Defeat for Katie Whitmore's side at the Homeland Stadium
Millwall Lionesses were looking at getting their pre-season campaign off to the best possible start, and although the South London side managed to get on the scoresheet twice, it was the home team that spoiled the party and took victory.
It was a warm day in Kent, and this dictated the opening moments of play, but it was Ashford who had the first real chance in the 4th minute when Millwall's offside trap was sprung and a green army attacker managed to get a shot away, but it was held easily by Millie Carter in the Lionesses' goal.
Ashford took the lead only four minutes later in the 8th minute, when a cross came in from the right hand side across goal, and Carter was was left helpless as the ball was diverted into the bottom corner of her goal off of a Millwall leg.
The home side nearly doubled their lead in the 15th minute, when a free-kick from the edge of the area was hit high towards the Lionesses' top corner, and Carter again was called into play to push it onto the crossbar at full stretch.
Ashford had another chance to score in the 23rd minute, and it was the assistant official's flag that spared the away teams' blushes, but Millwall were level in the 30th minute when Abbey Dell got on the end of some fluid build up play and swiveled superbly, before hitting the ball into the bottom corner.
The scores were not level for long, and it was Ashford who re-took the lead in the 35th minute. A long range shot just outside the area was blocked by Millwall, but the Lionesses were slowest to relax, allowing an Ashford striker to nip into the box and make it 2-1.
It was in the 39th minute when Millwall doubled their goal tally from an Amy Nash strike, after a free-kick was awarded to the Lionesses. Her superb goal rightly received plaudits from those in the stands at the Homelands, as her shot was unstoppable and hit the back of the Ashford net. This proved to be the last real chance of the half, and the scores were level at half-time.
The second half saw the home team dominating from the off, and a mistake at the back saw Ashford nip into the penalty area, win the ball from close range and round Millie Carter to make it 3-2 in the 53rd minute.
Just after the hour mark, Ashford again came close to scoring when an effort was hit towards Millwall's goal in the 61st minute, but this low effort was saved well again by Carter.
The game was to end in more disappointment for Whitmore's team, as Ashford again hit the bar from inside the penalty area, but it was a fourth goal moments later in the second half for the green army when they beat the offside and buried it into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area. Carter again tried her hardest to keep the ball out, but the shot was struck too sweetly and rustled the side netting in the bottom corner.
The final whistle ended to signify defeat for Millwall, as the Lionesses look to the away fixture with Saltdean on the 25th July.
