Four-nil win for Yellamen in Jamie Tompkins’ 200th game
Ascot United marked manager Jamie Tompkins’ 200th game in charge (pictured, shooting-stars.co.uk) by romping to victory over Little Common in the Isuzu FA Vase 4th round on Saturday. Brendan Matthew bagged a hat-trick and Marcus Mealing added another as The Yellamen won 4-0 to make it twelve wins on the trot.
The Yellamen had comfortably beaten Southern Combination league leaders Broadbridge Heath in the second round, so when the third round draw paired them with their mid-table rivals, expectations for another passage were high.
As it transpired, the first half was high on energy but low on goals – just the one separated the sides at the break when Matthew’s brilliant first touch from Kai Walters’ lofted pass teed himself up to lob over impressive ‘keeper Matt Cruttwell; 20 minutes played.
Cruttwell had earlier saved from Matthew’s shot before Sean McCormack fired the rebound over, and he later stood up well to deny Harry Grant when clean through, but could do nothing about Matthew’s goal amidst a frenzy of Ascot chances.
But the Bexhill-on-Sea outfit had bagged a staggering 39 games in their past ten matches in a fine run of form, so it came as no surprise that they threatened Jamie Ashdown’s goal. Early in the game Sam Ellis’s effort fell to Jamie Bunn whose own shot deflected over, and Ashdown got down to save Freddie Warren’s low effort shortly before the break, although just before that effort they were indebted to defender Lewis Parson who hacked off the line at the other end when Grant’s corner looked destined for the net via a deflection.
Early in the second half, Usman Lalustani’s industry earned his side a corner, and after substitute Louis Bouwers – on for Alfie Grant in the first half – had made a nuisance of himself in the box, Matthew was on hand to squeeze home at the far post.
At the other end Ashdown was alert to push Lewis Hole’s effort away, but it was effectively game over on the hour mark when Matthew tucked home a penalty to make it 3-0 after initially being pushed in the box.
Substitute James Miriam-Baker became the last visiting player to be denied by the imperious Ashdown, before Mealing drilled home from the edge of the box to make it 4-0, rewarding Kai Walters’ industry in the build-up.
The Yellamen will learn their fourth-round opponents on Monday, 24 hours before they travel to fellow pace-setters Reading City in the league.
Ascot United: Ashdown, Lock, Gerrard, Ajanlekoko (Welch 75’), A. Grant (Bouwers 26’), Tucker, McCormack, H. Grant, Walters, Matthew (Mealing 64’), Lalustani. Subs unused: Thompson, Gray, Docherty, August, Gallimore
