Tower Hamlets show bigger heart and soul
Ascot United’s Emirates FA Cup run is over after a dismal 4-1 defeat against Soul Tower Hamlets on Saturday. All of the damage was done in the first half where the hosts opened up a 3-0 lead, and whilst it was marginally better in the second half, the lower-tier London side are deservedly into the 2nd qualifying round.
Shambolic first half sees Ascot all-but-out
There were very few positive words that could be said about Ascot’s first-half display, which saw their cup hopes go up in smoke.
The home side had already served warning twice through Shermandin Artmeladze who saw Kie Plumley get down well to keep out his first effort after just 48 seconds, before the same player shot straight into Plumley’s hands in the seventh minute following sluggish defending.
But with Ascot looking as if they were running through treacle – on a dry, bobbly pitch – Ashaan Siddik capitalised and picked out Artmeladze following more poor defending, and he blasted home from close range at the second attempt.
At the other end, Khalid Simmo skied a speculative effort over from outside the box in the 21st minute when he probably should have gone out to options on the right wing, before Simmo raced onto Cass Fried-Jones’s through-ball, rounded ‘keeper Sidi Haidara, but was thwarted by the covering defence.
That was as good as it got for Ascot and after Plumley’s fine double save denied Joseph Gregory and Rian Patel in quick succession, the home side struck twice.
Firstly, Gregory’s shot on the turn found the bottom right to make it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark following Ascot’s failure to deal with a cross from the right, before Plumley stayed home when he should have claimed a hopeful punt forward into his six yard box a minute before the break; defender Keanu Hill nipping in to nod home number three.
Second half drawn – but not good enough
The second half was a more even affair and Vic Ocansey – again calling the shots with Gavin Smith still on vacation – made all four substitutions.
One of them, Rayon Atkinson, passed to Josh Edwards in the 55th minute, and Edwards’s heavy touch enabled Artmeladze to nip in, before blazing over.
But another substitute, Ibrahiim Sankoh, would tee up Ascot for a goal back in the 72nd minute when his pace carved out space for a shot from the right, and although Haidara saved it, Cheik Sylla was on hand to side-foot home the rebound.
Artmeladze dragged wide again as Hamlets sought a fourth, and with Ascot unable to set up a grandstand finale it was the home side who added a fourth in the eighth of ten added minutes when Plumley beat home substitute Joe Stevens’s shot away, before Rowan Larrington lashed home the rebound on the volley from distance.
It wasn’t great at all.
What’s next for Ascot?
Ascot United welcome Three Bridges to The Racecourse next weekend – and its Friday night under the lights with the fixture being played a day earlier than normal – as the Isuzu FA Trophy trail begins.
Ascot United: Plumley, Murray, Wallace, Edwards, Lamb, Allsopp, Dehghani (Sankoh 46’), Fried-Jones (Atkinson 46’), Sylla, Simmo (Trickett 54’), Bancroft (Garlinge 65’).
Venue: Mile End Stadium
Attendance (estimate): 120
Weather: 20c, overcast
Reporter’s star man: Shermadin Artmeladze (Soul Tower Hamlets) / Ascot MOM Cheik Sylla
Entertainment: 2
Away fans estimate: 13
One-word summary: Dismal