The first round of qualifying for the FA trophy took place between two sides who were already familiar with each other in a busy game involving six goals.

It only took ten minutes for Ashford to score their first of the afternoon with Whitelock receiving the ball within his own half with time to look up and play Collins running directly towards goal, Turner read the pass however he couldn’t find his balance to clear the ball away which skimmed over his left leg. This gave Collins the opportunity for a spacious one on one chance which he calmly finished by directing the ball past Holmwood.

Just four minutes later Ashford had their second, West received the ball from winning a challenge on the right wing of his own half, who then played forward towards Whitelock who timed his run well to neat the offside trap, Whitelock had time and space to find Collins in the penalty area who tucked the ball away in the bottom corner to give Ashford their second of the game.

Ashford did not stop their intensity within the first half and their third goal came in the 24th minute, Turner blocked an attacking run on the halfway line which allowed Reed to pass the ball back towards his goalkeeper. However an unfortunate bounce caused a miskick by Holmwood which caused the ball to spin high and wide towards the corner flag. Ashford’s Penn collected the ball and took his time waiting for the arriving Collins to pass the ball across the penalty box to slot in a simple finish. A first half hat-trick for the threatening Ashford striker.

It was an improved second half for Crowborough with the home side showing greater determination with the hosts creating their first real chances of the game.

The first came from a through ball by Samuel-Smikle who found Francis making a great curved run in behind the Ashford back line, Francis took a touch towards goal and was quickly closed down by Gilmore who bravely saved Francis’s shot on goal. The second chance was a strong driven shot from Pring just outside of Ashford’s penalty area, again Gilmore did well to hold the ball in his arms especially with Duncan ready to pounce on the rebound.

Finally a breakthrough in the sixty-second minute, Samuel-Smikle received the ball on the wing who cut inside into the box sidestepping around Dempsey, Dempsey’s challenge then caught Samuel-Smikle’s leg and Crowborough were awarded the penalty. Samuel-Smikle confidently placed the ball into the bottom right corner to give Crowborough a deserved goal.

Despite the change in momentum Ashford managed to score a fourth goal, a quick counter attack and an excellent whipped low cross from Dempsey allowed Whitelock to redirect the ball into the back of the net.

The action still wasn’t over and the best goal was saved until last. Forster smashed the ball from 30 yards out with the sheer pace of the strike beating Gilmore. Finally with two minutes of normal time to go, Turner received a second yellow for a foul meaning that from the second game in a row Crowborough have not finished with eleven men.

A game of two halves which saw Crowborough knocked out of the FA Trophy.