Claygate Royals Strollers Supervets v Ascot United Supervets

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The word epic is much overused when describing modern sporting contests. The case for using the term to characterise the Ascot United Supervets’ win over Claygate Royals on 22 November is nonetheless a very strong one.

Ascot United travelled with twelve players but with 25minutes on the clock were down to eleven. That became ten from 55 minutes and then, following a nasty hamstring pull for Jon Norris, nine-and-a-half for the last fifteen. Fair play to Norris for standing up front, getting in the way and generally doing all that any man playing on one leg can possibly do. As I say, epic…..

Gaffer Dave Porter was in quietly reflective mood in his post-game press conference. “That felt like a cross between Match of the Day, The Last Stand at Saber River and Casualty”. He wasn’t wrong. “In the first half we scored some fantastic goals, then we had men falling like nine pins and by the end you felt the only thing that was missing was Tom Selleck coming on in the centre of the park to lead the backs to the wall, bodies on the line defence of the visiting goal”.

The game did indeed have pretty much everything. Ascot started slowly, but soon zipped through the gears and took control. Dave Thompson and Chris Ferdinand kept linking up impressively, and that led to Thompson skipping neatly round the keeper to slide the Yellas into the lead.

That lead was doubled just five minutes later when Phil White neatly twisted and turned on the edge of the box before being brought down by the Claygate left-back. No complaints from anyone, clear penalty. Mike Tomlinson pinged that nicely into the top corner, the Yellas were beginning to cruise.

It didn’t take long for a third goal to materialise. Thompson chased a long ball down the channel, held it up well and squared for Ferdinand. The big striker made no mistake, tucking the ball to the keeper’s left. 3-0.

It was at that point that things began to get a little complicated. Poor old Dave Freer went for a 50:50 and came out of it in a heap on the floor. Nothing untoward, just a hamstring going pop. Freer walked gingerly off, he wouldn’t be taking any further part in the day’s proceedings.

Claygate did slowly come back into things. Their 451 formation meant that they did get a fair bit of the ball, but Jon Norris, gaffer Dave Porter and Mark Reed all did all they could to keep them out. As and when they did get through, the Oldham Stopper in nets kept everything out.

As the game moved into the second half, Ascot extended their lead. Chris Ferdinand bagged his second of the afternoon, chipping the ‘keeper exquisitely followed a bodged up Claygate free kick. 4-0 and all looked rosy.

It was at that point that things momentum changed. Phil White had had an excellent game in the middle of the park, but he had to leave the fray with 55 minutes played. Fair play to White for shifting his plans and getting that much game time in. Ascot shifted formation but with just 10 bodies on the pitch Claygate sensed their chance.

The hosts grabbed one back, and then two, but with 15 minutes left Ascot were still in control of things. Cue the Claygate sniper poleaxing the very impressive Norris. He could have gone off, but instead he went up front and basically did whatever he could to get in the way. It wasn’t pretty, but it made a difference.

With Ascot basically at nine-and-a-half men – and three of those men being over 60 and heading for 90 minutes apiece – Ascot inevitably sat back. They had little choice. Claygate kept coming, but the blocks came in, shots went over and wide and Stockford kept everything else out. Pretty? Nope. Effective? Absolutely.

The Yellas showed both that they can play excellent football *and* defend for their lives when they have to. Given that Claygate had beaten the Ascot earlier in the season, all involved should be really proud of the shift they put in. Magnificent stuff.

The Supervets won’t have long to sort their injury concerns out. They are in action again next Saturday (18h30 start) against Croxley Green.

Team. Rob Stockford, Dan Hough, Jon Norris, Mark Reed, Mike Tomlinson, Dave Freer, Dave Porter, Phil White, Martin Kay, Dave Thompson, Chris Ferdinand, Martin Bitmead.

Goals. Chris Ferdinand (2), Dave Thompson, Mike Tomlinson (pen).