Ascot United U14 Diamonds v Gerrards Cross & Fulmer FC U14

Report

v Gerrards Cross

Ascot arrived at the Marist School knowing they needed to win to give themselves the best chance of winning the league. Having said that Gerrards Cross are no walkovers and they also intended not to give Ascot any easy points either.

In the 35^th minute Macy Sealy  having been switched from the right to the left wing a few minutes earlier saw an excellent pass from Tabitha Maartin come through to Kitty Ward who placed it out wide for Macy Sealy to control one time off the chest and spin and crack a shot on target with power but unfortunately in the excellent GC keeper’s arc to make the save. That was one of the few shots of the half delivered with some intent.

Half time NIL NIL and Ascot perhaps could consider themselves slightly unlucky not to have at least be ahead by a goal at this stage

In the 37^th minute Holly McFarlane proving to be a handful on the wing as she either danced around some hefty challenges or returned the favour herself won a free kick just inside the corner flag.  The delivery was good but GC defending with every thing they had still found the ball bouncing around the area before a ball landed to Hollie Lake who sent it forward and the GC keeper in the thick of the action just punched the ball a few yards before the GC defender made a desperate clearance which landed fifty between an advancing Macy Sealy and the GC midfielder before Macy just pushed it wide, controlled and calmly sent a bend it like Beckham delivery towards the top corner and before the GC keeper could react, although it never looked like she would get there, the ball took a deflection from a GC blue shirt and sailed into the top corner.

I was a timely strike from Macy Sealy as the ball was heading in that direction anyway, but the deflection sealed the deal and saw Macy score her 9^th goal of the season. 1 Nil to Ascot

In the 46^th minute, GC won a corner which was sent into the area with some accuracy and with a sea of blue shirts charging in the ball bounced around a few times before creeping over the line to equalize. 1-1 as GC had responded to the Ascot goal within 9 minutes.

In the 63^rd minute Aariya Sharma sent a great pass forward and Gabby Goodall timed her run well before placing the ball into the net………..but alas the linesman was waving for offside. It was a very tight call at best and perhaps one that should have gone upstairs for VAR but those are the breaks in football as the goal was ruled out.

In the 64^th minute Ascot now running the game saw Emily Osborne send a ball forward where it was collected by Amira Khan and as the shot went into the box a GC defender with hands above the waist in an unnatural position delivered the hand of god to what looked like a stone wall penalty. Wait no penalty awarded for a clear handling of the ball in the box what a let off for GC.

Full time 1-1 .  It was not the result Ascot wanted but with two games to play it is all still possible that the team could finish tied on point with Risborough Rangers that of course depends on how Ascot deal with Marlow next week.

Opposition Player of the Match was Hanna Richards the keeper and Coaches player of the match for her outstanding work rate and effort was Pippa Langley