IT WAS men against boys. For reasons best known to themselves Dover chose to field their reserve team at Homelands last night and were unceremoniously dumped out of the Bose Kent Senior Cup.

Perhaps the KCFA will investigate, as on the same night Dover's first team were in a friendly at Kent League Deal.

A good gate at Ashford deserved more from one of Kent's senior teams but at least they were treated to some excellent goals as Ashford dominated for 90 per cent of the game.

There was plenty of incident and action including a sending off - with Dover reduced to 10 men after just five minutes and a missed penalty - John Whitehouse saving superbly from John Ovard early in the second half.

Ashford were already 1-0 up before the sending off when a great first time shot by Jeff Ross curled into the top corner after only two minutes.

The only surprise was that it took until the 41st minute for the second goal to arrive.

Then a brilliant Jeff Ross cross was powerfully headed home by John Nolan. Three minutes later it was 3-0 when a great early ball from Adrian Stone released Dave Hassett and he surged away from the halfway line to go round keeper Allan Williams to score the first of his two goals.

Two minutes into the second half Dover had a lifeline when substitute Dean Frost was presented with a free shot to reduce the deficit but on 53 minutes the margin was again three goals as Stuart White found Jeff Ross and his excellent cross was headed home by Hassett.

Ashford had a scare on 64 minutes when John Ovard was brought down by Whitehouse with a tumble his father Frank would have been proud of but Whitehouse atoned with a fine diviing save to his left.

After that Ashford could have has half a dozen more but had to settle for just the one.

On 81 minutes a lovely ball from the very promising young Danny Barham found Ross and substitute Gavin Tomlin wrapped it up with a nonchalant first time finish.