Combined Counties League Premier Division

Ash United 2

Banstead Athletic 3

Banstead Athletic overcame their goalkeeper being sent off controversially early on to take a 2-0 lead at half-time and go on to beat a strong Ash United team.

The game was just six minutes old when A's keeper Matt Amis was sent off for handball outside the area.

The only person who saw it that way was the assistant referee, with both sets of supporters believing the ball hit his head.

Dave Hawkins took over in goal, as he had done in the previous game.

Then came the added distraction of the referee insisting that full-back Tom Jelly leave the field to remove an ear-ring, despite it being taped up on the previous advice of the assistant. Jelly, unable to remove it, was substituted.

Undeterred, Banstead pushed on and Mu Maan duly put them ahead after 20 minutes. He collected the ball on the halfway line, rounded four players and calmly placed the ball into the top left hand corner.

The A's failed to convert a host of chances before scoring the second goal on 43 minutes.

Carl Gibbs met a great cross from Dean Sammut and side-footed the ball into the net.

Ash came out strongly in the second half. The pitch cut up badly, making controlling the ball difficult.

Ash scored after a goalmouth scramble on 54 minutes through Cousins.

On 55 minutes Banstead's Leon Wallace scored a typical forwards goal from 10 yards. He managed to get it through a crowd of players, knocking the stuffing out of Ash.

Gibbs, with only the keeper to beat, hit the post. The ball rebounded an Ash player who launched the ball forward for their substitute Parish to tap in on 89 minutes.

Boss Paul Norris was "ecstatic with the performance", adding: "It is tough to come to a place like Ash United having to reshuffle the players around after the first few minutes.

"The commitment, attitude was brilliant from all concerned, I'm over the moon. Scoring three goals in a game was great. Last time we did that was against Chertsey in January."

He added: "The boys all stood up and were counted. Jamie Summers for a 17-year-old was composed, passed well. Chris Davidson was immense. Dave Hawkins did very well in goal. An all round great performance, one that has been coming for sometime."

Banstead: Amis, Chalke, Jelly, Hawkins, Patterson, Davidson, Sammut, Frimpong, Maan, Gibbs, Quintyne, Summers, Wallace, Prendergast.