Ashton Prime 0-3 Penshurst Park

After rain put paid to Prime's visit to struggling Paddock Wood last week, Prime returned to action against their previous opponents and league-leaders Penshurst Park.

With Manager Goldsmith busy getting drunk in Dublin for the weekend, regular stand-in Ewan Sturmey took the reigns.

Carl Barker made a timely return to the starting line-up, replacing the absent gaffer up front and veteran Goulding made a comeback on the bench alongside Postlethwaite.

Sturmey had to make do without the injured Kneebone and the absent Ellis, Skovborg-Hansen, Gilbert and Garside.

Prime battled away well in the first half but went behind when a Penshurst midfielder was allowed to run with the ball to the edge of the box and he chipped the ball over Kerton and into the net.

The home side had a glorious chance to equalise when they were awarded a dubious penalty after Barker was up-ended in the area.

Unfortunately the keeper guessed right and Excell's penalty was well saved.

Prime started to play well after the break with the slope in their advantage and they were putting the visitors under pressure.

But Penshurst doubled their lead when a deep cross to the back post left them with 3 players against Davis for Prime and despite protests from the Prime bench, one of the players headed the ball beyond Kerton.

A defensive error let Penshurst in for a 3rd goal that flattered the league-leaders - despite Barnham's best efforts on the line.

Key midfielder Joe Walker was forced off injured in the second half and with The Numbers' squad already looking thin, Goldsmith will hope he is fit for next week's clash with Woodlands Reserves.

Goulding came off the bench and sured up Prime for the closing stages, but Prime just could not find the consolation goal that their efforts deserved.

Penshurst were further boosted after the game by the news that Woodlands have been deducted 3 points for playing an unregistered player in their win over Roselands earlier in the season. This was also bad news for Prime who are now 4 points adrift of the Tonbridge outfit, who lie in 6th place.

Man of the Match: Matt Walker - Rock solid again