Ascot United 2nd X1 Veterans v Woking Welcome Veterans

Friday 15 August

Ascot United Vets’ 2s 2-2 Woking Welcome FC

Ascot United’s second string played out an entertaining 2-2 draw against WLVFL newbies Woking Welcome on Friday 15 August. It was the first friendly of the new season for both sides so there was some understandable rust about. But, both teams showed plenty of attacking intent before ultimately sharing the spoils.

“Plenty to work on, but cobwebs blown away and most definitely good to be back and in the action” was skipper Steve Dando’s verdict on BBC Five Live afterwards. “If your metric is creating chances, then the twos are in a great place. If you’re metric is taking chances, well, there’s always next week to think about that…..”

Possession-wise, it was initially all Ascot. The midfield troika of Dando, Standing (T) and Underwood fizzed the ball about and Woking found themselves mostly chasing shadows. Indeed, it didn’t take long for the first goal to come, Toby Underwood finishing neatly from 12 yards out.

Ascot continued to hype up the pressure. Georgian debutant Guka Taveridze was a constant menace down the left, Jon Bennett was lively down the right and the midfield dominated the centre of the park. However, thick and fast though chances came, Ascot couldn’t take advantage of their dominance.

Woking, and particularly their impressive number eight, worked their way back into it. They kept harrying and eventually chances came their way. And, they took them. They equalised via something of a defensive mix up and took the lead following an impressive ping from a good 25 yards out. Half an hour in and the game had turned on its head.

Ascot reset. Half-time saw four changes made as the hosts looked to re-energise their play. Alex Markarian came on with a brief to run at players, Phil White replaced Dwaine Bryan as a false nine. Woking had more of the ball than they did in the first half, but Ascot were the ones generally going forward.

Indeed, it was a good work by Birkett that set Markarian away down the right. He pulled the ball back for Phil White to neatly turn the ball beyond the ‘keeper and into the bottom corner. 2-2, 20 minutes on the clock.

Woking were sitting ever deeper, and in truth they didn’t create too much. But, Rob Stockford was still forced into one excellent save as the visitors played ever more on the counter.  That did come at a cost; poor old Micky Parker twisted his ankle and limped off, Steve Dando felt something tighten up so he opted to vacate and take up lino duties.

Would Ascot grab a winner? Jon Bennett fired shot after shot in, but to no avail. Phil White pinged a delightful ball to Alex Markarian on the six-yard line; the ball flew agonisingly over. Two edge-of-the-box free kicks went nowhere. Stu Birkett bludgeoned his way through on no fewer than three occasions; somehow the ball just wouldn’t go in the onion bag. 2-2 it subsequently ended up.

Pre-season friendlies are good for getting back into the groove. And, on that score, then this one did a perfect job. Can Ascot play better? Yep. Has this game helped them get nearer to doing that? Most definitely.

Good work one and all.

Team; Rob Stockford, Dan Hough, Micky Parker, Steve Dando, Ed Du Bois, Matt Newall, Tim Standing, Toby Underwood, Guka Tavberidze, Dwaine Bryan, Jon Bennett

Subs; Jon Keough, Phil White, Alex Markarian, Stuart Birkett and Adam Abusweder

Goals; Toby Underwood, Phil White