Yellawomen rue missed chances as home record goes
Ascot United were left to rue missing a hatful of chances against Bridgwater United at The Racecourse On Sunday. The hosts, who had not been beaten in a home league game in over three-and-a-half years, drew blank for the third game on the trot and were ultimately undone by three second half goals.
Yellawomen look for return to winning ways after cup defeats
The National League South West Division has fast-become a bifurcated battle between the top three and the rest. Heavyweights Swindon, Bristol Rovers and Moneyfields already look set for a three-horse race for the title, meaning that the rest are realistically vying for fourth.
And, his was a match-up between fifth and fourth; a win for Ascot would see them leapfrog their Somerset opposition and provide a tonic after defeats in the league and FA Cup over the past two weekends.
Ascot on top in entertaining first half, but no way through
The home side were much improved after last weekend’s meagre display and visiting ‘keeper Charlotte Johnson was the busier of the two number-ones. Just six minutes in, Anais Harney’s neat control-and-release sent Kate Fox clear down the left, although Johnson was alert to her cheeky attempt to beat her at the near post from a tight angle
Bridgwater had their moments, and Cherry Preisner’s brave save at the feet of Beatriz Kretteis – who was clean through – kept her side in it as Zoe Watkins fired the loose ball wide through a crowded penalty area.
In an and-to-end affair, Fox did well to nick possession back in midfield and release Jacey Lane, although Lane’s shot to the near post was saved by the feet of Johnson; thirteen minutes played.
But it was Liv Glover who should have tested Johnson twice in as many minutes midway through the half, firstly scuffing her volley when unmarked after Darcey Maxted had turned Alice Curr’s free kick back to the far post, before blazing over when clean through following Fox’s wonderful defence-splitting pass.
The visitors carved out the final chance of the half, although Preisner saved bravely once again five minutes before the break before recovering quickly to keep out Watkins’s follow-up from an improbably tight angle.
Yellawomen rue missed chances as Robins run out winners
After the break, the visitors grew into the game and should have led when Aimee Kingdon wriggled her way through the home defence only to shoot straight at Preisner.
Ellie Bell’s left-footed shot then fizzed just wide of the top right-hand corner as United fired another warning shot to Ascot in the 55th minute, but it was a breakaway that led to their opener in the 63rd minute. Frustratingly, Ascot had been in the ascendancy and almost scored in a frantic goalmouth melee following a corner, but Bridgwater broke and Kretteis’s pace took her clear – substitute Anna Machado brought her down – and the same player got up to score the resultant penalty.
She might have added a second only to fluff her lines in front of Preisner with the goal at her mercy, but Abbie Carslake showed her how to do it by rifling a 77th minute drive into the roof of the net after latching onto a ball across the penalty area to make it 2-0.
Late-on, substitute Emily Nicholson’s cross bounced across the penalty box, bamboozled everyone including Preisner, and nestled in the bottom right to compound Ascot’s misery.
Despite using four substitutes, Ascot couldn’t muster a meaningful attempt and their record run went with a whimper.
Ascot United: Preisner, Curr (Delaney 57’), Cox, Wort, Kettle, Luscombe (Machado 57’), Glover (Goulden 70’), Fox, Harney, Maxted, Lane (Huntley 78’). Sub unused: Carter
Entertainment: 3
Reporter’s Star Player: Kate Fox (Ascot United) / Charlotte Johnson (Bridgwater United)
Attendance (estimate): 80 (10 away)