The U18s played their first game of the new season in an entertaining  evening under the lights at Snoxhall, coming away with a well deserved 6-0 win over Ashford.

The game started at a fast pace with the home side threatening twice from set pieces before gaining an early advantage on 10 minutes with Harvey Stiles volleying home from inside the penalty area. Cranleigh continued to impose their dominance with high tempo play and it wasn’t long until Ben Cole doubled the lead with a superb strike that comfortably beat the Ashford keeper. And through some some slick passing play, that was dominating the battle in midfield, The Cranes added two further goals before halftime as Stiles completed an impressive first half hat trick.

The team’s work rate was superb throughout the game and as the visitors upped the ante just after the break as they threw everything forwards Cranleigh needed discipline and guile to withstand the extra pressure. They did so admirably through gritty defending and another goal lifted the pressure as Cole doubled his tally with another exceptional strike.  Harvey Stiles netted his fourth goal midway through the half and with the game now we’ll and truly beyond Ashford’s reach Cranleigh dominated play through hard work and enterprise with Ryan Atalay testing the tiring Ashford defence with his tireless running.

Overall Cranleigh outplayed and outworked their opponents throughout the 90 minutes and the 6-0 score line is a well deserved and impressive way to start the season.