Ashford United: Kamurasi, Savage, Walker, Botterill, West, Kingwell, Palmer, Stubbs (Stone 69mins), Welford, Goodchild, Hill; Subs: Eldridge, Williams, Lavender, Lye.

Cray Valley: Carey, McDonagh, Smith, Wood(Gordon 69mins), Sains, Collins, Gayle, Thompson, Francis (Springett 82mins), Adjei, Rhule (Fowler, half-time); Subs not used: Fitzgerald, Young.
Manager: James Collins

Referee: Mr Ben Bowles
Assistants: Mr Jamie Eacott & Mr Joseph Dann-Pye
Fourth Official: Mr Joe Stokes

Picture above: Ashford's Shaun Welford gets the better of Cray keeper Jordan Carey to head the winning goal Picture: Photographer Andy Jones.

Shaun Welford scored twice as Ashford United came from behind to win the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy at Maidstone on Sunday.
Danny Lye's side were trailing to a Laurence Collins goal inside two minutes against Cray Valley but top scorer Welford fired them level before half-time and then headed the winner with 11 minutes remaining.
United's win came at the third attempt, having lost 4-0 to Beckenham in 2013/14 and on penalties to Sheppey in last year's final, also at the Gallagher Stadium.
Cray made just one change from their last time out with Enoch Adjei replacing Jamie Miller.
United went into the game as favourites having beaten Cray three times already this season but they were behind inside two minutes 20 seconds after keeper George Kamurasi came for but did not claim Jason Thompson's free-kick from the left.
The ball broke to Valley skipper Jamie Wood whose miscued shot fell to Laurence Collins who swept home from 12 yards.
Welford threatened a swift equaliser heading against the post and the United top scorer was then picked out by Dave Botterill but stabbed his shot wide from close range.
Cray Valley's Aaron Rhule got in behind the United defence on 20 minutes but was unable to keep his feet and the chance went begging.
Six minutes later United were level. While Cray's defence hesitated expecting referee Ben Bowles to blow for a high challenge, Welford didn't, running on before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards.
A mistake by Valley scorer Collins then let Welford in moments later but having cleverly lobbed the ball over keeper Jordan Carey his shot was deflected wide.
Another defensive slip, this time by Ashley Sains, gave Welford another sight of goal in the 33rd minute but he fired into the side netting.
As United began to dominate Jason Goodchild fired wide from the edge of the box and Rory Hill should have given them a half-time lead when he broke clear only to pull his shot wide of the far post.
Rhule had Cray's only other chance of the half but was denied by Kamurasi who made a smart save but the Valley front man gave way to Ryan Fowler at half-time.
The break gave Valley time to regroup and they came out positively in the second half with United skipper Stuart West doing well to block from Adjei.
Adjei then sent over a terrific cross which was turned back across goal by Denzel Gayle with Ben Francis unable to get a touch.
Ashford's first chance of the half came just before the hour when Rory Hill's crisp low drive was well palmed away by Carey who then denied the same player with an equally smart save.
Moments later Valley scorer Collins had Kamurasi scampering across his goal with a well-struck effort which drifted just wide and on 64 minutes United defender Pat Kingwell got a vital block in to keep out Gayle's goalbound effort.
There was a real cut and thrust feel to the game at this stage but as the minutes ticked away so the contest became more cagey and extra time looked likely until Welford struck.
Savage's superb deep cross always had Cray keeper Carey struggling and when he failed to get there it gave Welford the chance to head into an empty net.
Hill almost made it 3-1 two minutes from time when his snap shot from 15 yards hit Carey in the chest without the keeper knowing too much about it.

Highlights see link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr_H_cRUpDM

Denzel Gayle in action

Cray Valley celebrate after taking an early lead

Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1887283818072459&type=3

Other Reports
Stephen McCartney reports from The Gallagher Stadium
https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/ashfcray090417

Stephen McCartney interview with Cray keeper Jordan Carey
http://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/crayvalley090417

Player Profiles: Match Day Programme - Cray Valley (PM)
Penned by skipper Jamie Wood

Jordan Carey - Goalkeeper
A very good young keeper with a fantastic character, who should go far in the game. Ex Brentford scholar signed from Margate in October. A great shot stopper who has been excellent for us since he joined the club.

