Ascot United will put the delight of their County Cup Semi Final pairing with Wycombe Wanderers to one side as they welcome Virginia Water to The Racecourse on Saturday (3pm). Online programme, including roundups from Jamie, Simon and the U18s and Ladies’ sections, is now available here.
The league encounter is the first between the two sides this season, and sees The Yellamen going for an unprecedented 10th consecutive victory against a side scrapping for points at the wrong end of the table.
That said, home manager Jamie Tompkins was quick to point out in this week’s program notes that Ceri Jones’s side have twice beaten promotion hopefuls Abbey Rangers this season, and hammered Edgware Town 5-1 last weekend.
Ascot have also welcomed back Elliot Carey and Kai Walters into the squad – Carey coming on as a substitute in the midweek win over Burnham for this 51st appearance in Yellow and Blue – with Walters also re-signing after a spell at Chalfont St Peter. The Yellamen also recorded back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season, in part due to Sam Gray’s fine saves in each half.
This weekend’s fixtures are here and includes Abbey Rangers’ trip to Burnham and Southall’s match at Windsor FC.
Details of Ascot’s home county cup semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers will be finalized later although is expected to be played later in March or early April. The semi-final draw, which was made on Thursday, also sees MK Dons travel to the winners of the to-be-played Quarter final tie between Chesham United and Reading FC.
This weekend is also a massive one for three of our ladies’ sides, all of them kicking off on Sunday.
In Hampshire, Ascot United Ladies know that victory in the final game of the season at Eastleigh in the Community will guarantee them a record 3rd place in the Southern Region Women’s football league; any other result and they’ll likely be overtaken by Eastleigh who have 2 games in hand. Meanwhile, the equally big clash comes at The Racecourse where the script couldn’t be written any better as Ascot United Ladies Reserves play 2nd-placed Ruislip Rangers knowing that one point will be enough for them to be crowned TVL3E league champions.
Ascot Men’s first team manager Tompkins was amongst a host of club staff sending their best wishes to both teams via this week’s programme, saying “good luck to our ladies first team and reserves this weekend! It has been a brilliant season for both teams, an almost-certain league title for the reserves and a potential record high finish for the first team so we will look to draw inspiration from this.”
And if all that isn’t enough, what about Ascot United U16 Diamonds versus Crystal Palace in the U16s Surrey County Cup Final in Dorking?! If only the 3 games didn’t all kick off at the same time!
Finally the Ascot United U14’s Boys are in the Berks and Bucks [U14] Cup Final against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos on Sunday morning; kick off is at 10:30am at Hithercroft, AFC Wallingford (OX10 0PL).
