Ascot United U14 Diamonds v FC Bracknell U14

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V Bracknell Wolves (Quarter finals of the Cup)

In the 24^th minute Wolves won another corner and from a great delivery Lily the Wolves defender, into the Ascot area, struck a wonderful ball that curled into the top corner leaving Hanna with no chance of saving it. It was a magnificent strike and a goal that you must accept no one was going to stop.

1 NIL to Bracknell Wolves and it was on the run of play a well-earned reward for the steady build up of pressure they had been applying to Ascot for this passage of play.

Half time with the Diamonds trailing the Wolves by 1 goal to NIL. All still to play for in a tough game where there was still only one goal in it.

In the 42^nd minute Hanna made another big kick out to the left wing and Alexa with a lot of work to do accepted the challenge and neatly trapped the ball charged past the challenge and cut in on the corner flag before seeing the Wolves defender coming to make the tackle, Alexa put her laces through the ball and it hit the back of the net. A stunning solo effort yet again by the Diamonds flying winger to……………………………hold on goal ruled out as the very neat trap of the ball went upstairs to VAR and the ball was ruled to have gone over the line at that point meaning the goal wouldn’t stand. It was short lived jubilation but it was another attack on the Wolves defence which remained under real pressure from the Diamonds.

In the 44^th minute, Wolves now under siege from Diamonds who were taking control of this passage of play saw Phoebe always energetic and always willing to take on any challenge drove down the wing past one challenge only to be met by another crunching tackle…….but wait Phoebe still managed to get the ball to go forward and get past that challenge and sent the ball forward towards the goal where the keeper struggling to reach the ball never really did more than finger tip parry the ball where Hollie alert and ready needed no second invitation to squeeze the ball past the keeper to equalise for the Diamonds. Goal this time and a very neat finish by Hollie on the back of a herculean effort by Phoebe to provide the assist.

1-1 and game on with 27 minutes of open play to go.

Full time 1-1……………………PENALTIES to separate these two teams

So who had the honour, none other than Holly bravely jogging to the spot, and as the ref blew his whistle Holly confidently buried the ball in the back of the net before the bemused Wolves keeper could react. 1-1 and over to the Wolves and this time deciding to go straight down the middle, Hanna read it well and pulled off yet another fine save. What a game Hanna was having

Tabitha was up next to take the 5^th penalty for Ascot, and as she stepped up, the ref blew his whistle and Tabs picked her spot and slammed the ball past the Wolves keeper giving her no chance 2-1 to Ascot.  If Wolves missed at this stage Ascot would be through, but it was the dangerous Mia a proven goal scorer who stepped up and made no mistake as she hit a low powerful shot past Hanna to keep Wolves in the shootout at 2-2

Sudden death………the first team to miss would be out.

So who was going to take the 6^th Ascot penalty. It was Macy given the job with all eyes on her and a silence across the ground. Macy languidly strolled to the spot put the ball down, and took two steps backwards as the ref blew, Macy hit the ball as casual as you can ever imagine past the keeper with no real extra power but the precision of a surgeon……..bang Ascot scored in sudden death over to the Wolves.

Wolves stepped up the spot with the Ascot girls all hugging on the halfway line and as the Wolves player went for placement over power, Hanna easily saved the ball yet again only to be swamped by the Diamonds for her heroics.

What a game and Ascot through to the semi finals 3-2 on penalties

It was no surprise that Hanna was voted opposition player of the match after all she said no thanks to what ever Wolves had to offer all match, and the coaches player of the match was Holly for her non stop hard work up and down the wing as well as scoring the first Ascot penalty under real pressure at that stage.

It meant it was a 10 game winning streak for the Diamonds who have not lost a game since November 1^st, 2025