Ascot Diamonds continues to enjoy an outstanding season as the latest conquest was a penalty kick shootout against Bracknell Wolves in the Quarter finals of the Cup.
1-1 at Full time against the Division 1 league leaders was some effort in itself and three sublime penalty kicks by firstly Holly McFarlane, Tabitha Martin and then Macy Sealy in sudden death saw the junior yellas advance 3-2 at the expense of Bracknell Wolves
In a very competitive encounter played at the Marist School grounds, It was in the 24th minute Wolves won another corner and from a great delivery, Lily the Wolves defender, into the Ascot area, struck a wonderful ball that curled into the top corner leaving goal keeper Hanna Richards with no chance of saving it. It was a magnificent strike and a goal that you must accept no one was going to stop.
1 NIL to Bracknell Wolves and it was on the run of play a well-earned reward for the steady build up of pressure they had been applying to Ascot for this passage of play.
Half time with the Diamonds trailing the Wolves by 1 goal to NIL. All still to play for in a tough game where there was still only one goal in it.
In the 42nd minute Hanna Richards made another big kick out to the left wing and Alexa Crittenden with a lot of work to do accepted the challenge and neatly trapped the ball charged past the challenge and cut in on the corner flag before seeing the Wolves defender coming to make the tackle, Alexa put her laces through the ball and it hit the back of the net. A stunning solo effort yet again by the Diamonds flying winger to……………………………hold on goal ruled out as the very neat trap of the ball went upstairs to VAR and the ball was ruled to have gone over the line at that point meaning the goal wouldn’t stand. It was short lived jubilation but it was another attack on the Wolves defence which remained under real pressure from the Diamonds.
In the 44th minute, Wolves now under siege from Diamonds who were taking control of this passage of play saw Phoebe Thomas always energetic and always willing to take on any challenge drove down the wing past one challenge only to be met by another crunching tackle…….but Phoebe still managed to get the ball to go forward and get past that challenge to send the ball forward towards the goal where the keeper struggling to reach the ball never really did more than finger tip parry the ball where Hollie Lake alert and ready needed no second invitation to squeeze the ball past the keeper to equalise for the Diamonds. Goal this time and a very neat finish by Hollie on the back of a herculean effort by Phoebe to provide the assist.
This was also the 50th goal of the season for the Diamonds in open play this year
One apeice and game on with 27 minutes of open play to go and this is where it finished at full time, hence straight to penalties
The rest was history as the Diamonds have extended their winning streak to 10 games having not lost a game since November 1st, 2025