Ascot United Supervets v Walton Strollers

22 August 2025

Ascot United SVs 7-2 Walton Strollers

Ascot United’s Supervets have now played two won two in pre-season following an entertaining victory against the Walton Strollers on 22 August. Paul Hamblin and Zak Dimitrovski bagged a brace apiece, whilst Mike Tomlinson, Stuart Tanfield and Chris Ferdinand also joined in the goal-scoring fun. Ascot dominated the ball, but as the second half wore on the Strollers did come back into it as Ben Beavers deservedly notched a couple for the visitors.

With summer holidays (and injuries) doing their usual things, both sides were a little rough around the edges. “Half my squad was either on the beach or in A & E” bemoaned Strollers’ gaffer Ian RIggs to Five Live afterwards. “I mean, you could see how much of a struggle it was, the King of the Chocolate Martinis, Dave Symonds, played 70 minutes. That’s the longest he’s been on a pitch since 1993….”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was the Yellas who started the quicker. Mike Tomlinson and Adam Abusweder saw plenty of the ball in the middle, Jon Norris and Dave Porter purred nicely at the back. The first glitch in the road nonetheless came quickly; poor old Dave Thompson hobbled off 15 minutes in as an old war wound returned. The bombastic figure of Paul Hamblin came on to lead the line.

The substitution didn’t change much about the way the game was being played. Ascot dominated. Yet, it was at the other end where the first real drama unfolded. A through ball saw Dave Porter scurrying back towards his own goal, stride for stride with the Strollers’ attacker. A gaggle of arms and legs later, two bodies were in heaps on the floor and a penalty kick had been given. That, however, didn’t end up with the first goal of the evening…..the ball ended somewhere in the grounds of Windsor Castle having been well and truly thumped over the bar. 0-0 it remained.

Not, however, for long. Mike Tomlinson won the ball in the middle of the park, surged through and cooly chipped the ball over the stranded ‘keeper. One became two when Paul Hamblin pounced on a misplaced pass out from the back, side-footing the ball home from 20 yards. Hamblin was, entirely as he always is, coolness and calmness personified.

With Stuart Tanfield elegantly adding a third and Hamblin doubling his tally the Yellas went in at half-time four goals to the good. Rob Stockford had needed to make a couple of smart saves, but Ascot could be pleased enough with their efforts.

Ian Riggs, the Strollers’ gaffer, no doubt read the riot act in the Walton dressing room at half time. And, it appeared to work. Dave Symonds started holding the ball up nicely, Rhys Goodwin was proving to be a menace up top and Ben Beavers was looking dangerous with his late runs into the box. Indeed, it took less than 30 seconds for Beavers to get on the scoresheet and the Strollers back in the game.

How would the Yellas respond? Positively, was the answer. Zak Dimitrovski twisted and turned, Alex Markarian offered extra width down the left, Stu Flurry made a welcome return on the right and Stuart Tanfield returned to the fray, as, erm, well….. centre half. Yes, you read that right, centre-half.

That didn’t stop Tanfield from racing down the left and crossing perfectly for Dimitrovski to neatly volley home. Or indeed from launching a 30 yarder just over the bar. Modern day defenders are not just there to defend, it would seem.

Dimitrovski and Chris Ferdinand then added another couple of goals as the Yellas began to move clear.  Beavers, however, wasn’t done either, nodding in nicely from an excellent ball from the left. 7-2 it ended.

Ascot won the game and will have enjoyed pinging the ball about. The Strollers deserve plenty of credit for keeping at it and for scoring a couple of really impressive goals. A decent doo all round.

Team. Rob Stockford, Dan Hough, Jad Sidhu, Dave Porter, Jon Norris, Adam Abusweder, Mike Tomlinson, Mark Reed, Dave Thompson, Chris Ferdinand, Stuart Tanfield.

Subs. Stu Flurry, Paul Hamblin, Alex Markarian, Zak Dimitrovski

Goals. Mike Tomlinson, Stuart Tanfield, Chris Ferdinand, Paul Hamblin (2), Zak Dimitrovski (2),