Eagles capitalise on error-strewn hosts
Ascot United impressed before seeing their defensive frailties exposed as Bedfont Sports beat them 3-1 on Saturday. After a first half where Ascot could have led 4-1 but trailed 1-0, they levelled, only to be quickly undone leaving their season further spiralling into decay.
Struggling Yellamen must start taking points soon
October had been a forgettable month around The Racecourse with the home faithful enjoying just one win which came in the County Cup; you have to go back to the end of September when Ascot last won a league game before a miserable haul of just one point from an available 21 stretching into early November.
But there is always hope and optimism; a win might take them out of the drop zone and The visiting Eagles were only eight points above them at kick-off having played a game more.
Perhaps this was the day the sequence would be arrested…
Ascot spurn glut of chances and trail at break
The Yellamen were full of intensity and endeavour, creating – and spurning – a succession of opportunities.
In the third minute, the lively Fope Deru played William Bratvedt in, and his shot was deflected and well-saved by Tyler Tobin.
Deru himself saw a shot deflect wide after fashioning his own chance, before Tobin saved well from Andrio Brandao’s low shot after Bratvedt had held the ball up well and teed him up.
At the other end, Sports looked most likely to breach Ascot’s line down the left, with Ben Parkinson having a nightmare at right-back, although it was a long throw-in from the other flank that almost led to an opener for the visitors, only for Jack Timberlake to nod wide.
But when Timberlake easily ghosted past his marker on the right wing and crossed for Adam Green, Sports took the lead, as Green thumped the ball home first-time from distance; 28 minutes played.
Both Parkinson and Connor Richardson fired over as Ascot’s shot count ticked on, before Bratvedt turned and hooked a right-footed volley across Tobin and agonisingly wide five minutes before the break.
Yellamen level before imploding
In a more even second half, Ascot levelled within three minutes of the restart when Parkinson did well down the right, crossed for Bradvedt, and he beat Tobin with a neat improvised drag-back with the inside of his boot.
But the parity lasted just three minutes when substitute Bailey Neil-Gray was left totally unmarked – on the left once again – and he somehow slotted across Plumley and into the bottom right from an improbably tight angle.
Plumley saved well from O’Neill’s first-time thunderbolt soon after, but when they made a total hash of attempting to clear another long throw-in, Joe Waight tapped in at the far post in the 65th minute to make it 3-1.
From that point there was no way back and the game petered out, much like Ascot’s season is doing.
Ascot United: Plumley, Parkinson, Schutter, Richardson, Deru, Allsopp, Brandao, Long, Allsopp, Uzor, Wilson. Subs (all used): Mboge, Adaje, Berchiche, Rowan
Venue: The Racecourse, Ascot
Attendance: 161
Weather: 9c, partly cloudy
Ascot United MOM: TBC
Entertainment: 3
Away fans estimate: 25
One-word summary: Fragile