Yellamen beat RB Kensington 3-1
Ascot United warmed up for Saturday’s FA Vase 5th round tie at Bridgwater United with a comfortable 3-1 against step-six outfit Rising Ballers Kensington in the Combined Counties League Cup on Tuesday evening. The Yellamen were in control throughout, but the visitors battled gamely and grabbed a deserved late consolation.
Manager Jamie Tompkins used this as an opportunity to shuffle his pack with sixteen-year old Luke Phillips stepping up from the Allied Under 18 side and Jake Pandhor later introduced as a substitute.
The visitors, plying their trade one step lower than Ascot in Division One of the Combined Counties League came into the game just outside the play-offs having lost just four league games all season and eyeing a shock against their Premier Division hosts; themselves unbeaten in 20 matches.
The Yellamen were in total control of the first half and defender Louis Bouwers almost headed them into a twelfth minute lead when he stayed high following a corner; Phillips involved earlier on as Bouwers’ header was well tipped away by visiting ‘keeper Mihai Rotar.
But Phillips would cap his debut with a goal soon after when he was in the right place at the right time to anticipate the pieces after Marcus Mealing’s 16th minute free-kick struck the visitors’ defensive wall; Phillips gleefully tucking home with his right foot (pictured, shooting-stars.co.uk).
Phillips then caught the eye with left wing trickery and a cheeky back-heel as Ascot pressed again, but they would wait until the 41st minute to double their lead. And, it came from the recently prolific source of defender Dan Bailey, who reacted first when Chris Ellis’s throw-in was only half-cleared; the big defender finding the net with the outside of his boot through a crowded penalty area for this third goal in three games and Ascot’s 100th goal of the season.
After the break, home debutant Sam Negus made a smart save to deny Ezekiel William’s snap-shot for the visitors, before clawing away the resultant loose ball.
But Ascot would soon add a third when Calam Gallimore rose highest to glance home Ellis’s throw-in with his head in the 69th minute.
They almost added a fourth when Phillips stung Rotar’s palms with George Lock unable to convert the rebound, before Mealing saw a shot deflected wide.
At the other end, Jermaine Heron shot straight into Negus’s arms, but substitute Mohamed Ihid grabbed a late consolation when he side-footed home after Negus had produced a fine save just before.
But after making it 21 games without defeat, all roads now lead West for The Yellamen as they look forward to Saturday.
Ascot United: Negus, Bouwers, Bailey, Mealing, Phillips, Gray (Lock 77’), Gallimore, Walters (Pandhor 70’), Palmer (Matthew 77’), Ellis, Balogun (Welch 77’).