Croxley Community 1st XI Veterans v Ascot United 2nd X1 Veterans

Report

8 October 2022

Croxley Community Vets’ 1st XI  5 – 3 Ascot United Vets’ 2ndXI

WLVFL League Cup (Preliminary Round)

Ascot United Vets 2nd XI met Croxley 1st from the Premier League and were 3-3 going into the final few minutes with a giant killing display but in the end were defeated 5-3.

The gaffer’s team talk focused on getting the basics right but the strategy was unpinned after 3 minutes when Croxley broke free onto a through ball to slot past Lee. It looked offside but that depended on whether your eye followed the Ascot back four or the irrigation channels which were cut 2 metres apart but at 45o to the half way line! Croxley went 2-0 up after 11 mins – this time a low cross driven in from Croxley’s right which was turned in by an Ascot defender for an OG.

Before the dust settled, Ascot scored on 12 mins, a towering header from Laurence back across the box from a corner which was met with an equally towering header from Jez and into the net 2-1. Ascot were roaring into life with a lot of good play running through Rob B and Mickey P in the middle. The pressure paid off, Adam A firing in a close range shot which was parried by the Croxley keeper but onto Jez’s boot to slot home, 2-2 and all square after 25 mins.

Croxley continued to probe often electing the long ball but this was easy pickings for Laurence who was dominant and ably complemented by DP, Daz and John H in defence. The ‘yellow wall’ was breached on 41 mins, again a low driven cross which caused some hesitation in defence and allowed the Croxley striker to poke the ball in from short range, 3-2. On 44 minutes Ben Sp ran smartly onto a channel ball and slotted home – he looked on-side but those irrigation channels were causing havoc again and he was judged offside, 3-2 HT.

Ascot played up the slope second half and found themselves defending a little deeper. The score line remained 3-2 with neither side taking advantage. On 72 mins, Ascot had a player sinbinned after a sarcastic remark (!) and had to really dig in for ten minutes. Steve Hill joined the party and with eleven players back on the pitch, Stu found space and played a nicely weighted pass through Croxley’s defence and onto Ben Spence’s well timed run. Croxley screamed offside but the irrigation channels played in Ascot’s favour this time and he was judged on side and neatly lofted the ball over the keeper from 25 yards, 3-3. Ascot nearly went ahead on 84 minutes, this time Adam playing Ben in but this time his shot went wide of the post. So very close. Croxley scored on 87 mins after a goal mouth scramble, then another on 88 minutes to finally sink the Yellamen, 5-3 FT.

Team:

Adam Perry, John Heard, Dave Porter, Laurence Munns, Darren Lewis, John Gavin, Micky Parker, Rob Burton, Adam Abusweder, Ben Spence, Jez Myhan, Stu Flurry and Steve Hill