Smith’s side speed through in Velocity alongside County Cup coup for Cox
It was a super-Tuesday for Ascot United as their Men’s and Women’s sides both maintained their last realistic chances of silverware this season. The Yellamen romped to a 5-3 league cup win over league rivals Egham Town largely thanks to man-of-the-match Khalid Simmo’s hat-trick, whereas The Yellawomen eventually saw of spirited Milton-Keynes based New Bradwell St Peter 2-1 to march into the semi finals of the county cup.
At The Racecourse, Simmo got his side going after six minutes when he raced onto Luis Le Paih’s through-ball – Cameron Rohart-Brown initially picking out the Frenchman in the centre – before slipping past Michael Edegbe and rolling the ball home from a tight angle.
Simmo doubled the lead in the 16th minute with Rohart-Brown once again involved on the left, cutting inside for Tyrese Osbourne to pick out Simmo, who curled a fine effort into the bottom right.
Over in Milton Keynes, Andy Cox’s side had already seen a Mia Delaney effort ruled out for an earlier handball, but they would take a 1-0 lead when Poppy Dearlove crossed for Alice Balaam to slot home at the far post; 27 minutes played.
In a Berkshire goal-frenzy, Lucias Vine – in red-hot-scoring-form – then got in on the act with a 31st minute strike to make it 3-0; Simmo this time with the quick feet on the left, Jaheim Kamara putting in the telling delivery, and Vine having an easy-tap-in to take his tally to four from four.
Back in Buckinghamshire, New Bradwell St Peter belied their tier-six status – two below Ascot – to level it up in the 38th minute, just before Ascot United Men added number four when Simmo blasted home at the far post from Rohart-Brown’s cross.
Luke Heneghan’s penalty on the stroke of half time did at least give The Sarnies a glimmer of hope heading into the second half, but it would require the comeback of all comebacks.
After the restart, Vine hit the post as did Egham from a second penalty, but there would be no further goals until late-on in a game that manager smith said “could have ended up seven-all” especially reflecting on several decent saves from home ‘keeper Kie Plumley.
Up in Milton Keynes, super-sub Kate Fox scored what proved to be the winner for The Yellawomen midway through the half – firing Ascot into the semi-finals for the first time in their history – although it was a surprisingly close affair against the plucky hosts.
The Yellamen, meanwhile, put the game to bed in the 80th minute when substitute Babs Dehghani’s cheeky spin and drag-back made it 5-1 from another substitute’s assist in the shape of Harvey Harry, although two late Jordi Ebanda goals took some gloss of the home performance; 5-3 the final score.
The Yellamen will entertain Binfield in the fourth round of the league cup whilst the Yellawomen advance to a county cup final-four containing Maidenhead United, Abingdon United and MK Dons.
Ascot United [men]: Plumley, Murray, Rohart-Brown, Edwards, Lamb, Allsopp, Simmo, Le Paih, Vine, Osbourne, Kamara. Subs (all used): Rollinson, Harry, Lock, Dehghani, Sankoh
Ascot United [women]: Carter, Curr, Cox, Huntley, Wort, Maxted, Dearlove, Dias, Delaney, Balaam. Subs (used): Lane, Doyle, Fox, Weston. Sub unused: Backhurst
Star Players: Khalid Simmo / Katelyn Wort