The First Qualifying Round matches of the Emirates FA Cup took place last weekend and your Roving Team continued to follow Ashford Town’s progress in the competition by watching their home tie against Herne Bay on Saturday, 31st August. The match was played at Bedfont Sports FC, because of the ongoing installation of a 3G pitch at Ashford’s Robert Parker Stadium.    

The Tangerines’ previous matches this season in the nation’s premier cup competition have been full of incident.  They recorded an impressive 2-0 away victory in the all-Middlesex Extra Preliminary Round game with Northwood. The draw for the Preliminary Round then delivered another all-Middlesex tie, against Uxbridge. Ashford Town were the home side and played the match at Ascot United’s Racecourse Ground. An exciting encounter was drawn 1-1. In the replay at the Honeycroft, the Tangerines came from behind to win another thrilling match 2-1 with a goal in added time.

Herne Bay are frequent and welcome FA Cup visitors to Middlesex. We have witnessed them perform in the last two preceding seasons. In 2022-23, we saw them lose a very good 3rd Qualifying Round game against Hendon at Silver Jubilee Park. Then last season they drew 1-1  in the Preliminary Round against Bedfont Sports at today’s venue.

The Bay, who are members of the Isthmian League South East Division, reached this stage of the competition by winning 2-1 at Rayners Lane in a Preliminary Round Replay, after a 2-2 draw at home.

We were delighted to welcome Lincoln Jopp MC, the Member of Parliament for Spelthorne to the match. 

Unfortunately, Ashford Town’s direct interest in this season’s competition was ruthlessly halted by their visitors, who dominated the procedings. Herne Bay went ahead in the 10th minute and despite wasting a chance from the penalty spot, were two up at the interval. They didn’t add to their score, mainly due to a fine display by the home goalkeeper and to the frequent intervention of the goal frame.

Herne Bay made the early running. Michael Salako progressed up the left but his cross went behind the goal. Mo Kamara’s long range low shot flew wide. Home keeper, Mac Chisholm took a high cross from Scott Heard. Wing back Jack Parter’s long ball into the Ashford box didn’t attract a head.

Ashford’s first serious incursion into their visitor’s penalty box came when Bay’s keeper, Harry Brooks caught a freekick, taken from wide on the halfway line by Callum McAllister.

Jack Parter made a run up the left but his cross was headed away.   

In the 10th minute, Jack Parter’s through ball set up Frankie Smith, who hammered it home from close range, to put Herne Bay ahead.

The Tangerines hit back, with skipper Callum McAllister pulling the strings in midfield. He released Brad Sweeney, whose effort was headed out. He set up Aaron McLeish, whose shot was blocked. Then his freekick into the penalty area was headed out for him to fire in a shot from the rebound, which was again headed out.

In the 20th minute, Frankie Smith set up Michael Salako, who was tripped in the penalty area. Jack Parter netted the spot kick but the goal was disallowed for a double touch on the ball.

Callum McAllister kept trying to motivate his team. His long throw into the box was headed away. Then he put a cross onto Aaron McLeish’s head but the striker was unable to keep his effort down.

Herne Bay doubled their lead in the 36th minute. Mac Chisholm pushed out Liam Friend’s header from a corner kick, to Michael Salako, who headed home.

Ashford’s Callum Hope took possession from the restart and ran through the middle to the edge of the visitors’ penalty area but shot wide. 

Jack Arnold’s cross was met by Prince Kandolo’s diving header, which was saved by Harry Brooks. 

Half-time score: Ashford Town (Middlesex) 0 Herne Bay 2

In the 48th minute, a long-range lob by Jack Parter looped over Mac Chisholm, hit the crossbar and bounced back to the keeper.

Good work by Parter set up Scott Heard, who lobbed over the bar.

Mac Chisholm saved at Ethan Smith’s feet.

Some neat ball control by Jack Parter enabled him to put in a cross to Joel Odeniran, who couldn’t keep his header down.

Artem Kuchkov crossed into the home box but Michael Salako headed over.

Frankie Smith cut in and brought a good flying save from Mac Chisholm.

Herne Bay substitute, Monty Saunders, had a good scoring chance immediately after his introduction but headed wide from a corner kick.

In the 80th minute, Mo Kamara displayed good control and released Scott Heard, who took the ball onwards and hit a close-range shot, which was palmed onto the crossbar by the keeper.

Scott Heard crossed for Michael Salako, whose header passed narrowly outside the post.

The continually probing Jack Parter fed Artem Kuchkov, whose angled shot was saved by Mac Chisholm. The ball found its way back to Artem, who smashed it against the home crossbar.

Artem Kuchkov had one final chance but was again foiled by the home keeper’s save.

Referee George Barker and his Assistant Referees controlled the match very well.

Final score: Ashford Town (Middlesex) 0 Herne Bay 2

TEAM LINE-UPS

Ashford Town (Middlesex): Mac Chisholm, Josh Blakebrough, Archie Larkham, Callum Hope, Kyron Horsley-McKay (Scott Day 46 mins), Prince Kandolo, Brad Sweeney (Deven Reid-Solanki 64), Ben Holder, Aaron McLeish, Callum McAllister (capt) and Jack Arnold. 

Unused substitutes: Faris Khallouqi, Junior Ferreira-paiva and Dawid Gorski.

Herne Bay: Harry Brooks, Skye Salmon, Jack Parter, Joel Odeniran, Liam Friend (capt), Mo Kamara, Scott Heard, Ethan Smith, Michael Salako, Artem Kuchkov and Frankie Smith (Monty Saunders 76).

Unused substitutes: Joshua Reid, Carter Wilson, Sam Sarpong, Tom Hanfrey, Kayan Hassan and Daniel Carrington.

Referee: George Barker   

Assistant Referees: B. Lepper and J Rant. 

Attendance: 97

Report: Jim Taylor

Photography: Chris Benn

PICKS

FULL SET