Frankie Griffin - Defender
A promising youngster who joined from Lordswood at the start of the season. A solid right back who can also play centre half.

Ashley Sains - Defender
Another player that followed James from Lordswood. Ever present this season and the first name on the team sheet. Young and solid, plays like an old fashioned centre half.

Aaron Sekhon - Defender
Like Ash, plays the game like an old fashioned centre half. Solid in a tackle and hardly gets beat in the air, Aaron is just returning from a head injury suffered in just his second match for us!

Laurence Collins - Defender
Ex Chatham Town left back who has converted to centre half this season. Reads the game very well and talks non stop. Loves a tackle and has a great left foot.

Danny Smith - Defender
Has made the left back spot his own this year. A true scouser that was once on Everton's books as a youngster. Comfortable on the ball, great at going forward and has contributed some important goals this season.

Taylor McDonagh - Defender / Midfield
Can play anywhere across the back line and in midfield. In his second spell with the Millers and has been ever present this year since re-joining the club from VCD in October. A versatile player and technically very good.

Alastair Gordon - Defender
Another player in his second spell at the club. Alastair has come in and played very well at right back and chipped in with the winner at Tour victory at unbridge Wells recently.

Jason Thompson - Midfield
Great left peg and the teams dead ball specialist. An experienced midfielder who starred in Whyteleafe's championship winning side a couple of seasons ago. He is in excellent form and has great feet for a big fella!

Ryan Fowler - Midfield
A creative midfielder, who has scored some valuable goals since joining the Millers towards the end of last year. Ryan has great feet and can pick out a pass and deliver it on a sixpence.

Aaron Rule - Midfield
Signed recently from Thamesmead Town, Aaron is an old fashioned winger who runs for fun with the ball and has a great delivery.

Enoch Adjoin - Midfield
A late signing for us, has done well since he came in and has two very quick feet.

Denzel Gayle - Midfield / Striker
Has been brilliant for us this year. Denzel has pace to burn and scored some important goals.

Tom Young - Midfield / Striker
Played at Bolton as a youngster, Tom loves to drift in from the wing. He has two very quick feet and has been a miss for us since injuring his shoulder in February.

Ben Francis - Striker
Signed from Dartford after a successful loan period, Ben is an old fashioned centre forward who scores goals for fun. Has great pace and like Jordan is destined to play at a higher level in the future.

Austin Gacheru - Striker
Joined the club from AFC Croydon Athletic in January and has been a great addition to the squad. Powerful, difficult to shake off the ball and good in the air.

Tom Fitzgerald - Defender / Midfield / Striker
Mr Versatile, Tom has played in virtually every position for us this year. He works his socks off and has great feet for a tall lad.

Jamie Wood - Midfield
Skipper, the old man of the team, some might say he should have stopped playing but he enjoys himself (myself ) too much! Hopefully has one more year in him.

Chandler Kasai - Striker
A product of our successful youth team that has become our Surbuban League team this season. Has had limited opportunities in the first team but has done well when being called upon.

James Collins - Manager
I would say one of the best managers I have worked with Tactically very good and has all the players wanting to play for him. James has a knack of knowing when to praise and when to give a kick up the back side. He always wants to improve and that rubs off on the team.

Brad Sandeman - Assistant Manager / Coach
Brad has been there, done it and got the t/shirt. Ex pro who know the game inside out and was part of the management team that led Tunbridge Wells to the FA Vase final a few years ago. Brad and James work very well with each other.

Tony Hine - Goalkeeper Coach
Probably has the hardest job at the club, trying to keep madcap Jordan on his toes! A very good G/K coach, who likes to dive about for the forwards at training.

Road to the Final - Kent Reliance Senior Trophy 2016-17

Sat 15-Oct 2016 KENT RELIANCE SENIOR TROPHY FIRST ROUND
Cray Valley 3 v Hollands & Blair 2
Goals: CV - Gayle 1, Smith P 18, 88
H&B - Lockyer 59, 82
Cray Valley: Carey, Griffin, Smith D, Wood (Bishop 95), Sains, McDonagh, Smith P, Hamill (Miller 75), Gayle, Jeffrey (Sandiford 64), Everett. Unused subs: McDowell, Piro.

