Claygate Royals Hares v Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans

It has been a difficult start to the season for the 1s; only 4 points gathered from their opening 4 games. Not the form of aspiring champions!

In their second meeting with Claygate in the space of 14 days, Ascot’s 1st XI looked to build on the excellent performance and result against WLR, and to right the injustice of a mere point from the home fixture in this tie. Electing to defend against the strong wind in the first half, Ascot batted bravely, despite being forced into an early change after Newall (showing no signs of fatigue despite having played only 17hrs previously) replaced Tanfield, the latter pulling a calf muscle. As in the reverse fixture, Claygate were willing runners and posed threat on the break, very direct in their play. This approach nearly paid dividends twice in the early stages but Lyons made excellent stops to foil both opportunities.

Ascot grew and played some good football, none more so in taking the lead, Moroney meeting a well-weighted low cross from Fennell following some neat play from the back through midfield.

Claygate responded. A big side, set pieces were definite attacking opportunities and from a well delivered corner they nearly equalised following a scramble in the area. Result – another corner. On this occasion, from an even better delivery, the opportunity to equalise was clear, with the referee deciding Newall had handled the ball deliberately despite his arm being down by his side and his back to the ball. Penalty. Ascot argued their case, contesting the decision and pointing out that the initial contact from the corner had been by the Claygate player forearming the ball towards goal. Unsurprisingly, the decision stood. Fortunately for Ascot, Lyons was in no mood to be beaten, making an excellent save to his left from the spot kick. 1-0 half time.

General consensus was a job relatively well done.  Against a strong wind and direct threat, Claygate had been limited to a handful of chances and Ascot had possessed a threat of their own. For the second half with the wind, the direction was to play more on the floor, creating chances by moving the opposition from side to side.

But this never really happened. Claygate pressed high and unusually Ascot never really looked comfortable in possession. The game became stretched and in all actuality Claygate had the greater volume of chances, Lyons’ leading a somewhat charmed life. As in the reverse meeting, Ascot needed a second goal to kill the game off but sadly, replicating their last meeting, Claygate defended resolutely and good chances that would be buried on a different day went begging.

As the 90 minutes approached, Ascot looked the most comfortable they had all afternoon – keeping better possession, causing problems for Claygate’s defence and coping more easily with the direct threat of their opposition. With 3 minutes remaining, a long ball forward was met well by Johnson, heading clear. Despite no appeal from anyone and no obvious unlawful contact, the referee penalised Johnson (was this an overspill from the sin bin that had been given to the aforementioned just before half time?) awarding Claygate a free kick 20yrds outside the box. Set piece time!

The delivery again was good but defended, a corner the result. But this time, the resulting well delivered corner was met solidly by the forehead of Claygate centre back, with the ball nestling in the far side netting. History had repeated itself: Ascot in the lead and comfortable but not clear; Claygate fighting until the end, having an equaliser at the death.

Unfortunately for Ascot, it was to get worse. Caught in possession on the touchline, Ascot conceded a throw, which was taken quickly to set Claygate on the break. The delivery from their left was put into the corridor of uncertainty, and in attempting to divert it away from the awaiting Claygate player at the far post, Ascot conceded the winner via own goal.

Ascot did not deserve to lose (and certainly have not deserved to take just 1pt from 6 against Claygate) but today Claygate deserved their reward. Quality on a  football pitch is desirable; unwavering, prepared to die for the cause commitment essential. Today, Claygate had more of the latter than the away side, hence deserving the win.

Up next for the 1s, a week off before the home fixture against the Whippets. With destiny no longer in their own hands, all Ascot can now do is accumulate as many points as they can and keep their fingers crossed that they are not alone in dropping points.