A defensive mix-up cost Valley dear as they slipped to a second defeat in five days on the rubber at Homelands.
A closely fought encounter between two of the pre-season promotion favourites was settled midway through the second half as George Nikaj pounced following a mix-up in the Valley defence.
With a tired looking 3g surface emitting plumes of rubber pellets when the ball pitched, running with the ball was never easy – somewhat spoiling the encounter as a spectacle.
Valley were first to threaten to open the scoring when Denzel Gayle’s second minute cross from the right was met with a glancing header by Dan Bennett – the ball rebounding from the post into the grateful arms of Ashford custodian Jacob Russell.
The hosts response came from a 13th minute strike from debutant Mikey Dalton which flashed wide of the target.
Blows were traded as first Adam Coombes had an effort saved by Russell after Bennett dispossessed Charlie Dickens, before Ashford went close when Lewington denied Gil Carvalho following a crossfield pass from Mamadou Diallo.
Valley started the second half brightly - a cracking run and cross from the right by Gayle being met by the head of Barney Williams at the far post with the ball blazing just over the target, before Bennett and Gayle had efforts well saved by Russell.
A cross from the right by Gayle then found Adam Coombes at the far post – the Valley striker firing low against the inside of the post with Russell beaten.
But it was The Nuts and Bolts who took the lead as a long ball forward bounced 20 yards from the visitors’ goal. Goalkeeper Chris Lewington and defender Connor Dymond converged on the edge of the penalty area, but a lack of communication saw the ball break loose for Nikaj to slot into the empty net.
Valley then turned the heat up on the Ashford goal as substitute Tom Chambers had a low shot well saved, before a Bennett corner was headed narrowly wide by Dymond.
Despite continuing to apply pressure on the hosts goal, Valley were unable to force the equaliser their territorial advantage deserved – finally being thwarted when an injury time scramble in the Ashford penalty area failed to produce an opening.

MATCH RATING: - ***

MILLERS’ MAN OF THE MATCH – Denzel Gayle

NUTS & BOLTS : Russell, Carvalho, Dickens, Saunders (Wisson 59), Friend, Sawyer, Lawson, Dalton, Lockyer, Nikaj (Godfrey 85), Diallo
Substitutes Not Used : Ramadan, Ossai, Woodcock
Caution : Lokyer

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Williams (Chambers 64), Oshilija, Gayle, Black, Coombes, Samuels (Majek 87), Douglas, Bennett, Ibrahiym
Substitutes Not Used : Edgar
Cautions : Ibrahiym, Chambers

Referee – Fabio Roque
Assistants – Ronald Albert and Kehinde Agboola

Match Reaction: Millers manager Kevin Watson reflects on the 1-0 defeat at Ashford United. https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/match-reaction-183299.html

Pic : Dan Bennett’s second minute hits the upright before nestling into the arms of Jacob Russell