Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans v Kew Park Rangers Veterans

28/10/2022

Details

DateTimeLeagueSeason
28/10/202219:45West London Veterans Football League2022-2023

Ground

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

Report

A really good and competitive game under the lights and another great advert for Vets FNF. Ascot ran out deserved winners but despite second half dominance the game was still in the balance with 15 minutes to go.

Ascot started very brightly which was encouraging and for the first time this season they did not concede the first goal but scored it after 4 minutes. Garyth broke down the right and was bundled over on the wing. Toby whipped in a great inswinging cross and Tommo rose like a salmon to plant a header into the top corner. Ascot were moving the ball well and looking composed. Adam got away from his marker with a great turn and won a free kick in a promising position. The defensive wall did its job in blocking Rob’s shot. KPR broke from an Ascot corner and could have scored but just shot wide and this was the first sign of what they could bring.

KPR got into the game and shut down the Ascot players really quickly and the game lost some of its quality but became more competitive. Ascot went too direct and too aerial and to no effect against a strong centre back pairing. A wonderful one touch, quick passing move involving 5 players saw the ball played to Rob on the edge of the box, a delicate touch square to an unmarked Garyth looked like being the goal of the season but the keeper managed to make an excellent save and tip the ball round the post.

30 minutes and no goal conceded was good to see however as soon as that thought entered the head and really good piece of play saw KPR equalise on 32 minutes. The KPR 10 drifted right across the Ascot midfield and hit a wonderful reverse cross to the far post which was met with a looping header into the far corner of the net with no chance for Rich. A good goal against the flow of play at that time and KPR took heart from that and pushed on. They would’ve been ahead at half time if Rich had not made two excellent saves. The first to tip a shot over the bar that was destined for the top corner – a great reach and the second to block a shot from 8 yards after a scramble resulted in the ball falling to an unmarked KPR player. HT 1-1

Sam, John and first team debutant, Loz all came on at half time and Ascot started the half brightly, increasing ball speed with a few one touch moves that allowed the team to flood forward. However, on 53m it was KPR who took the lead with a decent finish from 15 yards and it was up to Ascot to respond as KPR had their tails up. Four minutes later and it was all square again. Nuts found himself in a bit of room and drove hard at the KPR back line and despite a disgusting cry of ‘take him out’, he fed Adam who had drifted wide to create more space. Adam drilled a first time effort into the far corner. A really good goal and a deserved yellow for the KPR midfielder.

Both teams were carrying a threat at this time and although Ascot had most of the possession, KPR remained a threat on the break. On 65 mins, Rich made his third important save of the evening, pushing wide a strong left foot volley to keep the scores level.

Loz was making an impressive debut and snuffing out any threat on his side and Sam was beginning to show the threat he was bringing. Ascot were now dominant and pushing forward. Rob and Sam kept combining superbly and it was they who took the game away from KPR. On 75mins, Sam flew past three defenders and to the by-line inside the box. A quick look up and cut back to Rob and he passed it into the far corner to give Ascot the lead. Sam and Rob quickly combined again with a one two putting Rob in on the keeper for 4-2. Toby’s inswinging corner was superbly met in the six yard box by Tim and almost the final act of the game was a 90th minute shut down by Stu. The keeper decided to play and it was great see to Tanners put the fullback under so much pressure that his slid his pass back past to the keeper to Rob who was, shall we say, lurking inside their box. An outside flick and the ball rolled into the net to complete his hattrick. A good evenings work by the whole squad and a good game for the sizeable crowd.

Team : Harrison, Ferdinand, Keough, Newall, Underwood, Tomlinson, Standing T (c), Tanfield, Saunders, Moroney, Brant, Munns, Nutter, White, McIntyre

Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans6

Kew Park Rangers Veterans2

Ground

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