Rayners Lane v Ascot United Men

Report

ASCOT WIN ON ROAD TO MAINTAIN PLAY OFF PUSH

Yellamen win 3-2 at dogged Rayners Lane

 

Ascot United shrugged off a dogged Rayners Lane side to run out 3-2 winners on Saturday. The Yellamen, who were pegged back twice from leading positions, eventually held on to their lead at the third time of asking to return to winning ways after two consecutive defeats.

 

Harris suspended, Dzimba in

In-form striker Ben Harris missed out due to suspension following his dismissal once week earlier, and Kickie Dzimba was handed his first start up top since joining from Binfield.

 

Ascot won November’s reverse fixture 3-1, and although The Lane were sitting in mid-table it was their home form – seven wins and three draws from thirteen outings – that arguably made them a tougher proposition this time around.

 

Exciting opening yields quick goals

Ascot almost led after six minutes when Dzimba’s first-time effort from Anas Igozouln’s cross crashed back of the crossbar – Connor Holland providing the earlier assist – although in the ensuing passage of play Igozouln escaped down the right and drifted in before firing home from a tight angle.

 

At the other end, Mark Scott saved well to deny Frank Keita, but barely a minute later he missed a cross and Josh Green crossed for Jamie Splatt to nod home; eleven minutes played and one-all.

 

Ascot might have led again in the 18^th minute only for Dzimba to scuff his shot on the turn, before the man in the middle took centre stage.

 

“What’s he doing” (or not doing)?

An amazing spell then saw the referee let almost everything go. Firstly, Khalid Simmo was cleaned out on a promising run, then Scott and two home striker came together outside Scott’s area as The Lane threatened, before Igozouln and then Dzimba went down in the box; VAR would have surely had a look.

 

Scott then parried the hosts’ Michael Hill’s powerful effort over the bar in the 43^rd minute, before Ascot took the lead in first-half stoppage time. This time, Dzimba was involved in the build-up, Harvey Harry slipped clear down the left, and he delivered a slide-rule pass that Simmo thumped onto the underside of the bar first-time; the ball had crossed the line but fortunately Simmo nodded home the rebound as his initial strike was incorrectly not awarded.

 

Yellamen almost score early in second half before being pegged back again.

The second half was only five minutes old when the visitors almost added to their lead, although it was only a quite incredible goal-line block that denied them a third. Harry had done well on the wing again and teed up Simmo to cut the ball back, but although Igozouln rifled a sweet first-time effort past home ‘keeper Endurance Johnson, Hill put his body on the line – literally – throwing himself in front of the strike and taking the full force of it in his midriff.

 

Hill battled on gamely until his later substitution, but only after the home side had levelled matters just three minutes after going behind. This time, Josh Edwards did well to hold off Frank Keita facing his own goal – but Keita clearly dragged Edwards back – and when the ball broke to Elliott Buchanan he made no mistake by rifling home past Scott at his near post; sometimes – like the referee who looked ‘Frozen’ at time – you just have to ‘let it go’.

 

Pivotal moments in final quarter

Johnson then got down well to thwart Dzimba as Ascot threatened again – Nathan Jones this time with the assist – but when they broke again in the 67^th minute they would carve out what transpired to be the winner. The three players that were all in the hunt for man-of-the-match would be involved; Igozouln picked out Holland’s intelligent run on the overlap, Holland skipped to the by-line, cut the ball back, and Harry was there to smash home first-time into the roof of the net.

 

Holland would later earn his pick as top dog, but Scott would earn his own corn with a fantastic save in the 71^st minute to tip Keita’s thumping first-time volley away just as it looked destined for the top left-hand corner.

 

Manager Jamie Tompkins used all five substitutes to good effect and they helped see out an equivalent number of minutes of added time. One of his introductions – Aiden Payne-James – won a late footrace before seeing his resultant shot blocked late-on, but three goals were enough on a decent day at the office for the Racecourse boys.

 

The sky turned red in the dying embers of an entertaining affair, but in this part of West London on Saturday evening, it was very much all yellow.

 

What’s next for Ascot?

The Yellamen face a midweek trip to Westfield on Tuesday night – a league game re-arranged after falling foul of the weather earlier in the month – as their road trips continue in Woking.

 

Ascot United: Scott, Jones, Gater (Butler 75’), Fraser (Rogers 75’), Simmo (Lock 82’), Edwards, Igozouln (Payne-James 82’), Grant (Goulter 75’), Harry, Holland, Dzimba.

 

Entertainment: 3

Reporter’s Star Man: Connor Holland (Ascot United)

Away fans (estimate): 25