Taylor Morgan scores in 87th minute as Ascot and South Park share four goals
Ascot United scored a late equaliser at South Park on Saturday in their opening league match of the season. Having only just gone behind, substitute Taylor Morgan brought Ascot level within a minute to earn his side a point on the road.
One change for Ascot against Reigate-based Sparks
Both sides had won their Emirates FA Cup openers one week before, and Manager Jamie Tompkins was absent once again after welcoming an arrival of his own – a baby boy – leaving Assistant Dean Greenwood to oversee proceedings. And, he made just one change to the team that had edged out Milton United in the cup; Connor Holland making a starting debut in for Ben Van Aurich after coming off the bench in that tie.
The hosts, meanwhile, were recovering from a mini-exodus of their own which had seen several key players move to Tooting, Westfield and Merstham.
Tough conditions as mercury rises
On an increasingly hot afternoon, both sides scrapped early-on and in a game initially devoid of clear cut chances Mark Scott palmed away Sam Remfry’s goal-bound shot for the hosts ten minutes in before Ben Harris’s bouncing effort brought an uncomfortable save out of opposite number Danny Bracken eight minutes later.
The sides traded chances as James McElligott picked out Remfry whose shot squirmed wide of the left-hand post via a deflection, before Sean McCormack’s cross was headed over by Anas Igozouln just after the half-hour mark.
Ascot rewarded for finishing strongly
Pick of the Ascot players was Josh Edwards in defence, and his strong challenge took Sparks’ Craig McGee’s effort away from danger, and it was the Yellamen who drew first blood in first half stoppage time. In truth, the Sparks were sleeping as Ascot broke down the left, and McCormack’s wicked left-footed cross invited Holland to glance a sublime header across Bracken and into the bottom right hand corner to give the visitors a slender advantage at the break.
Sparks surge back before Taylor’s late trick
The home side were close to drawing level four minutes after the restart when Will Grieveson’s ball over the top caught Ascot napping; substitute Conan Torpey lobbing over a hesitant Scott but also over the bar.
But Jack Tucker – a constant threat with his right-wing crosses – would swing in a decisive delivery in the 55th minute which Remfry nodded down and in off the left-hand post to restore parity.
Tucker then repeated the trick for Torpey, although this time Tack was on hand to block his header at the far post, before Torpey’s rising effort with the outside of his boot flew over Scott’s bar.
And, just as it looked as if the game would finish one-all, substitute Brendan Murphy-McVey’s through ball picked out Finlay Johnson, who rounded Scott and slotted home from a difficult angle three minutes from time to put the home side 2-1 up.
However, having sat back for long spells, the Yellamen mounted a late surge and substitute Ollie Mason earnt his side an 87th minute corner just one minute later. And, Tack got enough on McCormack’s corner to turn the ball back into the danger area where Morgan was on hand to tap home from close-range; 2-2 the result (pictured, shooting-stars.co.uk).
What’s next for Ascot?
The Yellamen welcome non-league heavyweights Kingstonian to the Racecourse on Tuesday evening for an intriguing-looking league match, before the FA Cup journey continues at Arbour Park next Saturday against Slough Town FC’s tenants Virginia Water.
Ascot United: Scott, Lock, Holland (Mason 72’), Tack, Gater, Edwards, McCormack, H. Grant (Payne-James 85’), Harris (Morgan 55’), Fraser, Igozouln. Subs unused: Bailey, Tucker
Entertainment: 3
Reporter’s Star Man): Josh Edwards (Ascot United)
Away fans (estimate): 25