Sports WIn local Derby

Football has a funny way of surprising you, just when you think that it's backs to the walls and you have an impossible task, players will show you why we all love the game. Mick snowden picked the youngest sports side I can remember, with James greenwood (just 17 years old) and centre midfield joe Jackson also 17 at centre back, add to that youth team starlet darryl sanders and 18 year old jordan wain sports looked more like a youth team against high flying ashford. Sports did have one thing on there side, a group of young men wanting to play for the shirt and there manager, this proved to be our biggest asset on the night.

The game early on was a cagey affair with either side giving anything away, ashford went 1-0 up after around 30mins, but this seemed to spark sports young guns into life. Tommy mooney and darryl sanders linked up on half time to set up Jamie 'the king' read to bend the ball home with goal of real quality.

The second half took the same shape, ashford again went in front around 55 mins, only for Adam Roberts to loop a standing over head kick into the net to make it 2-2. Ashford looked like they had sealed the win on 78mins but sports would not lie down. Roberts shot drifted past the post and the warning sign was there. in the 4th min of time added on Roberts again found space and volleyed home with the aid of a slight deflection to make it 3-3 and extra time.

Goal of the game came next and former ashford boy grant cooper got in front of his man and rose to put sports in front for the 1st time on the night 4mins into extra time. Sports then looked like they had won when youth team boy Norman bukowski smashed home only for a very late flag to rule it offside.

Ashford then came looking for a leveller and a neat finish made it 4-4 and took the game into pens

Man of the match joe Jackson had his kick saved but josh Richardson was the hero saving 2 ashford kicks and sports score there remaining 4 to win 4-2 on pens and secure a date with ha well.

The game was a great advert for cup football, some great goals from both sides and both teams wanted to get the ball down and play, football is always about opinions but any game with 8 goals and a shoot out is always entertaining and added to the fact it was a local derby it was a good watch.

I'm sure Ben murrays ashford will go close to the title this season with a real swagger to there play, for sports it's back to league action and much needed points in the battle to stay away from the drop zone.