Ascot United Men v Merstham

Report

FIVE-STAR ASCOT ROMP TO TROPHY VICTORY

 

Iggy’s top of the pops again as Yellas beat Merstham 5-0

 

Ruthless Ascot United produced a stellar display as they routed Merstham 5-0 in Friday night’s FA Trophy clash under the Racecourse lights. The Yellamen raced into a four-goal lead at half time, inspired by man-of-the-match Anas Igozouln’s brace, en-route to manager Jamie Tompkins’s fourth win on the trot.

 

Isthmian South Central v Eastern match-up kickstarts weekend Wembley trail

Both sides came into the game with similar league records in their respective divisions – Ascot with seven points from four games in the Isthmian South Central – compared with Merstham’s six points from three games in the equivalent South Eastern section. And, both sides had won their last three games, however Ascot had done that without the services of both Harry Grant and Usman Lalustani, although only the former was available and back in the squad after their suspension.

 

Scintillating Ascot race into four-goal lead

The early signs were promising for Ascot, although their opposition would pose pace up front at the other end, even if they lacked patience and composure in the final third.

 

But the early signs were plain to see for Merstham, who watched as ‘keeper Rob Tolfrey parried Sean McCormack’s rasping twelfth minute effort away for corner.

 

Ollie Mason then headed a difficult chance over from Taylor Morgan’s left-wing cross as Ascot gained a strong foothold, but it still took a fine double-save from mark Scott at the other end to maintain parity moments later.

 

But the floodgates opened as soon as Ascot took a seventeenth minute lead. In a fine move, George Butler surged forwards from defence, played a neat-one two with Morgan, before dinking the ball over the top for Igozouln to slide the ball under Tolfrey from a tight angle.

 

Calamitous defending then led to Ascot’s second goal just after the half-hour mark, although McCormack still had work to do from well outside the area before angling a beautiful curling effort around Tolfrey and into the right hand corner.

 

It got even better in the 35^th minute when The Yellamen added a third, and this time a fine flowing move down the right would open up Merstham once again. This time, George Lock and McCormack linked up for the latter to cross, the impressive Mason nodded the ball on, and Igozouln showed quick feet to nip in between goalkeeper and defender; touch one took the ball into space and touch two took it into the net.

 

Merstham push but Ascot defence stand firm

The visitors biggest undoing was their own impatience and lack of quality in the final third, underlined by Sam King’s horribly sliced effort when well placed after Korrey Henry had managed to flick the ball onto him in space earlier-on after 26 minutes.

 

Now knowing they needed to throw caution to the wind, The Moatsiders pressed in the closing stages of the half but Lock and Joe Gater would make important interceptions to snuff out anything they could muster.

 

And, Ascot would add an incredible fourth in the 45^th minute when Morgan laid the ball off to Mason, Mason cut the ball back from the by-line, and Liam Tack swept home first-time.

 

There was still time for Scott to palm Matt Drage’s direct free-kick over the bar in first-half stoppage time, and four-nil it remained at the sides changed ends.

 

Second half more sedate as woodwork frustrates Merstham

The visitors’ heads had visibly dropped early in the second half and this, together with the miserable conditions and a flurry of substitutes, did nothing for the spectacle.

 

Stand-out performer of the half was Scott, who was on hand to claw danger away even after Merstham had rattled the crossbar, and he would later produce a fine save at the death to thwart Olu Lawal before Josh Edwards mopped up the pieces; underlining the commitment that had earnt him the August player of the month award presented just before kick-off.

 

Scott also got a strong hand to substitute Aidan Brown’s effort and saw his near post clattered again by a raster from Ben Senior, but in-and-around all that Ascot substitute Ben Harris would round Tolfrey and wrap the champers around his teasing boots before dinking the ball over a covering defender to complete the scoring five minutes from time.

 

Much to their credit, Merstham’s travelling fans – pushing fifty-or-so – continued to make themselves heard, but it was the home faithful that were left purring over a performance that included the best 45 minutes seen at home for some time.

 

Ascot United: Scott, Butler, Lock, Tack (Grant 54’), Gater, Edwards, McCormack (Payne-James 65’), Morgan (Harris 70’), Fraser (Bailey 76’), Igozouln, Mason (Holland 62’).

 

Entertainment: 5

Reporter’s Star Man: Anas Igozouln (Ascot United)

Away fans (estimate): 50