Dead-rubber for both sides before Player of Season Awards
Ascot United will look to round-off a successful end-of-season when they face already-relegated Met Police on Saturday (3pm).
Manager Gavin Smith writes in his programme notes that a few weeks ago they were looking at Saturday’s game as being a crucial one in deciding who stayed up, but his side’s stellar run-in has propelled them away from danger to a position where they could even finish 15th and nine points above the drop zone.
This week’s online matchday programme is here, and rammed with stuff. If you want to know who is in contention for Supporters’ Player of the Season, take a look! It’ll all be revealed in the Ascot Sports Bar after the game. Also, there are extensive notes from the usuals, plus a fantastic 4-page NLP column succinctly summarising what’s happening across the pyramid as the season draws to a close.
As for our opposition this weekend, Met Police will, however, bemoan a miserable run-in where they conceded a 96th minute equaliser against Hartley Wintney on April 4th, a 93rd minute equaliser against Leatherhead on April 6th, and then led Bedfont Sports 2-1 with 13 minutes to go on April 11th before losing 3-2 in the 95th minute. Those injury time goals cost them 5 points, and would have left them in contention to stay up. Losing from a winning position against already-relegated Fareham last weekend was the final salt in the wounds, and they will drop to Step five for the first time since the old four-tier Isthmian League was restructured 25 years ago. Best wishes to them.
On Sunday, it’s third-time lucky for Ascot United Women who round off their inaugural National League South West campaign with the long trip to Marine Academy Plymouth.. Early in the season, they set off early and got as far as Chieveley Services before learning the match was postponed. Then, in December, they got all the way down there to find the game was postponed at the eleventh-hour despite the pitch being given a green light before they set off at 8am. On Sunday, if there is any waterlogging then something is very wrong!!! Either way, it’s been a fine debut season for Andy Cox’s side, who added the County Cup to their trophy cabinet.
There will be one last dance with the proverbial parchment paper and quill on Saturday evening. It’s been a blast! UTY’s!
Image is livewire David Oupoh (shooting-stars.co.uk)