Ashford United (A) - 19th November 2024
By Josh Cole
Over a month after this game was originally due to be played, we travel to Ashford United tomorrow for the second round of the Velocity Cup!
Last time out on Saturday we picked up three more points on the road in Chatham against Three Bridges, winning 1-3! Read the match report from that game by clicking here.
The Venue: Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Kent, TN26 1NJ.
ASHFORD UNITED – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:
In the league, Ashford are currently 13th through 14 games on 17 points. After a big summer with Danny Kedwell coming in as manager and some good players signed, The Nuts and Bolts kicked off 2024/25 in the FA Cup extra preliminary round, winning 3-0 at home to Egham Town. Their next two games were draws, both away, against Erith Town (3-3) in the first league match, and against Harrow Borough (1-1) in the FA Cup preliminary round. In the replay they won, then we travelled to Homelands stadium and drew 2-2 with Ashford in the league. A defeat away at high flying Sittingbourne wasn’t dwelled on by Ashford as they ran riot at home against Three Bridges in the FA Cup first qualifying round, winning 6-1. They also followed that up with a 0-1 away win against Deal in the FA Trophy first qualifying round. United then suffered a big 4-0 awa defeat to Ramsgate in the league, but continued their cup runs, in the FA Cup, winning 3-0 against Corinthian and the FA Trophy they beat Hartley Wintney, 2-1. More cup games, followed. They lost to Cray Valley 3-0 in the Kent Senior Cup first round but beat Walton & Hersham in the FA Trophy third qualifying round to progress into the first-round proper of the trophy, but lost away at Chertsey Town in the FA Cup third qualifying round. Despite all these cup games, their league form was yet to take off and they lost again, this time at home to Broadbridge Heath, 0-3. Form then picked up in the league, winning three on the trot, before they were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Lewes on penalties. Since that loss to Lewes, they have played six league games, winning twice and losing four times.
LAST FIVE: ASHFORD UNITED
2-1 Loss vs Burgess Hill, away (league)
2-3 Loss vs Ramsgate, home (league)
2-1 Loss vs Lancing, away (league)
3-2 Win vs Littlehampton, home (league)
3-0 Win vs East Grinstead Town, home (league)
LAST FIVE: MARGATE
3-0 Loss vs Herne Bay, away (Kent Senior Cup Second Round)
1-2 Win vs Broadbridge Heath, away (league)
0-1 Win vs Deal Town, away (league)
1-1 Draw vs Burgess Hill, home (league)
1-3 Win vs Three Bridges, away (league)
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS (all comps):
ASHFORD:
Matches played: 25
Goals scored: 48
Goals conceded: 42
GD: +6
Clean sheets: 5
MARGATE:
Matches played: 26
Goals scored: 48
Goals conceded: 22
GD: +26
Clean sheets: 11
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Simon Finnigan
Assistants: Jacob Miller & Matthew Williams
Unfortunately, no media team members are able to make the trip to Ashford so there will be limited match updates from our X account, apologies for the inconvenience.
UP THE ‘GATE
Margate Run Rampant In Ashford
Six of the best for Margate as we cruised into the third round of the Velocity Cup by beating Ashford United away from home 0-6!
The 'Gate featured a rotated team, with U23 star Chidubem Ede and Dartford youngster Finley Sillence starting whilst U23 captain Tom Handley featured on the bench!
Tonight's game also saw a start in goal for Reece Hobbs, who kept another clean sheet!
The rest of the team consisted of the usual suspects, and it would be the perfect combination!
In just six minutes, Brandon Davey scored his first competitive goal for Margate giving us the lead!
An early sub was made by Margate, bringing on another Dartford academy talent in Jack Peters for Max Walsh, and this change would see a great reaction, as Louie Atkins doubled our lead on the 40th minute.
After half-time, Atkins had his orange slices and scored two quick goals in the 58th and 61st minute to complete his hat-trick! He would make it four goals on the night for himself and five for Margate in the 73rd minute!
Ako would have his fifth and Margate’s sixth in the 81st minute after a goalmouth scramble left a lot of questions around who scored, but it was Atkins with the last touch!
A brilliant cup performance sets up a tie with Sheppey United next Tuesday at Hartsdown Park in the third round!
Margate XI: 13. Reece Hobbs, 2. Harrison Hatfull, 4. Max Walsh (Jack Peters 32'), 5. Tyrone Sterling, 7. Jordon Ababio, 12. Lewis Knight (C) (Harry Hudson 48'), 14. Brandon Davey (Ben Greenhalgh 66'), 15. Gabriel Duo, 16. Louie Atkins, 18. Finnley Sillence, and 19. Chidubem Ede.
Goalscorers: Davey 6', and Atkins 40' 58' 61' 71' 81’
Attendance: 208
UP THE 'GATE