Ascot United Women v Moneyfields Women

Report

BRILLIANT BETH EARNS POINT FOR YELLAWOMEN

 

Substitute Lloyd on target as Ascot draw 1-1 with Moneyfields

 

Supersub Beth Lloyd came off the bench to score a wonderful looping header and earn Ascot United what had looked like an unlikely point against much-fancied Moneyfields on Sunday. Having survived wave after wave of visiting attacks in the first half and conceding early in the second period, Andy Cox’s side forced their way back into the game and levelled, before clinging on to their first National League points in ten nerve-shredding added minutes.

 

Home game switched to Ashford as Cox digs deep to fill absences

With The Racecourse unavailable, the hosts took to the field as Ashford Town Middx’s refurbished stadium – now with 3G pitch – but did so without a string of players. Regular ‘keeper Cherry Preisner was still away, and other absentees included Poppy Dearlove, Molly Gladwell and Kate Fox. But, back in the squad came striker Lloyd after recovering from a muscle tear sustained pre-season, and lively forward Leah Littlechild was an equally welcome sight on the teamsheet.

 

Moneyfields totally dominant in one-sided first-half

The first half was just about as one-sided as you could see with the visitors denied by the brilliance of home ‘keeper Chloe Donnellan, the woodwork – twice – and resolute home defending.

 

First to threaten was Ali Hall who flicked onto the crossbar in the eighth minute, but Donnellan’s remarkable double save midway through the half was the main talking point. Firstly, she stood up brilliantly to save from striker Shannon Aubrey, before recovering in the afters to palm the same player’s rasping drive away when it looked destined for the top left-hand corner.

 

Aubred nodded over at the far post from the resulting corner, Erin Huntley threw herself in front of another shot, and Hall flicked onto the roof of the crossbar from Beth Burgess in the 39^th minute as the siege continued.

 

Ascot were welcoming of a half time break that came one minute earlier than it should due to the referee miscalculating the length of a drinks break; for once a refereeing decision went in the club’s favour after double calamity in the men’s game 24 hours earlier.

 

Fantastic second half sees Yellawomen shine

The second half initially had the same feel as the first, and the visitors took a deserved 55^th minute lead following a break down the left, resulting in Burgess cheekily back-heeling an opener at the far post.

 

But in Lloyd and Littlechild, Ascot had renewed arsenal, and it took just four minutes for them to find a response. Alice Balaam, who worked tirelessly on the right with little change, would finally wriggle her way clear before digging out a looping cross that Lloyd despatched with a stooping, looping header up and over ‘keeper Hannah Houghton and into the left-hand corner; delirium amongst the travelling ultras.

 

After that it could have been anyone’s game; Hall’s shot drifted wide and Aubrey nodded over as Moneys threatened again, before Bella Cox’s block on Aubrey’s shot epitomised her side’s defensive determination.

 

Player-of-the-match Donnellan then bravely denied Aubrey one-on-one but Ascot had a chance of their own when Lloyd’s flick into space teed up Liv Glover, Glover threaded the ball through for Littlechild, and Houghton raced from her line to narrow what was already a tight angle before tipping Littlechild’s shot wide for a corner.

 

Visiting substitute Teirney Scott missed at the far post before the Donnellan show continued with a magnificent close-range save to thwart Megan Fox’s close range thunderbolt; Scott nodding the rebound over.

 

A breathless half saw Ascot almost win it in added time when Houghton kept out Littlechild’s deft flick from Cox’s free-kick, but there was still time for the visitors to have the ball in the net only for a flag to curtail their celebrations.

 

After the final whistle, the boisterous home crowd rightly applauded their side off the pitch. What a performance. What resolve. What an equaliser.

 

It’s the National League. The Yellawomen have arrived, and are deservedly off the mark. And, they still haven’t lost a home league game for over three years.

 

What’s next for Ascot?

 

Ascot United: Donnellan, Curr (Machado 84’), Cox, Huntley, Wort, Maxted, Glover (Hegarty 84’), Luscombe (Littlechild 46’), Harney (Lloyd 46’), Delaney, Balaam. Subs unused: Carter, Connelly

 

Entertainment: 5

Reporter’s Star Player: Chloe Donellan (Ascot United)

Attendance (estimate): 80 (10 away)