Ashford Town's Under 18s began their Southern Youth League campaign in style, winning 6-2 at Fleet Town.  The home side took the lead after being awarded a third minute penalty, which was converted emphatically by Sam Hamilton.  However, the Tangerines stuck to their task well in wet and blustery conditions and levelled in the ninth minute through a spectacular strike by Jimmy Stanford.  Stanford was also instrumental in the visitors' second, delivering a 28th minute corner which was powerfully headed home by Tom Snowden.

Leading 2-1 at the interval, Mick Snowden's side ran riot for the bulk of the second half, and were 4-1 up by the hour, thanks to fine goals from George Baldock and Adam Fearn.  However, Fleet often looked dangerous going forward, especially as they were now going down the Calthorpe Park slope and when Tom Snowden conceded the second penalty of the evening - scored, like the first, by Hamilton - the game was briefly in the balance.  However, safe hands from Ashford stopper Dane Buss and a late double salvo of goals from substitute Lewis Wombwell made the game safe.

Speaking after the game, Manager Mick Snowden described Fleet Town as a "reasonable team, who were good going forward" and praised his side's application:  "We had to work very hard to stay on top of the game, but even when we went one-nil down I wasn't too concerned and Jimmy Stanford scored a special goal that set us on our way."  All in all, Mick was very pleased with the performance although there are still aspects that he will be looking to work on.

A match report is here.