Ascot United Veterans v MMB Veterans

Report

Friday night camping

Right from the start you could see that MMB had quality and that this would be a good game. Rocket had a great break down the left, beating two players and a great pull back to Dave S whose shot was really well saved by the keeper. Garyth hit the post in the next move. On 7 minutes, MMB took the lead. A free kick was clipped into the Ascot area and a clearing header just went up in the air. It took a while for the ball to drop but not one Ascot player used that time to close down the space where it was dropping and the MMB striker volleyed it in. Good finish but a really poor goal to concede. On 10 minutes, skipper Dave T pulled up with a calf injury and Sam came on to replace him.

On 16 minutes, JK won a great header and then played in Rocket who put Sam away down the left. His cross was finished clinically by Ben at the far post and it was 1-1. Ascot had good possession for the next 20 minutes and MMB looked happy to sit deep and let us camp out in their half. Not a lot of chances created but a lot of control and dragging the MMB players around the pitch without the ball looked tiring for them. A fast MMB break on 31 minutes and the striker just found enough space to hit a good snapshot. Rich got down low and quickly to palm it round the post – a very good save and the first of a few tonight. MMB certainly had a threat. 5 minutes later another quick break, a clipped cross and a great flicked header was going into the far post until Rich flung out a right hand to get the touch which took the goal bound header wide. Ascot had all the possession but it was MMB who created the clearer chances.

Mike pulled up with a bad calf tear after 40minutes on his return to action which was a real shame. Ed came on as a direct replacement. Ben got the ball in the back of the net after a great move but amid some confusion the goal was eventually disallowed for off side which was disappointing. HT 1-1. Ascot came out of the second half with some real purpose and took the game to MMB. Within 5 minutes of the half Ascot were 4-1 ahead. Sam, Rob and Dave S pressed as a gang and Sam harried the defender into an error, nicked the ball and slotted home to give Ascot the lead on 47 minutes. A revised standard was set. Ben broke wide and hit a deep cross to the far post where Rob was bundled over as he went to attack the cross. Tim slotted the pen. Then the move of the game and possibly the season (very early call and hope to be wrong). Dave T said it was the longest 1-2 he had ever seen. Deserves full explanation. Rocket won the ball in a tight area in the Ascot half and beat a couple of players to find space to move over the half way line. A 10 yard ball inside to Rob in space who moved away to the right and then hit a 40 yard reverse to a galloping Sam. Cheeky backheel to Rocket making an overlap. Rocket looked up, saw and heard Rob sprinting into space outside the box and clipped a lovely ball to Rob who, at full speed, smashed a volley into the back of the net. Very good goal on 50 minutes.

MMB looked a bit shellshocked but continued to look to play and break. Ascot still had the majority of possession but started to lose patience and began playing forward too quickly without creating the gaps to retain possession and create chances. Possession being given away too easily gave MMB a second wind and they continued to break with a threat. The backline, led by and excellent JK, managed the threats. On 75 minutes, Rob played into Sam who had the technique to get past the defender and then the power to finish in the far corner. 5-1. Still MMB came at Ascot and Rich made two more excellent one handed saves.

A good performance by Ascot who had the majority of possession. Good counter attacking play by MMB and they may have got something going if it wasn’t for Rich’s excellent saves at important times in the game.

Wishing speedy recoveries for Mike and Dave T.

Team

Harrison, Hynes, Gatehouse, Keough, Corbett, Simpson, Underwood, T Standing, Brant, Thompson (c), B Standing, du Bois, Heard, Saunders, McIntyre