2 Kingstonian
Ryman League Division One South
By Jack Wilson

After all the hype and promise of pre-season, the rollercoaster that Ashford Town fans have been on took a drastic nose dive on Saturday.

With expectations high of an assault on the title due to the numerous quality signings that have been shipped in, 411 supporters flocked through the turnstiles to see Clive Walker’s warriors in action.

Although warriors they were not.

A team full of promise and full of debutants - there was six - stuttered and stumbled until the wheels of the Ashford wagon spectacularly fell off.

Walker sent his troops out in a 5-3-2 formation against a strong, well-drilled Kingstonian side.

At the back Barry Gardner returned from holiday to occupy the right-wing back berth and Tony Browne moved into a more central role in defense.

Further up the pitch Folkestone loan import Charlie Glyde took his place on the left side of a narrow three man midfield, while Denness partnered Thorogood up front.

But it was the K’s who began to exert the early pressure on Town’s new defence, and it paid dividends when the backline was all at sea to ship the first goal.

With Rob Gillman the deepest of Ashford’s three centre backs, it looked like he would comfortably deal with James Rose’s flick on that looked to be heading straight to the feet of the big number five.

Bizarrely though, Gillman missed the clearance, allowing Bobby Traynor a first sighting of goal, and he didn’t disappoint as he rounded Whincup to slot in.

In a rare chance for the home side Brathwaite came close by forcing Luke Garrard to tip over his inswinging free kick, but clear-cut openings were at a premium, a fact Walker recognised when he sent a half fit Walid Matata on to chance his arm.

Despite making an electric start by shooting just over, this proved to be Matata’s downfall, as a reoccurrence of his back spasms forced the pacey frontman off.

And the K’s recognizing the game was there for the taking, took full advantage when another mistake from Jake Whincup allowed former England Under 18 international Saheed Sankoh to nip in and double the lead.

However it is not quite time for a “Bring Back Cumberbatch“ campaign to be launched yet.

Clive Walker is an experienced manager who has seen it all in the past with Leicester City, Northampton Town and Mansfield Town. With him he has a great coach in Steve Nolan, and not even the biggest critic could argue that the squad the pair have assembled isn’t impressive.

Take Rob Gillman as an example, a proven giant at a higher level , he was even offered the captain’s armband at Bishop’s Stortford before opting to return to his former club.

Naturally when big money has been spent there comes big expectations but Ashford Town fans should not give up hope, after all, there are 41 games of the season to be played yet.

Now they have something to be proud of, a wonderfully impressive revamp of the facilities, and a team that come the end of the season will be there or thereabouts.

They will now be hoping that this is just a small blip in a season where Ashford Town will be a successful side.

Ashford Town: Jake Whincup, Barry Gardner (Steve Sodje 70), Dan Brathwaite, Tony Browne, Rob Gillman, Nicky Humphrey, Anthony Allman, Lee Spiller, Rob Denness, Joby Thorogood (Walid Matata, Kevin Lott), Charlie Glyde
Subs: Graham Porter, Joe Hitchings

Kingstonian: Luke Garrard, Jason Turley, Simon Sobihy, Tommy Moorehouse, Gavin Cartwright, Jon Coke (Gareth Graham), Neil Lampton, Wes Goggin, Bobby Traynor (Scott Corbett), James Rose (Saheed Sankoh), Liam Cockerill
Subs: Danny Summers, Adrian Blake

Att: 411

Ashford Town Man-of-the-Match: Tony Browne

AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Ramsgate
Ryman Premier League
By Sky Mangel

Promotion favourites AFC Wimbledon put on a strong display at Kingsmeadow, while referee David Woolford was 'public enemy No 1' with Ramsgate after a string of controversial decisions and non-decisions, leaving the Rams to return to Thanet without any points.