Ascot United 2nd X1 Veterans v Old Tiffinians Veterans

Report

13 October 2023
Ascot United IIs 1-1 Old Tiffinians

Ascot United’s second string and Old Tiffinians played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Racecourse Ground on 13 October. Ascot made all the running, but they only managed to get the ball in the net once. Tiffs relied very much on breakaways, but they did score with 15 minutes or so to go and indeed had a goal ruled out for offside a few minutes later. Jez Myhan went agonisingly close for Ascot at the end, but ultimately the sides ended up sharing the points.

Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be. Ascot United IIs spent the vast majority of this game in possession of the ball and indeed camped in the Tiffs’ half. But, the goals just wouldn’t come. Indeed, Tiffs had a couple of chances to snatch a win at the end that could have made the hosts’ night even worse.

Ascot started with a 4-3-3. Jamie Burgess and Ed Du Bois marshalled things at the back, and it didn’t take long to see that that was going to allow both full backs to move forward and get involved with Ascot’s attacking play. Paul Woodford sat in front of what was in effect a back two, whilst Andy Gleave and Stu Birkett tried to link up play with the three-pronged attack of Chris Watney, Andy Lunn and Carl Collins.

For all the passing and all the possession Ascot created little in the first half. Chris Watney whipped in a zinger of a cross that Carl Collins couldn’t quite turn in and there were a number of scrambles from corners. But, the ever-lively Andy Lunn found himself largely restricted to shots outside the box as the visitors sat ever deeper.

The pattern continued into the second half. Darren Lewis came on at wing back and ended up pushing even further forward that Micky Parker had been doing in the first 45. Adam Abusweder offered bite and tenacity in the middle, whilst Ben Spence came on in the Sheringham role.

If anything, Ascot had even more of the ball, but it wasn’t until Ben Spence made a sharp, incisive run inside the full back that the Yellas finally got off the mark. Spence fizzed the ball across the box and Lunn made no mistake from all of two yards.

The Yella onlookers were hoping this would be the start of a goalrush. But, again, Ascot stuttered in the final third. Jez Myhan went close with both a header and a shot from 12 yards out, Jamie Burgess fizzed a free kick over the bar (and Carl Collins put a free kick from similar distance into the woods) and Dave Thompson came perilously close to getting his head on a great cross from the left. All to no avail.

Inevitably Tiffs rallied and they made the most of a rare foray forward to level things up. Indeed, Tiffs were looking dangerous on the break, something that was becoming more evident as Ascot went chasing the winner. A winner that never came.

Ultimately Ascot will look upon this as two points lost. But, it’s worth remembering that it’s the first time all season that the Yellas have dropped points and indeed that every team that’s ever played the game has days where the goals just won’t come. Nothing for it, we move on (to the next game at Old Lyonians on 28 October).

Team: Eryk Nawala, Dan Hough, Micky Parker, Ed Du Bois, Jamie Burgess, Paul Woodford (c), Andy Gleave, Stuart Birkett, Andy Lunn, Chris Watney, Carl Collins
Subs: Jez Myhan, Ben Spence, Darren Lewis, Adam Abusweder, Dave Thompson
Goal: Andy Lunn