Whippet Wanderers Veterans v Ascot United 2nd X1 Veterans

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Ascot 2nd XI travelled to premier team Whippet Wanderers today for a league cup tie. There was an element of trepidation around the trip, the weather conditions were poor to say the least and we had managed to cobble together a squad with a few unknowns. A squad reduced by 1 when Chris Watney pulled up in the warm up with a dodgy hamstring. Six of the twelve strong squad were playing their first games of the season, with 3 lads making their Ascot debuts.

Erik lined up in goal, Rob Burton and Scott Brown performed well in the unfamiliar fullback roles, with Daz and Nigel the middle of defence. Midfield 3 was Adam, Joe and Will, all played with energy and were neat and tidy on the ball. Front 3 Alex, Garyth and Rich were always a threat, Rich in particular with his pace and directness, which could quite have easily got him a hat-trick today. Islam was our sole substitute but got a good 60 minutes playing time.

A confident start, against a strong wind, was ruined by an early Whippets goal, a cross to the back post was headed in by whippets forward. We were undeterred and started to grow into the game, solid at the back and dangerous on the attack. The second goal came via the penalty spot, whippets winger got wrong side of Ascot defender and the penalty was dispatched into the top corner, just out of the grasp of Erik flying to his left. A feature of Erik’s keeping today, he must of had his fill of weetabix this morning, other wheat based cereals are available !!

After switching to a 442 formation ,Ascot came more into the game and the pace we had up front was causing the whippets defence all sorts of problems, a few breaks and couple of one on ones could quite easily have seen us draw level , but football can be cruel sometimes. From a missed chance that could have seen us at 2-1, Whippets went straight up the other end and scored, as described by Chris in the comms, an almighty goal mouth scramble, proper pinball with at least 4 to 5 saves and blocks the ball somehow found itself in the roof of the net. 3-0 at half-time.

Despite the scoreline there was a huge amount of positivity at half-time, we had caused them plenty of problems, we were competitive across the pitch and weren’t out of the game.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was all Ascot, repelling attacks and attacking at pace, Rich had two one on ones, just missing the post and the keeper saving the other and two penalty shouts that went unheard . Then on 60 minute Whippets get their 4th, against the run of play, a cross from the right and another header at the back post, could have done better on both the cross and the header. One of their players is overheard saying we needed that, testament to the pressure Ascot were putting them under.

However we were undeterred within 10 minutes we pulled a goal back, a neat reverse pass from Garyth to Alex and he is pulled down in the box, penalty to Ascot, neatly put away by Alex.

With 20 minutes to go we kept pushing, Scott hitting the crossbar and Islam acrobatic overhead kick from a cross just going wide.

The game finished 4-1 but Ascot can be proud of their efforts today. All the new and returning faces played fantastic, the whole team put in a shift in difficult conditions causing Whippet plenty of problems.

The last word goes to Rob Burton, soon to depart to Germany, but he has left every one with this memory. Ball is played down their left wing, Rob controls the ball with ease, but is faced by the on rushing forward, what does he do? Of course he nutmegs him and calls it 😎with the broadest smile you will ever see he then looks up and plays a perfect ball forward. Proper Teckers 🙂

Team : Eryk Nawala, Scott Brown, Rob Burton, Nigel Gatehouse, Darren Lewis (c), Adam Abusweder, Will Shackleton, Joe Warner, Alex Markarian, Garyth Brant, Rich Austin. Bench : Islam Hussein. Comms: Chris Watney. Scorer: Alex