Yellawomen edge out strugglers 1-0
“It’s the result that counts” is the old adage as Ascot United Women laboured to three points on the road at winless Badshot Lea Women on Sunday afternoon. In a desperately poor spectacle, Kate Fox’s first half strike was enough for Andy Cox’s men to repeat the scoreline from the reverse fixture, which was also a dour affair.
Chance to move eight points clear at the top
With second-placed Wycombe Wanderers not in action, a win would take Ascot eight points clear at the top of the table with four games remaining.
Manager Andy Cox made three changes to the side which beat Sholing a week earlier; Sophie Allen back between the sticks, Jess Drage handed a start and Leah Robertson all in, with Jodie Gray-Piazza, Ella Rowntree and Liv Glover making way – the latter a late change due to a glute injury.
Yellawomen toil on difficult surface
The Baggies’ dustbowl of a pitch made for a disjointed affair with the ball bobbling and bouncing, and it took the visitors 15 minutes to carve out a meaningful chance when Drage’s goal-bound header from Fox’s corner cannoned back off a defender.
Beth Lloyd then drilled over from a tight angle after Alix Todd had picked her out at the far post and Fox repeated the feat from an almost identical position soon afterwards, but the home side held on.
And, they were not without chances of their own as Deanna Taylor’s header from Eleanor Chambers’ 35th minute corner looped over before Allen produced an excellent save to tip Holly Montgomery’s booming free kick over the bar four minutes before the break.
But, in between those chances, Ascot carved out what would be a slender half time lead in a moment of quality. Lloyd picked the ball up near the edge of the area and showed great vision to carve open the hosts’ defence with a diagonal ball, and Fox nipped onto it before side footing across home ‘keeper Christina Binyon and into the bottom right.
Poor second half for paltry crowd
Despite the sunshine, the match attracted a meagre attendance of around 25, although to their credit the travelling fans did outnumber their hosts’ support.
The only two chances of a dour period came within a minute of each other midway through the half when Bella Cox’s delivery ended with Fox taking aim only to see her effect deflect over for a corner, before Leah Littlechild took aim from distance which faded high and wide of the left hand upright.
There was little else of note, although when Kezia Banduka came off the bench, she joined compatriots Erin Huntley and Fox on the pitch; the trio had helped lead Stuart Connor’s U18’s to the Women’s Junior Premier League title just over 24 hours earlier.
And on that high note, we’ll leave it there.
What’s next for Ascot?
The Yellawomen’s league cup semi-final tie looms next weekend with the visit of AFC Portchester, and when their title assault resumes afterwards that they know that three of their final four league games are at home and they would mathematically become champions by winning two of them. If they win at Woodley on 30th March, then the home game against Selsey on 6th April might just be top of the Bill.
Ascot United: Allen, Drage, Todd, Huntley, Torry, Holden, Robertson, Fox, Littlechild, Lloyd, Cox. Subs (all used): Couzens, Kjaer, Ward, Banduka
Entertainment: 1
Reporter’s Star Player: Kate Fox (Ascot United)
Attendance (estimate): 25 (15 away)