Beth’s brace earns 2-1 win
Ascot United Women opened up more daylight at the top of the Southern Region Women’s Football League with victory over Wycombe Wanderers Women on Sunday afternoon. Beth Lloyd’s double put Ascot in control, and although Wycombe scored a 95th minute consolation, it was a deserved victory for Andy Cox’s side.
Title trail pits challengers together
This was the reverse fixture to that which both sides drew 2-2 earlier in the season, and with Wanderers eight points behind leaders Ascot and with a game in hand, a positive result for either side could prove to be pivotal in the title race. And, with second-placed Oxford City’s game falling foul of the weather, the home side knew a win would put them nine points clear at the top.
Ascot edge tight first half
The home side were in decent form in the first half and almost led after fifteen minutes when Leah Littlechild did well to keep the ball in play on the right before cutting the ball back for Beth Lloyd, whose first time shot was saved by Amber Taylor.
Kate Fox then tried her luck from distance barely a minute later and found the top of the crossbar, before Ascot took a 23rd minute lead in fine style. The time, Littlechild’s raking pass picked out Liv Glover on the left, Glover cut the ball back for Lloyd, and she picked her spot with a sublime, looping lob into the right-hand corner.
Charlie Torry fired over for Ascot just after the half hour mark, but the hosts could not add to their half time advantage.
Donnellan denies Wanderers who have chances of their own
The visitors were, however, not without chances of their own in the first half, and just before Lloyd’s strike, home ‘keeper Chloe Donnellan’s brave interception – racing from her line to block at the feet of Kayla Potter – kept it goalless. Donnellan then repeated the trick just after Torry’s effort for Ascot, this time racing out of her area to thwart Jess Watkins, before watching Potter fire the loose ball over her crossbar.
Wycombe also produced a decent move of their own when Ellen Wordlaw showed great strength to plough through Georgia Luckhurst-McCord’s tackle, picked out Emani Kassem, Kassem then released Watkins on the right to swing in a dangerous cross, which Danielle Puddefoot fired straight at Donnellan after the ball had broken to her just inside the area.
Second half takes 25 minutes to get going
The second half was initially a slow burner until Puddefoot fluffed her lines with a free header midway through the half when attempting to convert Bobby Lynch’s free kick.
At the other end, Lloyd skimmed the outside of an upright after Fox had won back possession and teed her up, but after starlet Alice Balaam had earlier come off the bench for Ascot – just as she had done one week earlier to good effect – there was a new threat on the right.
And, Balaam’s delicious, raking pass in the 82nd minute found Glover on the opposition flank, Glover crossed for Lloyd, and Lloyd tricked her way through a challenge before punting the ball into the top right.
The visitors threatened to set up a grandstand finale in the fifth minute of added time when Potter drilled home after a through ball had bounced off the back of the unfortunate Erin Huntley and dropped nicely for the shot, but Ascot saw out the remaining four minutes to move nine points clear of both Portchester and Oxford City.
What’s next for Ascot?
The Yellawomen have a blank Sunday next weekend before making the short trip to Woodley United in a fortnight – United still lurking in fifth with games in hand – but whom Ascot have already beaten three times in league and cup outings this season.
Ascot United: Donellan, Luckhurst-McCord, Todd, Torry, Drage, Huntley, Holden, Fox, Littlechild, Lloyd, Glover. Subs (used): Balaam, Kjaer, L. Robertson. Subs (unused): Mitchell, Doyle
Entertainment: 4
Reporter’s Star Player: Beth Lloyd (Ascot United)
Attendance (estimate): 100
Scorers: AUFC: Lloyd (23’, 82’), WWFC: Potter (90+5’)