Horndean v Ascot United Men

Report

YELLAMEN MOVE FOURTH WITH HORNDEAN WIN

 

Impressive 2-0 success on road lifts Ascot into play-offs

 

Ascot United moved into an early-season play-off berth with a 2-0 victory at Horndean on Saturday. In an impressive first-half display, goals from Cheick Sylla and Fope Deru preceded a well-managed second half, earning Gavin Smith’s side their third win on the trot

 

Yellamen seek to break duck on the road

Having lost both their two league and one FA Cup games on the road, this was a chance for Smith’s side to build on their back-to-back FA Trophy and League Cup victories in the prior eight days.

 

Standing in their way was a Horndean side below them in the table, and although Five Heads Park had been a happy hunting ground for Ascot in recent seasons, times are different, even if the hosts’ sloping pitch is not.

 

Into the starting line-up came debutant Andrio Brandao alongside Deru, who had come off the bench for his debut during midweek.

 

Excellent first half sees Ascot deservedly lead

In an entertaining first half, The Yellamen – playing in blue – were exceptional in patches and created a string of chances.

 

The first of them came in the 11^th minute when Sylla mis-connected with a header from Troy Burray’s delivery, although with home ‘keeper Myles Bowman stranded, the ball could have gone anywhere than just over the bar.

 

At the other end, Kie Plumley weighed in with a couple of good saves – the best of them came in the 14^th minute when Ryan Carroll and Ollie Godziemski combined for Michael O’Connell, who saw his snapshot turned onto a post by Plumley’s fine reaction stop.

 

Josh Edwards then headed Ibby Sankoh’s corner over as Ascot were gifted a succession of free headers from set-plays, but they took a 19^th minute lead with a goal right out of the top drawer.

 

Brandao and Deru’s neat interchange near the right-wing corner flag teed up the chance, Kai Allsopp’s give-and-go with the latter opened up space, and after he had picked out Jaheim Kamara, Sylla ultimately nipped in to sweep home.

 

Bailey Lamb then headed over another Sankoh corner, but Ascot made their dominance count with a second goal in the 40th minute. This time, The Deans’ own attack broke down on the edge of Ascot’s penalty area, Kamara picked up the loose ball and sprinted clear, before spinning and playing a well-timed pass for Deru to break the offside trap; Deru raced clear, checked, and smashed into the top left hand corner.

 

Those two players had also combined moments before for Fope to bring a fine save out of Bowman, but Plumley would produce another fine save to preserve Ascot’s two-goal cushion in the 43^rd minute when he stood up well to deny Godziemski after he had got goal-side on the end of Brandon Chebby’s excellent curling pass over the visiting defence.

 

Sylla might have done better than glance another free header wide from man-of-the-match Sankoh’s 44^th minute corner, but the visitors nonetheless took a 2-0 lead in at the break.

 

Two key moments define uneventful second half

The second period was more of a slow-burner with the visitors content to manage the game, although their smattering of perfectionist fans would rue a lack of delivery into the box when presented with many opportunities to do so.

 

That said, it was an otherwise solid display, although the game hinged on two key moments.

 

The first came in the 66^th minute when both Chebby and Carroll found themselves completely unmarked at the far post following a cross from the right. Carroll would be the one to take aim with the goal at his mercy – but flashed wide-right of a gaping target.

 

Defender Josh Edwards superbly outmuscled Tommy Whitehead who threatened to get his head on a dangerous 72^nd minute delivery as Horndean pressed again, and the clocked ticked ever closer towards three points.

 

But the second key moment came with nine minutes to go when home substitute Oliver Erdinc played-in Godziemski – it looked odds-on as if he would score from close range – but Plumley somehow got down low to his left with a big hand to keep the shot out, before the loose ball was hacked off the line to thwart any threat of a grandstand finish.

 

The Yellamen certainly clicked into an attacking gear in the first half and will need to bottle that up and repeat it again, but there is a feeling that things are starting to click into place for this new-look side.

 

Newbie Deru was a constant menace up-top and provided much-needed support for Sylla, who himself continues make his mark having now taken his goal tally to five form eight.

 

But the day’s plaudits went to Sankoh who was excellent in defence, positive going forward, and solid from his set-piece corners.

 

Long may it continue.

 

What’s next for Ascot?

Ascot United are at home on Tuesday night when their 100% home record is likely to face its sternest test yet, with the visit of Kingstonian.

 

Ascot United: Plumley, Sankoh, Murray, Edwards, Lamb, Allsopp (Lock 80’), Deru (Garlinge 80’), Le-Paih, Sylla (Trickett 83’), Brandao (Simo 77’), Kamara (Dehghani 83’).

 

Venue: Five Heads Park

Attendance: 145

Weather: 17c, partly sunny, showery, then sunny

Reporter’s star man: Ibrahim Sankoh (Ascot United)

Entertainment: 3

Away fans estimate: 6

One-word summary: Energetic