Yellamen are now just two points above safety
Free-falling Ascot United slipped to another defeat, this time against in-form AFC Portchester on Saturday. The visitors were two goals up at the break and coasting, but a late wonder-strike from home substitute Tyrone Shiham gave them hope, only for the Hampshire side to hold on to record a double and maintain their own impressive run.
Match-up between sides with polar-opposite form
Ordinarily, 18 points from six matches is something to be proud of – and indeed these two sides had that – albeit aggregated, with Portchy boasting 16 of them and Ascot with a meagre two.
Ominously, the visitors had dismantled promotion hopefuls Hayes and Yeading 5-0 one week earlier; maybe something in the home side’s favour would be little expectation and try to go out and enjoy it.
Ascot had made something of a habit of welcoming new faces to their ranks in recent weeks, but their latest arrival was of a smaller kind; a second child for assistant manager Vic Ocansey and his partner one week earlier. Also into the squad went debutants Henry Mott up front, with Shiham on the bench.
A lovely day on lovers’ day
Mercifully, the sun finally found its way through after the deluge of rain in recent weeks, although there was little cheer for the home faithful who watched their side go 1-0 down in the eleventh minute before conceding another just before half time.
The first came following a long throw-in from the right – Jack Lee the deliverer – and although striker Alfie Stanley’s shot was deflected past a helpless Kie Plumley, he was given too much space on the edge of the box.
Ascot huffed and puffed but their only real chance came when Kai Allsopp pounced to regain possession in midfield, threaded the ball through to Jaheim Kamara, and although he couldn’t get his shot away, Tyrese Osbourne did, only to see it blocked.
But having looked like they might go in at half time with just a one-goal deficit, the home side fell further behind in the 41st minute when Rob Taw’s pass picked out Lee Wort, Wort got goal-side of a struggling Luis Le Paih, and then buried a low shot past Plumley.
Stale second half
The second half was a virtual non-event in terms of chances, although Shiham came off the bench to good effect and almost lobbed visiting ‘keeper Cameron Scott in the 83rd minute, only to slice his effort before seeing the ball cleared.
Shiham did, however, score the goal of the game two minutes later with a superb first-time volley after fellow substitute Harvey Harry had hooked the ball into his path, but there was no grandstand finale and it was Josh Clack who went closest for the visitors later-on with a shot that flashed across Plumley and wide for a corner.
Results elsewhere – including a win for Binfield – sees Ascot teetering on the brink just two points above the drop, making this week’s trip to Southall, a match being played at Bedfont Sports, a must-win.
Ascot United: Plumley, Sankoh, Murray, Fraser, Le Paih (Stewart 62’), Allsopp (Shiham 70’), Oupoh, Dehghani, Mott (Harry 74’), Osbourne (Traore 70’), Kamara (Gody 56’).
Venue: The Racecourse, Ascot
Attendance: 174
Weather: 6c, partly sunny
Ascot United MOM: TBC
Entertainment: 2
Away fans estimate: 40
One-word summary: Stale
Image is Baback Dehghani trying to get through a resolute visiting defence (shooting-stars.co.uk)