Ascot United Supervets v Claygate Royals Strollers Supervets

Report

10 May 2025

League Cup Final (at Ashford Town FC)

Ascot United SVs 4-1 Claygate Royals SVs

The Ascot United Supervets completed a perfect season with an emphatic victory over Claygate Royals in the SVs’ cup final. In warm conditions on the new 3G at Ashford Town, Dave Thompson and Phil White put the Yellas two up in the first half before Mike Tomlinson and Chris Ferdinand added a couple more in the second. Claygate pulled one back, but that didn’t stop Ascot’s SVs from completing the league and cup double.

Gaffers Stu Flurry and Dave Porter travelled with a squad of 17. They opted for what was in effect a trusty 4-4-2 formation. That being said, Stu Flurry did periodically glide into the number 10 role as Ascot adapted to the Claygate low block.

Unsurprisingly it was the Yellas that dominated the ball. What was perhaps more of a shock was that it was Claygate who had the first big chance, their centre forward racing away only to be foiled by a sprightly Rob Stockford smothering the ball at his feet.

Did that galvanise the Yellas into action? Not really, it was more that they showed the confidence to be patient and wait for opportunities to arrive. And, arrive they did, Paul Hamblin hitting the post, Dave Thompson going close from six yards and Phil White permanently causing danger down the inside left channel.

It felt like a goal would inevitably come and, sure enough, neat work on the edge of the box saw Dave Thompson drop the shoulder, skip through, and finish nicely. 1-0. That then became 2-0 when the impressive Phil White bundled the ball home to double Ascot’s lead.

As the weather became warmer the pace inevitably slowed. Ascot continued to dominate the ball, the big question was when would that third goal come. Not long was the answer, with skipper Mike Tomlinson claiming a much-deservednotch in the goals scored tally.

Claygate to their credit wasted little time in responding. They went more or less straight down the other end and forced an error out of the Ascot defence. The result? The ball looped past Rob Stockford who, despite doing all he could to keep it out, could only watch the ball go in off the post. 3-1.

Would this be the start of a rousing Claygate comeback? Erm, no. Martin Kay came on and had fun in the sun down the right, whilst Abbas Hussain was very much in the action down the left. The final goal of the day came, however, from some nice passing in the middle that saw Chris Ferdinand notch the 21st goal of what’s been a very prolific season for the big centre forward.

With Micky Parker and Chris Purdue firmly in control in the middle, Matt Newall even saw fit to set off on a galivanting run down the left, Laurence Blanc-esque in terms of style and poise, that very nearly saw Ascot add another.

That was nonetheless it in terms of goals scored, as both sides visibly began to wilt. Ascot subsequently kept the ball and gently ran down the clock. 4-1 it finished.

The 2024-25 season will go down in history for the Ascot United Supervets. A perfect record, a league title and a cup triumph. Magnificent stuff, and every respect to Stu Flurry and Dave Porter for driving everything forward. Bring on 2025-26.

Team. Rob Stockford, Dan Hough, Micky Parker, Dave Porter, Matt Newall, Mike Tomlinson (c), Chris Purdie, Stuart Flurry, Phil White, Paul Hamblin and Dave Thompson.

Subs. Martin Kay, Abbas Hussain, Chris Ferdinand, Doug Page, Ed Du Bois and Jad Sidhu

Scorers. Dave Thompson, Chris Ferdinand, Mike Tomlinson and Phil White