Brentford Women v Ascot United Women

Report

BRENTFORD END ASCOT CUP DREAMS

 

Bees sting Yellas with 4-2 victory

 

Brentford Women ended Ascot United Women’s quest to make FA Cup history as The Yellawomen succumbed to a 4-2 defeat in West London on Sunday afternoon. The hosts were on top and carved out a 3-0 lead just after the break, only for Ascot to stage a gutsy fightback before Brentford added a fourth in added time.

 

Lower-tier Bees possess sting up front

Despite plying their trade one level below Ascot in the London and South East Regional League Division one, Brentford were in imperious form at the top and in strikers Ashley Cheatley and Chloe Logie they had plenty of firepower; the prolific pair having netted 43 goals between them in barely double-digit games.

 

But Ascot are also leading the way in the Southern Region Women’s Football league and they had seamlessly continued their form in interim manager Andy Cox’s first game in charge one week earlier – a comfortable win on the road at Winchester – sending them with confidence into the tie at Brentford’s Bedfont Sports Club home

 

Bees well on top in first half

The home side, buoyed by the majority of the 300-or-so in attendance, were in control from the start and it took a brilliant save from Jody Gray-Piazza after thirteen minutes – diving down to her own left – to turn Cheatley’s stinging effort around a post.

 

The Yellawomen withstood long spells of sustained pressure, although they almost carved out a decent chance midway through the half only for Leah Littlechild to be superbly tackled as she shaped to shoot; Liv Glover also involved in the move.

 

Home ‘keeper Evie Witek then made as good a save as her opposite number has done earlier, getting down well to save Chloe Ball’s low effort after Littlechild had picked her out with a raking cross-field pass.

 

But the dam finally burst at the other end in the 31^st minute after more pressure from the hosts, although it took a breathtaking overhead kick from Cheatley to beat Gray-Piazza; the goal owed as much to Cheatley’s neat footwork with her back to goal before finding the top right hand corner.

 

And, when Ascot gave away possession cheaply four minutes before the break, Cheatley slotted into the bottom left to leave Ascot with a mountain to climb after the break.

 

Half time substitutions pay dividends, but only after Brentford add a third

 

Cox threw on Leah Robertson and Phil Holden for the second period in an attempt to mix it up, although it looked all over when Logie tapped home ninety seconds later after Gray-Piazza had allowed a cross to squirm through her grasp.

 

At that point it looked like damage limitation, but, credit to Ascot, they got themselves back in touch with a quickfire double.

 

Robertson was virtually unplayable and catalysed an unlikely fightback when she showed great strength to hold off the covering defence when racing onto Kate Fox’s through ball, before slotting into the bottom right hand corner in the 51^st minute.

 

Incredibly, Glover’s cross-shot looped into the far corner barely sixty seconds later to further reduce the arrears, and it was game on.

 

Glover then showed quick feet on the hour mark to check back onto her right-foot and fire agonisingly wide of the right-hand post with a curling shot from a tight angle, and with Brentford visibly rattled, the travelling supporters grew in belief with their team.

 

But a double injury hold-up for the hosts quashed Ascot’s momentum – a well-timed period of respite for them – and when play restarted Cheatley almost put the game to bed when she lobbed onto the crossbar.

 

And when Jess Drage brought Cheatley down in the penalty area with 70 minutes played the stage was set for Logie to all-but-wrap matters up, although Gray-Piazza’s own stage was set higher as she stood up well to beat Logie’s spot-kick away.

 

Holden would herself hobble off for Ascot adding to what was already a mounting count of added time, and is the overages began, Witek was alert to cut out Vince’s wicked cross to the far post as Ascot desperately sought an equaliser.

 

But the leveller did not come before the clock eventually stopped past the 100-minute-mark, and as Ascot pressed forwards they were undone at the other end when Logie tapped home at the far post to make it 4-2 following a swift break down the right wing six minutes before the end.

 

Brentford will surely be playing Step five football next season, and with the quality they possess then Ascot also have a golden chance to move up to step four.

 

And, as the old adage goes, they can now focus on the league and achieving that goal.

 

Ascot United: Gray-Piazza, Luckhurst-McCord, Todd (Robertson 46’), Huntley, Drage, Torry (Holden 46’ (Doyle 87’)), Fox, Littlechild, Lloyd, Ball (Vince 78’), Glover. Subs unused: Sadler, Knight, Rowntree

 

Entertainment: 5

Reporter’s Star Player: Ashley Cheatley (Brentford) / Leah Robertson (Ascot United).

Away fans (estimate): 35