ASCOT FIGHT BACK TO WIN IN LEAGUE CUP

Yellamen triumph 3-2 against South Park

Ascot United fought back from a goal down to beat South Park (Reigate) 3-2 in the league cup first round on Tuesday evening. The Yellamen were good value for their win – scoring three times between visitors’ goals at the start and end of the match – on a night when Kie Plumley made his 50^th appearance for the home side.

Interesting match-up even if early league cup interest offers, well, little interest

Visitors South Park arrived in good form – 2^nd in the South East section of the Isthmian League – in contrast to Ascot’s struggles at the wrong end of the South Central Division.

With International Football on the TV and very little interest in the early rounds of the league cup, the crowd was sparse, but a chance of silverware and match practice is never to be overlooked.

First half ends all square

Ascot named their 39^th different player of the campaign in their starting line-up – Josh Bassey – but sadly for him he would slice past Plumley for a sixth-minute own-goal to give The Sparks an early lead.

After that, Ascot created most of the chances and Fope Deru stung visiting ‘keeper Baldwin Kaluya’s palms in the 15^th minute.

And, after Babs Dehghani and Deru were fouled in quick succession, Hani Berchiche stepped up from the resultant free-kick to curl a wonderful free-kick over the wall and into the net off the underside of the crossbar three minutes later.

Deru should have converted Larry Omoregie’s ball to the far post in the 23^rd minute but scuffed his side-footed attempt; after that chance it was fairly even, and level at half-time.

Hani does it again as Yellas triumph

After the break, Plumley came good again with a fine save to deny Alex Body in the 58^th minute, and this teed up an immediate counter-attack from which Omoregie cracked a fine, curling effort around Kaluya and into the right-hand corner.

But when Berchiche had the chance to make it 3-1 from a similar free-kick position in the 71^st minute, he didn’t disappoint. Arguably, it was a more difficult chance given the wait-time, but the result was the same – an almost-nonchalant left-footed free-kick over the wall and lower down into the right hand corner.

Jamie Gallon made it interesting in the 86^th minute with a smart finish across Plumley to cut the deficit to 3-2, before Plumley saved his best save till last, getting low down to a thumping 90^th minute effort and send his side through to a second-round tie against Kingstonian.

Ascot United: Plumley, Brobbey, Richardson (Rohart-Brown 53’), Dandy (Mboge 46’) Deru (Clarke-Salter 46’), Bassey, Bullard-Jeffrey, Omoregie (Long 72’), Berchiche, Dehghani (Amiri 61’), Tomlinson.

Venue: The Racecourse, Ascot

Attendance: 62

Weather: 20c, cloudy

Ascot United MOM: Hani Berchiche

Entertainment: 3

Away fans estimate: 10

One-word summary: Composed