Ascot United 1st XI Veterans v West London Rams Veterans

18/03/2022

Details

DateTimeLeagueSeason
18/03/202219:45West 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

Good game. Could’ve ….

 

 

Twice in six days and another strong WLR’s team and good support too from some of their more regular starters. Ascot needed a response to a flatish performance in the cup on the previous Saturday and they got something straightaway within the first minute of the game. Doug disposed a midfielder deep in the WLR half and found Rob. A clipped pass in behind the centre back and Sam finished clinically. On 6 minutes with Jamie facing a talented winger, he put in a brilliant crunching tackle, the first of many today, and played to Rob a little higher up. He hit a left foot pass behind the centre backs and Sam only just missed getting in for a second. On 8 minutes, WLR were level. A good break down their right and a cross flicked in at the near post for 1-1.

Ascot lost Toby with a calf muscle on 12 minutes and welcomed back Leon who put in an excellent performance for the rest of the game at left back. Another good move and again Rob looked to find Sam with that ball in behind. Sam was racing onto it when it was handled by the recovering defender. It looked like a goal scoring opportunity was stopped with a deliberate handball but the ref saw it differently and just gave the free kick. A braver decision could’ve changed the outcome of the game. No matter though because Rob hit a fantastic free kick into the top corner giving the keeper no chance and Ascot were 2-1 up after 15 minutes.

More good play involving Jamie, a quick ball into Tim and then linking up with Simmo and Rob to give Rob a chance to turn his marker and shoot across goal. The keeper made a decent save but spilled it and it almost fell to an on rushing Doug. Ascot were playing well and looking good value for their lead.

On 23 minutes, Tim drilled a 30 yard pass into Rob who saw the defender stepping in close. Rob flicked it over their heads turning the defender with ease and sprinting away. Again, Sam was racing through the middle and almost got on the end of Rob’s pass. Would’ve been a wonderful goal.

On the half hour, Ascot created another opportunity but sadly lost Doug in the process. The ball was worked out wide on the left and Rob curled in a delicious ball. Doug and the defender came flying in together and the defender just got there ahead of the diving Doug. Doug was winded and took a few minutes to right himself and it also turned out that he had some damage to a rib. Tommo came on to replace him.

Ascot were defending well with Jamie, a returning Nige, JK and Leon holding a good line and frustrating the WLR strikers. They continually looked to get in with ball over the top or third man running. The movement was good but the Ascot defence was managing it all. On 39 minutes, they did break the line and the midfielder ran clear on to see Rich save with his feet. An excellent save. HT 2-1

In the second half, WLR’s came on strong and the replacement fullback showed why he should’ve started making some great breaks and unbalancing the Ascot defence. In the first minute of the half, a cross was knocked deep towards the far post. Jamie leapt higher than anyone out there to win a brilliant header and JK threw himself the follow up shot and blocked a possible equaliser. 10 minutes later WLR did have their equaliser. A soft cross found its way to the far post and was knocked in. Two minutes later and a high, dangerous tackle left Tommo on the ground. Free kick given but no action again taken by the ref which was disappointing. WLR were pressing more and JK made a great clearing header.

After 20 minutes, Ascot had a corner which was hit to the back post where Tommo almost scored with a header which just went wide. In the space of the next 10 minutes, WLR scored twice to take a 4-2 lead. They broke down the right and a cross was destined to be tapped home but Jamie racing back just got their first and unfortunately diverted the ball into his own goal. A great effort to save a certain goal and at least he took the goal off their striker. The 4th came for the briefest hesitations and the striker was able to get round Rich. An ecstatic WLR bench all leapt to their feet and ran onto the pitch in celebration. A big goal for them.

With five minutes left, Rob swung in another corner and Jamie flew through everyone to get his head onto it and smash it into the roof of the net from the edge of the six yard box. There were a couple of half chances to equalise in those last few minutes and a lot of shouts of ‘keep it , ‘take it to the corner’ as WLR did a good job of keeping possession to run the clock down.

Game finished 3-4 and was a very decent and entertaining game played in a good spirit by two very good teams.

 

As a community football club with over 850 kids playing every week, Ascot United have enjoyed inviting teams from all the divisions of the West London Vets League to play at the Racecourse ground on Friday nights under lights. On each occasion the visiting teams have noticed the large sign in the dressing room and have taken the time to leave the dressing room looking as clean as when they came in. We have always appreciated these actions. Tonight’s visitors were the first to leave the dressing rooms in a mess. We obviously cleaned it up for the kids to use the following day.

 

Team : Harrison, Burgess, Gatehouse, Keough, Underwood, Simpson, Gleave, Buchanan, T Standing (c), McIntyre, Saunders, Hough, Palmer-Wilson, Tomlinson, Watney

Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans3

West London Rams Veterans4

Ground

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