Northwood v Ascot United Men

Report

ASCOT BEAT NORTHWOOD AS LOCKY REACHES RECORD

Late Morgan double turns game on its head

 

George Lock equalled Ascot United’s all-time appearance record as Ascot United signed off their campaign with a 3-2 win at Northwood on Saturday. Lock, who spearheaded The Yellamen to FA Vase glory last season, drew level with Jon Bennett on 262 appearances as Taylor Morgan’s brace in the final eight minutes sealed a comeback win.

 

Yellamen sign off in North London again

Ascot’s 2022/23 campaign in glory just seven miles from the comparative serenity of Northwood’s Chestnut Avenue home, and as the curtain fell on a 2023/24 campaign of consolidation at step four, it was a fitting finale for defender George Lock – in the spotlight for equalling Bennett’s record before his retirement three seasons earlier.

 

Amazingly, this was the talismanic defender’s 48^th appearance of a 50-game season – ever present since missing two games last September – not even a niggle or knock to the head has ruled him of minutes on the pitch since then.

 

Fast start before game peters out

The game initially looked like being a high scoring affair with two goals inside the opening eleven minutes.

 

First blood was drawn by the hosts, for who Harry McCorkell slotted home at the second attempt as Ascot failed to clear their lines. Earlier in the build-up, Dan Williams showed great strength to hold the ball up in a midfield position before spraying the ball wide to Deago Dunbar-Bonnie – the latter then delivered a dangerous cross from the right – and although Lock cleared Northwood’s first attempt off the line, McCorkell quickly planted the rebound into the bottom left.

 

Ascot’s response was almost immediate as, just two minutes later Harry Grant led the charge through the centre of the park and picked out Ollie Harris’s run on the left. Harris did all the damage with a sublime first touch as he drove into the box, before unselfishly picking out Liam Tack at the far post; Tack sliding in to convert from close range.

 

The rest of the half was laborious on the eyes as Williams turned two covering Ascot defenders before firing over with his left when he should have done better, before Mark Scott denied the hosts in the first half stoppage time after Williams, Archie James and Kofi Amokye-Boadi had all combined for the latter to shoot from close range.

 

Stale encounter eventually bursts into life

Tack’s flicked effort early in the second half from Lahtinen-Kalsi’s cross flew over the bar but at least gave the travelling contingent hope, although having watched both sides cancel each other out they were disappointed when Ascot were penalised for a tame hand-ball in the box midway through the half. Up stepped Amokye-Bouadi, and he slotted the resultant spot-kick into the bottom left to make it 2-1 to Northwood.

 

 

 

Bailey the game changer as Morgan makes his mark

The rest of the game saw an outcome that not even Mystic Meg could have predicted. Defender Dan Bailey – then the third and final substitute – was introduced in the 82^nd minute for Harris up top with Lock switching flanks, and somehow Ascot were level within seconds.

 

Makeshift striker Bailey himself wasn’t involved, although another defender – Chris Ellis – dinked a sublime ball over the top for Morgan, who sprung what had been an otherwise frustrating offside trap, before hammering a low shot into the bottom left that home ‘keeper Andrew McCorkell got a hand to before the effort trickled into the corner.

 

Amazingly, Morgan scored what proved to be the winner just three minutes later. Having got little change from a resolute defence and on an unforgiving surface, Morgan showed enough strength to shrug off defender Stephan Langley when picking up Tack’s assist before slotting low into the bottom right, much to the delight of the dozen-or-so traveling fans gathered at the Cemetery End.

 

There was still time for Grant to clear off the line at the other end just before six minutes of added time, but the visitors held on for victory and a thirteenth-place finish, a position they have held for what seems like eons.

 

Lock had the last word in commenting “I might be back for a game next season”, and the Yellow and blue faithful will also be hoping the loan deals of the two impressive young Ollies – Mason and Lahtinen-Kalsi – might extend into the next campaign.

 

But that’s a wrap for this campaign. It’s been a pleasure.

 

Ascot United: Scott, Lahtinen-Kalsi (Tucker 74’), Lock, Tack, Ellis, Edwards, McCormack, H. Grant, T. Morgan, Laflin (Mason 62’), O. Harris (Bailey 82’). Subs unused: McLeod, A. Grant

 

Entertainment: 3

Reporter’s Star Man: Taylor Morgan (Ascot United)

Away fans (estimate): 25