Penshurst Park Reserves 2-7 Ashton Prime

The form book was well and truly ripped up at Penshurst as Ashton Prime produced a dazzling display to record their debut victory.

Following last week's thrashing at home against Rusthall, Prime needed a boost and they got it with Carlton, Flamank and skipper Skovborg-Hansen returning to the starting line-up, together with Gilbert making his debut at centre-back.

Penshurst pressurised early on, forcing a flurry of corners. But Prime defended well and did not concede the early goal that has been their achilles heal so far this season.

It enabled Prime to establish themselves in the game, and when Goldsmith and Skovborg-Hansen linked up down the right, Ellis found himself in space to slot home a right-foot volley with his "swinger".

This boosted Prime who then doubled their money when good work by Leaver released Skovborg-Hansen whose pace took him away from 2 defenders before coolly slotting home.

Penshurst were then handed a dubious lifeline when the ref adjudged Flamank to have pushed in the box and the resultant penalty was despatched low to Allcorn's right.

This left a crucial 15 minutes in the half and Prime got the vital 3rd goal when Walter's clever through ball found Whiting who rolled the ball into an empty net.

A buyoant Prime emerged in the second half and carried off where they had left off. Whiting had the freedom of Penshurst Place as the home side's defence parted and he kept his nerve to round the keeper and effectively kill off the game.

With Flamank marauding down the left flank and Leaver linking up well, the 5th goal soon came as Whiting completed his hat-trick in style - smashing home from the edge of the box with the outside of his right foot.

The only downside of the game for the visitors came when Skovborg-Hansen pulled up with his troublesome hamstring that is likely to rule him out for several games. This gave Dave Baker his debut up front.

A deflated Penshurst battled hard to reduce the deficit but Carlton and in particular Gilbert were outstanding and barely gave the Penshurst strike-force a sniff.

Walter then bundled home number 6 as Prime broke with pace, and Ellis got his second with a curled effort from the edge of the box that took a slight deflection before finding the back of the net.

It could have been 8 for Prime but after a flowing move, Baker failed to finish Whiting's teasing cross.

There was time for a late Penshurst consolation, but it could not take the gloss off a fine day for Prime.

Man of the Match: Gilbert - Won every header and kept the Penshurst strikers quiet.