Dowgate 2-0 Ashton Prime

After a week off, Prime returned to action at Tonbridge Farm, keen to avenge the 3-0 reverse at Bayham earlier in the month.

The Numbers' treatment room was worryingly full, with Davis, Gilbert and Kneebone the latest casualties. With Ellis and Excell also unavailable, Prime were down to the bare bones.

Walker and Skovborg-Hansen both made timely returns to the starting lineup, with skipper Goldsmith joining Skov up front. Older was signed on as an emergency signing and he started on the bench.

It was a wet, blustery day and Prime knew they needed to battle and for the first 20 minutes, it was an even contest.

Abu and Walker were sliding into the tackles and the back 4 were all looking solid, despite the tricky conditions with the ball skipping off the damp surface.

Dowgate shaded the attacking possession, but they knew they were in a match this week - unlike their leisurely stroll that Prime let them enjoy at Bayham.

On the 20 minute mark, the home side were given a highly debatable penalty after their striker tried to round Kerton. The keeper got his palm to the ball and flicked it away from the striker, but he caught him with a feather-like touch as his arm followed through and following a theatrical fall, the ref pointed to the spot to the bemusement of The Numbers.

Justice was done though as Kerton batted away the spot kick that was right down his throat.

At the other end, Prime were probing away with Goldsmith and Skovborg-Hansen managing to hold the ball up well and bring Walters and Sander into the play.

After Walters was felled 25 yards out, Goldsmith strode forward to curl a free-kick. He got it over the wall and curling towards the top corner, but the wind took the power out of the shot and the keeper made a comfortable save.

Shortly after Sander went on a mazy run down the right wing, beating several Dowgate defenders, but he was just unable to cut the ball back with both strikers in attendance.

But moments later Prime shot themselves in the foot as an inswinging corner found an unmarked gold shirt and the home side were ahead.

Prime kept their heads up though and got to the break just 1 behind.

After the break, with the wind at their backs, Prime were confident of getting an equaliser. But Dowgate were still in the ascendancy and Mazurkiewicz and Garside needed to be on their guard to keep out the pacey Dowgate strikers.

Leaver was having another stormer at left back and Barnham was also managing to keep the home side's left winger at bay,

Prime's best chance seemed to be to utilise the pace of Skovborg-Hansen and after a last ditch challenge denied him the first time, minutes later, Goldsmith's clever dink over the centre-backs allowed his strike partner to burst clear, but his crisply hit shot was well saved by the keeper's legs.

Older soon came on to replace birthday boy Sander, but Dowgate were now knocking the ball around well as space opened up with Prime tiring.

A second goal killed the game with another back post delivery finding an on-rushing striker to finish calmly.

Perenial substitute Postlethwaite came on for the closing stages, but by then the game was over and the 3 points were staying in Tonbridge.

Man of the Match: Kerton - Another fine performance in difficult conditions, and another penalty save.