Ascot United Men v Uxbridge

Report

ASCOT DRAW IN UXBRIDGE STALEMATE

 

Goalless between reds and yellows

 

Ascot United survived the second-half dismissal of defender Joe Gater to earn a draw with in-form Uxbridge on Saturday. In a poor game, both sides were below par, and the result was a fair reflection of the game.

 

Third against fourth in vital match-up

The pitched Ascot in third against an Uxbridge side in fourth, and with the visitors just a point behind with a game in hand, a victory for either team could prove pivotal in the race for the play-offs.

 

Uxbridge, who had won their last three, were in good form; the question was whether Ascot could regain momentum having taken four points from their prior trio of outings.

 

The Yellamen would need to do it without top scorer Anas Igozouln (away), Josh Edwards (injured) and Chad Goulter (suspended), although they did welcome new signing Brandon Curtis into the squad, although his debut would need to come from the bench.

 

Poor first half low on quality

It wasn’t a great spectacle for the sun-drenched spectators; the game as devoid of chances as it was of quality.

 

The hosts’ Khalid Simmo could – and probably should – have done better in the 13^th minute when visiting ‘keeper George Legg inexplicably passed straight to Simmo, but Simmo’s resultant clear sight of goal ended with a weak shot straight down the middle and into a relieved Legg’s arms.

 

At the other end, James Taylor’s header looped harmlessly wide after Mark Scott found himself in no-man’s land in the 28^th minute, before striker Dan Fosu lashed a volley wide three minutes later.

 

Taylor then cleared Harvey Harry’s dangerous low cross at the near post in a rare Ascot attack six minutes before the break, but Uxbridge would have the last chance of the half when Scott got down well to cut out Andrio Brandao’s powerful cross in stoppage time; 0-0 it remained at the break.

 

Second half marginally better; shape changed after Gater’s exit

Ben Harris’s direct free-kick forced Legg into a scrambling save ten minutes after the restart, and this led into the hosts looking more threatening as Legg was in action again two minutes later to palm Harry’s curling effort away.

 

At the other end, Uxbridge’s best chance came in the 72^nd minute when a dithering Scott almost saw his clearance charged down into his own net, but Ascot continued to threaten and Kai Hobbs almost sliced substitute Curtis’s cross into his own net; a goal-kick wrongly awarded after it flashed past the near post.

 

But Ascot were forced to play sixteen minutes, including six of overages, following Gater’s 80^th minute dismissal. His ill-chosen time-wasting might have earnt a yellow card to his first-half caution for dissent, but in raising his hands to an opponent in the ensuing handbags he was shown a straight red.

 

However, the visitors never really threatened to make their numerical advantage count, and man-of-the match home defender Sean Fraser ensured any sniffs were snuffed out.

 

And, Curtis came close to teeing himself up for what would have been an unlikely Ascot winner at the death, but after evading two tackles he was robbed by a third just as it looked as if he hard forged out a sight of goal.

 

What’s next for Ascot?

The Yellamen are on the road on Tuesday night at Westfield in league action; this being the third time of trying to get the fixture on after two postponements.

 

Ascot United: Scott, Rogers, Jones, Gater, Fraser, Simmo (Lock 80’), Payne-James (Dzimba 67’), Grant (Mason 90+2’), Harry (Butler 88’), Harris (Curtis 67’), Holland.

 

Entertainment: 2

Reporter’s Star Man: Sean Fraser (Ascot United)

Away fans (estimate): 25