Scorer of the opening goal Denzel Gayle

Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1772568936210615&type=3

Cray Valley PM won a dramatic Kent Reliance Senior Trophy tie against Hollands & Blair as Peter Smith drove home an 89th minute winner after the Blair had fought back to level from 2 goals, and a man, down at Badgers on Saturday.
It had all started well for the Millers who took the lead after just 67 seconds as Denzel Gayle took advantage of Blair player/manager Bryan Greenfield’s under hit back pass to his keeper to nip in and slot the ball past a stranded Ronan Forde.
Playing with confidence, the Millers attacked the Blair goal at will and Ben Brown saw yellow for handball as he prevented Aaron Jeffery bearing down on goal before Richie Hamill’s 12th minute corner kick was swiped at by a Blair defender and the ball hit the underside of the crossbar before being hacked away by the defence. Millers keeper Jordan Carey collected a couple of crosses into his penalty area as the Blair looked to respond before Forde did well at the other end to push away Jeffery’s low drive.
The Millers though extended their lead in the 18th minute after Gayle set up Jeffery and after his shot was parried by Forde, Peter Smith was on hand to slot home from the rebound. And it was double jeopardy for the visitors as Greenfield shoved goal scorer Smith during his celebrations to earn himself a red card. The Blair picked themselves up to rally though and Ross Webb fired wide from 20 yards before Jeffery charged down Forde’s attempted clearance and happy to see the ball loop over his head but away from his goal. Ainsley Everett’s trickery made space for a cross which Jeffery acrobatically volleyed over as the Millers enjoyed some good possession before Ben Brown skied the ball over the Millers goal after Carey punched clear a free kick.
The Blair came out for the second half with all guns blazing and Gary Lockyer saw Carey keep out a free kick before he headed over from a corner as the visitors started to dominate the match. Forde though kept his side in the contest as he blocked Everett’s drive as he broke into the penalty area in what was to turn out to be a brief respite for the Millers.
With 56 minutes played, the Blair pulled themselves into the match as a cross from the left dissected the Millers defence and Lockyer was all alone at the far post to volley past Carey from close range. Lewis Taylor blocked another Everett shot before George Blake fired over the bar as the Blair went in search of parity.
The Blair were well on top at this stage and despite being a man down, were getting closer to an equaliser as Taylor McDonagh and Carey got in each other’s way but Lockyer could only volley against a post as the Millers allowed the visitors to dominate. Blake and Forde combined to keep Gayle out as the Millers looked to ease the pressure but on 77 minutes, the Blair were awarded a free kick on the corner of the Millers penalty area which Lockyer hit over the wall and Carey to nestle in the top corner and the match was all square. Both sides were not content to see the match in to extra time and Carey blocked a James McDonald shot before Frankie Griffin was just off target with a shot at the other end.
But with the clock hitting 89 minutes, Forde, under no pressure, dropped Gayle’s cross and as he pushed the ball away from Jordan Sandiford, it was only into the path of Peter Smith whose shot took a couple of deflections before finding the back of the net. A6 minutes into added time and Blair defender Brown was shown a straight red card for a nasty lunge on Sandiford as the Millers held out for another five minutes to eventually seal the place in a Second Round tie against Tunbridge Wells in November.

Other match report: Courtesy of Holland & Blairand their excellent match archive on their website.
https://www.hollandsandblair.co.uk/match/it/1022/2740?sort=sdate&order=asc&fsea=all&frt=all&offset=17#report

Sun 27-Nov 2016 KENT RELIANCE SENIOR TROPHY SECOND ROUND
Cray Valley (PM) 1 v Tunbridge Wells 0
GOAL: CV Miller 26
Attendance 118

Cray Valley: Carey, Smith P (Wood 46), Osibodu (Smith D 75), McDonagh, Sains, Springett, Thompson, Miller (Bryon 57), Gayle, Youngs. Unused subs: Williams, Fitzgerald.

The Millers just scrapped through on a cold Sunday afternoon at Badgers and Jamie Miller's 26th Minute goal was all that separated the teams and sent the Millers through to a third round tie at home to Lordswood.

Scorer of the only goal Jame Miller (pictured left).

