Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans v Bank of England AFC Veterans

12/11/2021

Details

DateTimeLeagueSeason
12/11/202119:45West London Veterans Football League2021-2022

Ground

Racecourse Ground 3G 11-a-side
Sunninghill and Ascot, Ascot, Windsor and Maidenhead, South East, England, United Kingdom

Report

And into the hat we go

 

First round of the WLVL League Cup against Premier league side Bank of England. A very competitive game and Ascot ran out 3-2 winners. Plenty of chances for both teams but Ascot a little more clinical and Rich also in excellent form to see this through to the win.

 

A strong opening by the Bank of England who held the majority of possession in the first phase of the game. Ascot not quite on it and gave away the first chance by losing possession in their own third. A drilled shot was well saved by Rich who was on it from the start.

10 minutes and a little more quality possession plus a good press by Sam, Ben and Rob won possession high up. Ben sprinted down the right and drilled a ball into Rob who had raced clear. Rob’s first touch was exquisite, and he rifled the shot into the far bottom corner and Ascot were one up. A great goal but at a cost as Rob tweaked his hamstring and had to be replaced. Two minutes later and Rich made the save of the game/season. BoE centre forward raced onto a bouncing ball about 8 yards out and smashed a volley at the goal. Lightening reactions by Rich and his arm and hand held firm as the shot was deflected round the corner – a few gasps with that save. Strong hand.

Ascot struggling to gain the level of possession they are used to although Tim was starting to become a real threat in the midfield finding good pockets of space where we could’ve created more of a threat. As Ascot began to improve a few chances came their way. Rocket got to the byeline working well with Toby and whipped in a great ball which Sam just headed wide.

HT 1-0 and a close game

Ascot came out strongly. Andy and Tommo started to get a grip on the game. Ben hit the post and Andy hit a ferocious shot that parried wide by the keeper. A break by BoE gave them an equalise in the 55th minute. A hesitant offside trap was breached and a player got in wide, Rich had raced out and although beaten by the attacked he had forced him wide. The striker struck from an acute angle and the ball cannoned back off the inside of the far post and unfortunately cannoned into the recovering Ascot defender and inadvertently equalised for BoE.

The best move of the match came two minutes later and possibly one of the team goals of the season. The ball was moved really quickly and Toby drilled the ball down the line to Sam, a quick look up saw Ben doing brilliantly to get across the central defender and Sam pinged in a low flat fast ball and Ben nearly took the roof off the net with a beautiful side foot volley. 2-1 Ascot. Sam was causing real problems for BoE defence with mazy runs and beating four players before setting for Tim who just dragged his shot wide. Another goal would help and it came on the 66th minute. After some pressure there was a little scramble for the ball in the box after great pressure from the Standing brothers. The ball fell to the on rushing Toby who smashed it into the net for 3-1. There were BoE appeals for handball early in the move. These were waved away by the ref.

Now to manage the game to its conclusion. Well not quite. On 78 minutes the BoE striker was given a little too much space and he spun hitting a low shot into the corner and it was 3-2.

Now to manage the game to its conclusion and that is what Ascot did. No time wasting, no rolling about on the floor. Simply moving the ball well up, down and across the pitch and keeping possession to take that last but of hope out of the legs of a very good BoE team.

The final whistle went and I imagine both teams were pleased it did not go into extra time.

 

Team : Harrison, Du Bois, Keough, Corbet, Gleave (c), T Standing , Simpson, Underwood, Saunders, B Standing , McIntyre, Newall, Burgess, Tomlinson, Thompson, White

Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans3

Bank of England AFC Veterans2

Ground

Racecourse Ground 3G 11-a-side
Sunninghill and Ascot, Ascot, Windsor and Maidenhead, South East, England, United Kingdom
Referee to be confirmed