Yellamen beat Badshot Lea 4-0 on road
Ascot United scored twice in each half as they eased to victory over Badshot Lea on Boxing Day Thursday. The Yellamen, who have now gone ten games without defeat, broke the hosts’ gritty resolve towards the end of the first half, before producing a professional second half display to extend their sequence on what was an increasingly heavy pitch.
Lowly ‘Lea take on play-off chasing Yellamen
The home side came into the game with just one league win from their twenty matches – a streak that put them eleven points from safety at kick-off – and now they faced an Ascot side seeking to extend their own run of nine games undefeated in all competitions.
In came Ollie Lahtinen-Kalsi, George Butler, Aiden Payne-James and former Baggies’ striker Harvey Harry; Sean Fraser and Ben Harris on the bench with Taylor Morgan (shoulder) and Nathan Jones (unwell) missing out in four changes to the side that drew at Farnham before Christmas.
Boss Tompkins promises attacking display
Manager Jamie Tompkins had spoken ahead of kick-off of his side’s desire to go on the attack – and attack they duly did in the early stages – until Tompkins was forced to make an early change when Anas Igozouln limped off in the thirteenth minute.
His replacement – Harris – would have a huge impact, but only after both sides had exchanged chances in a well-balanced first half.
Ascot were first to show when Payne-James side-footed over on the volley from Harris’s floated delivery to the far post in what was a difficult chance, before The Baggies’ best players – Finlay Evans and Charlie George – linked up at the other end only for the former to side-foot wide when initially loitering in acres of space.
Mark Scott then got down well to parry George’s awkward, bouncing effort around a post as the hosts threatened once again, but opposite number Harry Cawdron did well to keep Chad Goulter’s downward header out in the 34th minute after Goulter had initially been fouled and Harry Grant had swung in the resultant free-kick.
Scott saves again before Ben’s brilliance
But with the first half ticking away and the hosts having just seen Scott make a smart double save from Evans and then George in quick succession – the Ascot number one standing up well to deny them – it was stage set for Harris.
Firstly, he capped a fine move five minutes before the break when Payne-James sprung the offside trap racing onto Khalid Simmo’s pass; Harris anticipating Payne-James’s assist before blasting into the roof of the net from a narrow angle.
And, with seconds of regulation time remaining, his sublime backheel on the left enabled Harvey Harry to run through the home defence, and he showed great feet in drifting across the edge of the penalty area before slotting into the bottom left; a good time to score his first goal for his club.
“And it’s goodnight from him” as PJ scores early-on
Any hopes that the hosts harboured of turning the game around were all-but-extinguished just over two minutes into the second period. Payne-James, who was unanimously the travelling supporters’ man-of-the-match, decided to go it alone from the right wing early-on, beating his marker before lashing a fierce drive in at the near post from a tight angle.
Scott would save again from Evans once again just before the hour mark – confidently parrying and claiming what was a thumping effort – before Harris was himself substituted and Ollie Mason made a welcome return from injury; George Lock on for the former and Josh Edwards off for the latter.
The Baggies’ last meaningful attempt saw Joe Lewis unable to react quickly enough to substitute Baback Deghani’s powerful cross from the left; Lewis only able to bundle the ball straight at a gleeful Scott.
No Harv measures from Harry
But it was otherwise all Ascot who almost made it four in the move of the half. With 75 minutes played, Simmo kickstarted affairs in midfield, Harry flicked the ball out to Holland, and Holland raced down to the right-wing by-line and cut the ball back for Harry to fire first-time onto the right-hand post; it would have been some goal had it been an inch-or-so to the left.
Indeed, Harry was a constant threat against his former side, and his exquisite backheel opened up space for Holland to send a rasping effort over eight minutes from time.
But when Payne-James slid the ball out to Simmo on the left with four minutes remaining, the tricky winger showed too much skill for a tiring defence; cutting the ball back for Harry to help the ball on for Lock, who converted at the far post to complete the scoring.
There was even time for young Sam Swyer to come off the bench and replace Scott in goal; his time will also surely come.
Yellamen well backed on road once again
The Yellamen exited the Operatix Stadium pitch to the appreciation of their travelling support (pictured), who once again turned out in numbers to back their team on the road. Much credit also goes to them for representing around one-third of the festive crowd of 167.
What’s next for Ascot?
The Yellamen return home in two days for the visit of lowly South Park Reigate on Saturday, before Binfield are the visitors in the New Year’s Day derby.
Ascot United: Scott (Swyer 89’), Lahtinen-Kalsi, Butler, Goulter, Edwards (Mason 68’), Simmo, Grant, Holland, Harry, Igozouln (Harris 13’ (Lock 59’)), Payne-James. Sub unused: Fraser
Entertainment: 4
Reporter’s Star Man: Aiden Payne-James (Ascot United)
Away fans (estimate): 50