Deal Town FC

MENS FIRST TEAM

Deal Town played Ashford United on 07th September 2024 in the FA Trophy. Deal Town lost one - nil against Ashford in front of a crowd of 655 at the Charles Ground.

Although Deal's first appearance in the FA Trophy for 50 years ended in defeat Hoops' manager Steve King was able to draw plenty of encouragement from his side's performance as the new season continues to unfold.

In front of another superb crowd of 655 at the Charles Ground, the second highest in the country for Saturday's entire programme of Trophy first qualifying round matches, included former England manager Peter Taylor.

'Kingy' saw the Hoops' beaten by a solitary second-half strike from Ashford skipper Craig Stone and then insisted afterwards: 

'There wasn't one aspect of our game which I was unhappy with today against an Ashford side who have been able to recruit heavily both on and off the pitch. Yes, of course, I would like to have won but we have to accept that we are not going to win the FA Trophy and we will be able to draw plenty of positives from this game going forward.

Among Ashford's new blood off the pitch is former Hoops' boss Paul Murray, who is now a member of manager Danny Kedwell's coaching staff, and Muzza will no doubt enjoy 'pulling the leg' of Deal skipper and son Macca when they next link up!

It was Macca's deep early corner beyond the far post to the leaping Billy Munday from which Deal created their first real threat but the Ashford defence eventually managed to scramble the ball clear. Hoops' top scorer Tom Chapman, who has scored five goals already this season, again posed a threat down the right flank but in truth both sides struggled to create many clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes.

One of Ashford's most 'experienced brigade' striker Gary Lockyer, who had scored four times against Three Bridges the previous week, was narrowly off-target with a header just before half-time but the interval arrived with the scoreline still blank and with the visitors, who have made a stuttering start to their league campaign, probably the marginally happier of the two.

HALF TIME: DTFC 0-0 AUFC

The Hoops however seemed to step up a gear right from the second-half restart and Tom Chapman three times went close to adding to his season's tally in the opening five minutes while Ashford 'keeper Michael Beaney needed to draw on all of his height to prevent a Jamie Kennedy header from entering the net just past the hour mark.

The breakthrough would not come for the Hoops however and the feeling that this was going to be 'one of those days' increased when Ashford snatched the lead after 66 minutes.

One of their subs, Joe Taylor, delivered a free-kick into the heart of the Hoops' penalty area where another of Ashford's most experienced campaigners, captain Craig Stone, volleyed the ball sweetly past Adam Molloy.

The Hoops now had it all to do to stay in the Trophy and 'Kingy' soon responded by sending on four subs all at the same time, Jack Penny, Owen Wilkinson, Ashley Miller and Zak Hammond. And it was Penny, still searching for full fitness following his recent injury, who almost snatched a dramatic equaliser with three minutes remaining.

The Ashford defence made one of their rare defensive errors of the tie which allowed Penny to advance unchallenged from his left wing-back position, and once in the area he fired a fierce volley goalwards but the ball smashed against Beaney's crossbar before rebounding clear.

And that proved to be the end of this long-awaited new Trophy chapter for the Hoops as Ashford artfully 'played out' the remaining time to the dug-out delight of Messrs Murray and Co!

FULL TIME: DTFC 0-1 AUFC

Report courtesy of Kevin Redsull.  
     

Deal Town Starting XI: Adam Molloy, Jack Paxman, Alex Green, Alfie Foster, Max Niblett, Billy Munday, Tom Chapman, Macaulay Murray, Wes Hennessey, Ben Chapman, Jamie Kennedy.

Subs: Jack Penny, Zak Hammond, Ashley Miller, Owen Wilkinson, Josh Vincent.

Referee: Egan

Attendance: 655