Stephen McCartney reports from DGS Marine Stadium
CRAY VALLEY manager James Collins says he wants to lead his side to the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy Final in his first season in charge of the club..
https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/craytunw271116

Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1804421976358644&type=3

Weds 1-FEB 2017 KENT RELIANCE SENIOR TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL
Cray Valley (PM) 4 v Lordswood 0
Goals; CV - Thompson 11, Francis 31, Smith D 49, McDonagh 89
Attendance 35

Cray Valley: Jordan Carey, Peter Smith (Ryan Fowler 19), Danny Smith, Jamie Wood, Joe Matthews, Taylor McDonagh, Jason Thompson (Tom Youngs 66), Jamie Miller, Austin Gacheru, Ben Francis, Laurence Collins (Nick Harvey 79).
Subs: Ashley Sains, Denzel Gayle

Stephen McCartney reports from DGS Marine Stadium
CRAY VALLEY manager James Collins says he wants to guide the club to at least one cup final in his first season in charge of the club since switching from Lordswood
https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/craylord010217

Tues 14-Feb 2017 KENT RELIANCE SENIOR TROPHY SEMI-FINAL
Charles Sports Ground
Deal Town 2 v Cray Valley (PM) 2 after extra time (Cray Valley won 3-1 on penalties)
Goals: DT - Hill (pen) 36, Biggington ET 14
CV - Francis 73, Fowler ET 8

Cray Valley (PM) FC: J Carey, T McDonagh, L Collins, A Sains, D Smith, J Wood (C), J Miller (R Fowler), J Thompson, A Rhule, B Francis, A Gacheru (D Gayle (Youngs))

Deal’s Kent Senior Trophy semi-final “hoodoo” goes on after they again fell at the last-four stage on Tuesday night, losing 3-1 on penalties to Cray Valley after the tie finished 2-2 at the end of extra-time. It was the sixth occasion in the last nine years that the Hoops had lost in the semi-finals of the competition, and also the second time this season that they had missed out in a penalty shoot-out with Cray Valley after losing to the Millers in the same fashion in a SCEL Challenge Cup tie before Christmas.
In a fast-paced and full-blooded cup tie which ebbed and flowed throughout the full 120 minutes, the Hoops unfortunately undid all of their earlier good work with something of a “horror show” in the shootout.
Kristin Gregory, Dean Hill, Kane Smith and Jack Paxman all missed their penalties with only Ryan Philpott finding the target. It meant that although Cray’s Ben Francis and Laurence Collins also wasted their attempts, two “on target” efforts from Tom Youngs and Ryan Fowler were sufficient to send the Millers through to the final against Ashford United on April 9.
Although the tie had to be postponed on Saturday because the Charles Ground was waterlogged, the hard work of the Hoops’ groundstaff meant the pitch was back in excellent condition for Tuesday’s re-match and Deal’s young wingmen, Harry Alexander and Jack Paxman, were soon giving Cray plenty of problems down both flanks.
And it was Paxman who set up the goal which gave the Hoops a narrow but deserved half-time lead. He was fouled by Millers’ goalie Jordan Carey as he raced into the Cray area and, on this occasion, Hill coolly converted the resulting penalty.
But a one-goal lead was always likely to prove slender against a Cray side who had won five of their previous six matches, scoring 20 goals in the process, and they soon began to show why in the second half.
With the Millers taking control of the midfield area, Deal were pushed back towards their own penalty box but some dogged defending by Hill and Kane Smith meant Cray had to wait until the 73rd minute before equalising through a low drive from Ben Francis.
That goal could have sapped Deal’s spirit and energy but instead it was Derek Hares’ side who finished the stronger in the closing stages of normal time and Connor Coyne and Charlie Walsh both went close to grabbing the winner.
But, as in their earlier cup clash in October, the two sides again had to go to extra-time and it was the Millers who struck first through a deflected 97th-minute effort from Ryan Fowler.
The Hoops, however, got back on level terms just before the end of the first period when Luke Bigginton headed home a Gregory corner, and then in the second period Chris Waymark ensured it would go to penalties with a superb save from Jason Thompson’s fiercely-struck low free kick.
From the Hoops’ viewpoint, however, the less said about the shootout the better, but at least Deal will have the chance to gain some quick revenge when the two sides meet again in a league game at the Charles Ground this Saturday.

Video: Ryan Fowler scores his first goal for the Millers to put his side 2-1 up at the Charles Ground in the Kent Senior Trophy!
https://www.facebook.com/275921759208681/videos/1851105218356986

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