Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans v 1. FC – TSG Königstein

Report

11 September 2026

Ascot United Vets 2-1 TSG Koenigstein

NIKNEJAD BRACE SEES ASCOT HOME

Two first half goals from goal-poacher James Niknejad were ultimately enough to see Ascot’s eclectic mix of footballing talent to victory against TSG Koenigstein. As Ascot tired the visitors from Frankfurt did nonetheless come back strongly, hitting the bar and forcing a couple of good saves out of Eryk Nawala. Still, Ascot hung on to clinch a (just about) well-earned victory.

In May 2025 Ascot toured Frankfurt and played Koenigstein on their own patch. The game was a tight one, with the hosts coming out on top by the odd goal in nine. When Ascot went 2-0 up with half an hour gone in the return match on Friday night a close scoreline looked decidedly unlikely. The Yellas had started like a house on fire. Garyth Brant was causing problems, Abbas Hussain was offering width a plenty down the left and James Niknejad’s predatory instincts saw him claim two goals from a sum total of about six yards.

Yet, for all of Ascot’s possession, the more the game went on the more Koenigstein came back into it. A late first half penalty saw them half the deficit, and it wasn’t long into the second period before they were rattling Eryk Nawala’s crossbar. Game well and truly on.

Still, as the game entered its last quarter, Alex Markarian continued to cause a modicum of chaos down the right, Mike Tomlinson poked and prodded in the centre and Paul Leishman tried to drive things forward down the left. Yet Ascot somehow to failed create many clear cut chances. Indeed, it was Koenigstein, countering ever more impressively, who ended up posing the greater goal threat.

Be that as it may, the side from Germany couldn’t find the breakthrough. One free kick was well saved by Nawala, another was well blocked by Stu Flurry. 2-1 it ended, and everyone de-camped to the bar. Excellent stuff.

Squad. Eryk Nawala, Jad Sidhu, Paul Leishman, Darren Lewis, Jon Norris, Jon Keough, Dave Lyons, Adam Abusweder, Chris Tredwell, Abbas Hussain, Adrian Fisher, Alex Markarian, Dan Hough, James Niknejad, Garyth Brant and Stu Flurry.