Penshurst Park 7-2 Ashton Prime

The Numbers headed to league-leaders Penshurst determined to put a spanner in the works of their promotion bangwaggon.

But Prime were missing several key players, including Jamie Barker who sadly announced his retirement this week following a long-standing ankle injury.

Davis, Matt Walker, Sander and Goldsmith all returned to the starting XI, with Gilbert and Garside on the bench.

Prime started going down the considerable slope at Penshurst Place and although the home side were knocking the ball around with confidence, Prime looked the more dangerous early on and following good work by Joe Walker on the byeline, Goldsmith flashed a first time strike just wide of the far post.

But the visitors were soon in front. Abu curled in a corner from the left-wing and with the defenders and keeper focusing on Goldsmith and Matt Walker in the box, the ball curled straight in and beat the keeper at the near post.

Penshurst continued to play the ball out from the back, but they seemed almost over-confident and after Sander closed down their left-back, the keeper was forced into a hurried clearance which only went as far as Excell. The striker had plenty to do, but he lofted home perfectly into the vacant net to put Prime 2-0 up.

It was only midway through the half but Prime could not keep their lead intact to the break.

Penshurst's first goal looked distinctly offside, but their striker was allowed to carry on and finish well beyond Kerton.

Penshurst were now pouring forward and Prime were hanging on. Barnham and Davis made some crucial tackles and Mazurkiewicz and Matt Walker were solid in the centre - but they could not repel wave after wave of attacks from the home side and eventually the goal came, despite Kerton half-saving the shot - the ball trickled into the net.

It was all square at the break and Prime badly needed to dig deep and get back into the game. But with the slope in their advantage, Penshurst carried on where they had left off and they were soon in front as a cross from the left wing was headed beyond Kerton by the luckless Barnham.

A 4th goal soon followed as Prime were getting overrun and the tiring Sander was replaced by Garside as Prime sought to stem the tide.

Unfortunately Garside's first real involvement was to head a clearance into the back of a Penshurst striker and the rebound flew into the net.

Prime heads had well and truly dropped and for once Abu and Joe Walker were getting overrun in the heart of the midfield.

The back 4 of Prime were constantly facing a 5 or 6 onrushing players and goals 6 and 7 soon followed as the home side threatened to run up a cricket score.

Gilbert came on to replace Barnham for the closing stages and he managed to talk himself into the referee's book for querying a decision. The referee viewed this as dissent rather than a difference of opinion.

Prime did at least threaten to pull a consolation goal back as firstly Joe Walker smashed a half-volley from Excell's cut-back straight at the keeper from well inside the box.

Soon after Goldsmith worked some space on the edge of the box and curled a left-footed effort towards the top-corner - but the keeper again saved well.

A bad day at the office for Prime who must forget the last hour of this game and focus on getting 3 points from the visit to Paddock Wood Reserves next week.

Man of the Match: Matt Walker - Solid effort at the back