Harrow Borough v Ascot United Men

Report

ASCOT WIN AT HARROW TO GO THIRD

Yellamen make it seven wins on spin with 3-0 triumph

 

Ascot United weathered an early storm – and the similar conditions – as they romped to victory at Harrow Borough on Saturday. The visitors were under pressure with the wind in their faces in a first half where they took a surprise lead, before asserting total control after the break on an afternoon where they moved up to third in the league with a record seventh win on the trot.

 

Yellamen look to extend sequence against faltering Borough

Ascot’s six-game winning sequence had propelled them into the play-off berths, and standing in their way of a record seventh was Harrow Borough, a side who boasted the best home form in the league but had slipped down the table after just one league win in six.

 

The Yellamen were playing their first game of the post-Sean McCormack era after he signed off in their prior weekend victory; Khalid Simmo taking the number seven shirt in an attacking line-up in front of November player-of-the-month Harry Grant, who returned after missing last week’s win.

 

Yellamen ride their luck before Harry’s heroics

The miserable conditions didn’t make for a good spectacle, although the home side carved out plenty of chances and would be disappointed not to have taken at least one of them.

 

Mark Miskin threaded in Dernell Wynter in the 12^th minute but he side-footed wide of a gaping target, before Mark Scott saved Tyrese Osbourne’s low drive with his legs.

 

Harry McCorkell drilled agonisingly wide of the right-hand upright the 18^th minute and would later race through to shoot from a tight angle, only for Scott to get enough on the ball to divert it round the same post; another heart-in-mouth moment.

 

In between that, Connor Holland miscued a decent chance before Taylor Morgan’s follow-up was blocked in a rare Ascot attack midway through the half, but with their second chance of the period they carved out a lead.

 

Ollie Lahtinen-Kalsi’s throw-in on the right got his side moving, Holland laid the ball off to Grant, and as the space opened up for Grant he stole twenty metres before unleashing a thunderbolt that flew past home ‘keeper Andrew McCorkell and in off the underside of the crossbar.

 

Right wing doubts after no return of the Mack?

After the break, Ascot had the wind in their sails and signalled their intent to push forwards in the 54^th minute when the impressive Lahtinen-Kalsi’s shot was blocked, before Simmo’s curling effort in the afters was brilliantly tipped away for a corner by McCorkell.

 

Lahtinen-Kalsi, thriving at right-back and linking up well with Simmo on the same flank, then delivered the cross of the game which led to Ascot’s second goal in the 57^th minute. Simmo, always looking to make something happen, raked the ball out to Lahtinen-Kalsi on the right, and he drilled a sublime, outswinging low cross that took the home defence out of the equation affording Holland the easiest of chances on the edge of the six yard box, which he slotted through McCorkell’s legs first-time.

 

Morgan might have lobbed home for a third only for McCorkell to race out and stifle his effort on the edge of the area, before his replacement – Harvey Harry – got in the mix soon after his own introduction only to fire wide.

 

Super Simmo has last word

With time ticking away, Harrow had already run out of ideas and looked every bit a side lacking confidence, but take nothing away from Ascot who – as they had done in their recent win at Raynes Park Vale – controlled the closing stages.

 

Up until this point there were several candidates for man-of-the-match, including Lahtinen-Kalsi and Holland, but Simmo stole the show with a quite brilliant third six minutes from time.

 

This time, he picked up the ball on the right wing in the final third, before drifting inside his marker and firing back across McCorkell into the bottom right for a fine virtuoso goal; 3-0 and a job very well done for Jamie Tompkins and his troops.

 

The win also cemented Ascot’s place at the top of the form table, duly celebrated by the fifteen-or-so hardy travelling supporters that congregated behind the goal to applaud their side as they left the pitch.

 

Sean set the bar high. And, in North West London, those following him cleared it at the first attempt.

 

The challenge now is to raise it higher, which after their latest eye-catching result they know they can surely do.

 

What’s next for Ascot?

Ascot United entertain struggling Guernsey at The Racecourse next Saturday at the earlier kick-off time of 1.30pm.

 

Ascot United: Scott, Lahtinen-Kalsi, Butler, Jones, Gater, Edwards, Simmo (Lock 84’), Grant, Morgan (Harry 70’), Holland, Igozouln (Payne-James 80’). Subs unused: Harris, Fraser

 

Entertainment: 4

Reporter’s Star Man: Khalid Simmo (Ascot United)

Away fans (estimate): 15