Hungerford triumph 3-2 in see-saw encounter
Ascot United twice led before being edged out by Hungerford Town in the last sixteen of the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup on Tuesday evening. In an entertaining affair, all of the goals came within sixteen second-half minutes, as Ascot’s thirteen-game unbeaten run came to an end.
County Cup Magic to wander back to Racecourse?
It was just under three years since Ascot United saw off a star-studded Wycombe Wanderers side at the semi-final stage in 2022 – a club record attendance 1,267 turned up that night – and with MK Dons lying in wait for the winners of this tie, the prospect of another EFL test was a worthy carrot for both sides.
Standing in their way was Hungerford Town – a National League (South) side until two seasons ago – and even now at the step-three Southern League Premier (South) they arrived with plenty of pedigree, despite sitting just above the drop zone with just six league wins all season.
Connor Holland’s return from the head injury sustained between Christmas and New Year was a welcome sight, and he came back into the starting line-up alongside Khalid Simmo; Josh Edwards and Ben Harris making way for them from the team that had beaten Ashford three days earlier.
Entertaining first sees Ascot start well
In a thoroughly enjoyable first half, the home side showed every but their intent with an energetic, quick-passing display that would leave the neutral uncertain as to who were the higher-ranked side.
Harvey Harry was first to threaten, and came within a whisker of giving the hosts a sixth minute lead when he drove forwards, beat a couple of defenders, and cracked a shot onto the inside of the left-hand post before Hungerford scrambled the loose ball clear.
Simmo then fired over the crossbar first-time after Aiden Payne-James had laid the ball off following a decent move two minutes later, although Harry should have given his side a fifteenth minute lead only to fire straight at visiting ‘keeper Ryan Clarke when one-on-one after initially robbing a defender before racing clear.
Crusaders have their moments too
However, the visitors were not without their chances, and it took two moments of brilliance from home ‘keeper Mark Scott to keep his side in the hunt. The first – nineteen minutes in – came via a decent low save to tip Jose Marquez’s effort away, but the latter was a quite brilliant save to tip Baboucarr Jarra’s close-range header over the bar; stretching out a hand when travelling in the opposite direction to tip the defender’s powerful effort over the bar three minutes before the break.
The Yellamen then defended a flurry of ensuring corners to keep it scoreless at the break.
Mad second half sees visitors twice come from behind
In a breathless sixteen-minute spell after the restart, all five goals were scored, and first blood went to Ascot in the 55th of them. Payne-James picked out Holland on the right, and his low cross was smashed home first-time by Simmo.
However, the hosts’ lead lasted just three minutes when Scott spilt Anthony Dwyer’s powerful free-kick, and Marquez reacted quickly to fire home the rebound.
The madness continued in the 63rd minute amidst a trainwreck of officiating; Ascot were awarded a penalty when Simmo was adjudged to have been fouled by Clarke – although whether he – or Payne-James in the build-up – were fouled was highly questionable, and surely if it was a foul then a red card should have been brandished for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
But Igozouln would hammer home the resultant spot-kick before another three minutes passed when visiting substitute Louie Paget smashed home from long-range to level matters once again, and at this point the game was there for either side to take at 2-2.
As it was, the visitors took their chance and when Jordan Rose picked out Anthony Dwyer with a raking pass over the defence, Dwyer made no mistake with a brilliant finish across Scott and into the bottom right.
Simmo almost levelled matters again with a low shot well held by Clarke, although Scott still needed to be alert at the other end to keep out Dwyer’s low effort in the closing stages as Hungerford sought a fourth.
What’s next for Ascot?
Ascot United stay at home this Saturday for a first meeting of the season with Hanworth Villa.
Ascot United: Scott, Goulter, Jones (Mason 67’), Gater, Fraser (Butler 65’), Simmo, Igozouln, Grant, Harry (Harris 78’), Holland, Payne-James (Lock 67’). Sub unused: Swyer,
Entertainment: 4
Reporter’s Star Man: Anthony Dwyer (Hungerford Town)
Away fans (estimate): 30