Kew Park Rangers Veterans v Ascot United 2nd X1 Veterans

Report

05.09.2026

KPR 2 – 0 AUFC Vets 2’s

 

Ascot Utd Vets 2’s opened our campaign away at Kew Park Rangers (KPR) and came away empty-handed, beaten by two goals in a game that was far tighter than the scoreline suggests.

 

The fixture began in organisational chaos. GK, Nawala, found himself at entirely the wrong ground, leaving us without a recognised keeper at kick-off. Step forward McIntyre, who volunteered to go in and take the gloves for the first 35 minutes – and, credit where it’s due, he was excellent. Plenty of talking, calm handling and genuinely good distribution from the back. A proper team-first shift.

 

In front of him we looked well organised. McGarry and Lewis struck up a good partnership at centre-half, McGarry dominant in the air against a couple of sizeable KPR strikers and Lewis sweeping up behind him very effectively. Parker and Small were solid at full-back and both offered plenty going forward.

 

Our midfield trio of Dando, Abusweder and debutant Paul Guy set the tempo well and kept the ball nicely, and it was us who edged the first half.

 

Up top Bennett and Hussein started brightly without ever really testing the goalkeeper, while our other debutant, Lutman, gave the KPR defence a torrid time with his energy and constant running in behind.

 

For all that control though, the final ball and the finishing were the missing link – a theme that would define the afternoon.

 

Half-time: 0–0, and the message was simple: more of the same, but be clinical in the final third.

 

Stephenson, Niknejad and McIntyre were all introduced at the break, with Nawala now installed in goal. Stephenson in particular caught the eye, bringing real battle and authority to his time on the pitch. Unfortunately though, we started the second half slowly, gave the ball away in a dangerous area and were punished – KPR breaking swiftly and clinically to take the lead with a well-worked counter-attack.

 

We huffed and we puffed in response. McIntyre, now out on the pitch having handed the gloves back to Nawala, looked a real threat going forward. We hit the woodwork, chances came and went, and a stream of shots sailed over or drifted wide. Once again it was the final pass, the final cross and the final touch that let us down….

 

Then, with 20 minutes to go, the game was settled by a real slice of misfortune. A KPR cross looped up and over Nawala and dropped in at the back post – nothing anyone could do much about, and very unlucky on us. In a strange way, though, it summed up the afternoon.

 

We pushed on to the end. Niknejad was a genuine problem for the hosts with a good combination of energy and directness, and both debutants threatened again – Guy in the middle and Lutman up front – but it simply wasn’t to be.

 

The verdict: plenty of encouraging signs. The defence looked assured, the midfield controlled long spells and our two debutants both made an impression on their first outings. But if we’re going to challenge for silverware this season, our final ball and finishing have to improve. In fairness to the opposition, KPR will be one of the better sides we face all year.