Ascot United Men v Sutton Common Rovers

Report

ASCOT ADVANCE IN LEAGUE CUP

 

Dan’s the man as Yellas win 2-1

 

Ascot United came from behind to edge out Sutton Common Rovers 2-1 in the Velocity League Cup on Tuesday evening. On a night when club legend Dan Bailey reached a landmark 150 appearances, The Yellamen showed their depth to make it an unprecedented six wins on the trot.

 

Much-changed Yellamen seek six on spin as DB reaches 150

Ascot were looking to extend their winning sequence to a club record at step four, and to achieve that they were looking to a rotated squad that boasted Jamal Branker and Usman Lalustani in their starting line-up, alongside Dan Bailey, who celebrated a century-and-a-half of games in Yellow.

 

Rovers were back again just seventeen days after Ascot had beaten them in the league, and they too rotated their side, with four or five changes to the side also beaten 2-1 by Ascot on that day.

 

Fast-paced start leads into entertaining half

As in the league game, Rovers were quick out of the blocks and Francis Sey struck the right-hand post just twenty seconds into the contest, before an almighty scramble that Ascot survived.

 

But they were rewarded for their industry at the midpoint of the half when Danyall Iqbal went on a mazy run across the edge of the area, evaded three or four yellow shirts and drilled a low shot into the left hand corner.

 

Ascot responded well and finished strongly; ultimately rewarded when Harry Grant threaded the ball through for Anas Igozouln to hammer under ‘keeper Kacper Orlowski, although it owed as much to a first touch which beautifully cushioned Grant’s powerful pass into a delicious area, from which he scored.

 

Strong second half leads to winner

Jeffrey Cobblah was guilty of volleying wide when well-placed early on as the visitors sought to regain their lead, before Ascot almost did the same when ‘keeper Orlowski’s unconventional attempted headed clearance went unpunished by Ben Harris, who volleyed over.

 

Orlowski then made a decent save with his legs to keep out Harris’s deflected effort from Igozouln’s cross, but somewhat fittingly it would be Bailey who contributed to what would turn out to be the winner. With 61 minutes on the clock, he punted the ball over a static defence, substitute Aiden Payne-James raced clear, and he took advantage of Orlowski’s hesitancy before lobbing the stranded ‘keeper before watching the ball drop just under the crossbar.

 

Mark Scott’s fine save turned substitute Jayden Smith’s header onto the bar as Rovers struck the woodwork again, before Ascot did the same via Joe Gater’s back-header that cannoned back off the crossbar.

 

And, in the dying moments, Harris almost put the game to bed at the end of a fine move where Connor Holland and Sean McCormack had linked up for the latter to drill in a low cross that Harris slid wide at full stretch.

 

But that didn’t matter as Bailey and his troops saw out five minutes of added time, before celebrating moving into the next round.

 

Ascot United: Scott, Lock, Fraser, Bailey, Edwards (Gater 50’), Grant (Mason 78’), Harris, Holland, Lalustani (Tack 69’), Branker (McCormack 69’), Igozouln (Payne-James 58’).

 

Entertainment: 4

Reporter’s Star Man: Connor Holland (Ascot United)

Away fans (estimate): 7