Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans v Claygate Royals Hares

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Firemen at your service

In the end a comfortable win against a great set of lads from Claygate. An impressive club which runs three Vets football teams. They showed great spirit and worked hard but Ascot made their quality count.

Amidst a sloppy start, Ascot took the lead when Toby took a quick throw in to Rob who opened out and squared it across the box to an on rushing Doug, one touch and then an unstoppable shot drilled into the far corner and it was 1-0 after 5 minutes. Ascot were still a little off colour and could have taken more control of the game if they had been more patient in the build up. Claygate had a few good breaks but failed to turn these into chances with Wooz, Dan and JK snuffing out any fires.

It took until 20 minutes for Ascot to get into their stride. A bit more patience and better movement out from the left side of defence and JK played into Ben Spence who provided a platform for the move with good control and then a tidy ball into Sam who shot just wide. From the goal kick, intense pressure was applied to the right side of the Claygate defence by Ben Sp, Rob and Toby. The ball was coughed up and Rob immediately squared to Doug who repeated his first strike and again left the keeper with no chance.

Nine minutes later and the game was probably done as Ascot burst forward to score another three goals and it was 5-0 by the 29^th minute. Rob got clear down the right and clipped a lovely ball towards the far post and Sam nodded in unmarked for 3-0. Ben Spence then found Sam whose half volley crashed into the back of the net. Rob then scored a cheeky 5^th when he approached the keeper, lifted it over his head, ran round him and nodded it into the empty net.

Claygate regrouped and showed a really good spirit in trying to get back into the game but it remained 5-0 at half time.

Understandably, the game slowed a little in the second half and Ascot dominated possession. Leon and Jamie came into the defence and helped to hold a firm line with JK. Doug and Garyth continued to boss the central area and both had excellent games. 7 minutes into the second half and Doug had his hattrick. Sam saw Doug’s run in behind and slotted the ball through to him and Doug got their ahead of the keeper to slide it under his body for his first hattrick since U10’s. An all round excellent performance from Doug today.

Ben Standing came off the bench to score the final two goals of the game. A nice move created space for  Dan out wide, his crisp cross was tucked away neatly by Ben who, as ever, had found a yard of space in the box. JK then got his first assist of the season. A mazy run from defence taking him out wide left. As the cries of ‘keep it’ rang round, JK looked up and saw a galloping Ben St. He hit a glorious 45 yard pass right into Ben’s path whose excellent first touch set up a good finish and a fine goal. 8-0 after 70 minutes.

The score remained the same to the end of the game. Claygate continuing right to the end of the game and great credit must go to their defensive line and the keeper who made some great saves.

9 down, 7 to go

Team : Harrison, Hough, Woozley, Keough, White, Buchanan, Simpson, Underwood, Saunders, Spence , McIntyre, Burgess, T Standing, B Standing, Palmer-Wilson, Brant