Ashton Prime 5-0 Paddock Wood Reserves

Prime went into the game with struggling Paddock Wood Reserves with mixed team news. Walters was ruled out with bruised ribs, Kneebone missed out through a tight hamstring and Goldsmith's virus kept him out. Garside and Skovborg-Hansen were also unavailable. But Kerton returned in goal, allowing Jamie Barker to return to his favoured Centre-Back position. Hodges made his first league start in central midfield, with Joe Walker joining Excell up front.

The Numbers had the slope in their favour in the first half and they made that tell within 5 minutes as Walker raced clear and beat the keeper at the near post.

Davis had already had a cross-shot hit the post as Prime pressed early on.

The visitors looked useful on the ball and put some neat passing moves together, but the Prime back 4 were largely untroubled and Hodges and Abu were both biting into tackles and soon enough, Prime were able to resume control of the game.

They should have gone 2 up when Walker raced to the byeline and cut the ball back for Excell to tap home - but the ref ruled the goal out as he thought that the ball had gone out of play before the cut-back. It clearly had not!

Nonetheless, Prime continued to come forward but their second goal was a shock to everyone. Abu hit a low corner across the face of goal and everyone missed it except for Mazurkiewicz who couldn't really miss from a yard out - and he celebrated his first goal in 47 appearances for The Numbers.

It was 2-0 at the break and Prime knew a 3rd goal would knock the stuffing out of their opponents.

It should have come when Walker again cut the ball back for Excell, but this time the skipper contrived to scoop the ball over the bar from 6 yards out.

5 minutes later, the dangerous Ellis went on a mazy run towards the edge of the visitor's penalty box - but after beating 2 tackles, he was felled by a third - but the ref played on and then amazingly booked Ellis for simulation.

Prime started to lose their focus and 'Wood came back into the game again, with Kerton called on to make some comfortable saves from long distance.

Sander came on for the tiring Leaver and, shortly afterwards, Matt Walker replaced the excellent Hodges for his Prime debut.

The 3rd goal did eventually come and it was Ellis who was on hand to tap home after a free-kick found it's way to him inside the box.

Minutes after, Joe Walker got his 2nd goal - capitalising on some slack defending to beat the hapless keeper again.

Postlethwaite came on to replace Barnham for the closing 20 minutes, and it was fellow-sub Sander who got Prime's 5th goal - his 2nd of the season.

There was still time for a disgruntled Excell to pick up a booking for dissent after a carbon copy of the first half, when the ref adjudged that the ball had rolled out of play before he slotted the ball home.

Man of the Match: Abu - Tremendous work rate and several dangerous runs.