SV Darmstadt v Ascot United 1st X1 Veterans

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Saturday 17 May 2025

SV Darmstadt Vets 5-3 Ascot United Vets

The second game of the 2025 Ascot United FC Vets’ tour saw the Yellas pit their wits against the old boys of SV Darmstadt 98. Darmstadt had style, class and finesse, but that didn’t put Mike Tomlinson’s men off. Indeed, 45 minutes into what was a fascinating encounter, Ascot were 3-2 up and in danger of dishing out what would – so it later became apparent – have been a highly usual defeat for Die Lilien (literally, ‘The Lilies’). A shock Ascot win didn’t ultimately transpire, but the Yellas can be mighty pleased with the performance that they put in.

The Darmstadt side was littered with former professionals. The hosts generally have a squad of around 25 to choose from, and between them they have around 1,500 – yes, just the 1,500 – appearances across the first and second divisions of the German Bundesliga. 17 of the squad were in attendance for the Ascot game and although a few former pros couldn’t make it (former Norwich and Huddersfield manager David Wagner, for example, would have played had he not been away on holiday) they were still a side rippling with talent.

Dennis Wailand, for example, made 92 appearances for FSV Mainz across the top two divisions under a certain Mr Juergen Klopp. Injury ultimately cut his playing career short, but that didn’t prevent him still having what must have been rocket-boosters on the back of his boots. He still had pace to burn and a real eye for goal.

With such a talent playing wide left, the aim was simply to stop him getting the ball. Still, that gets tricky with performers like Marco (‘Toni’) Sailer and Elton de Costa pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Sailer, boasting a beard that made Darren Lewis’s effort look like the work of an absolute beginner, was part of the Darmstadt side that rose from the third to the first division across four seasons (2013-2016).

Sailer had a lot of the Didier Deschamps about him. His partner in crime in the middle, Elton de Costa, couldn’t have been more different. Born in Brazil, he’d come to Germany to play professional football. He played 149 times for Darmstadt scoring 27 goals, the most famous of which came in the 122ndminute of a promotion play-off against Armina Bielefeld. That goal got Darmstadt promoted and the status of club legend. See here for that effort moment in all its glory….

https://youtu.be/9cIxIbyPgJc?si=WTLvw0iwu_YOOPFz

Darmstadt were subsequently big favourites, yet Ascot – much to everyone’s credit – very much went toe-to-toe with their opponents. Indeed, it was the Yellas who took the lead; big Loz Munns went forward for a corner, and was in precisely the right place when the ball dropped. He thundered it left of the ‘keeper and into the back of the net.

Darmstadt didn’t take long to reply. Costa smoothly fed the ball wide to Wailand and the speedster raced clear. 1-1. That might have been the cue for Darmstadt to take control and thrash ahead. They did indeed go 2-1 up, but the Yellas fought back, Ian Davies robbing the otherwise very stylish centre half and cooly slotting into the bottiom corner. 2-2.

As the game moved into the middle of the three thirty-minutethirds, Ascot had the audacity to take the lead (again). Adam Fennell jinked in from the left past a defender, touched the ball out of his feet and smashed it goalwards. The host keeper was struggling to get across to his left, but he had no chance at all once the ball took a deflection and flew to his right. Good strike from the edge of the box, and the Yellas were (back) in front.

The bear had been poked. Not that Darmstadt roared back to dominate, but Weiland bagged another and De Costa pinged a free kick beyond Rob Stockford’s left hand. Neither Stockford nor Dwaine Bryan were nonetheless over-busy; Stockford made one excellent stop at Weiland’s feet, whilst Bryan’s distribution again caught the eye.

Darmstadt did managed to put a little blue water between the sides with a fifth goal, but Jon Bennett and Adam Moroney both crafted decent chances for Ascot, while Tony Everest cruised along impressively in the middle of the park. Shout out to Martin Kay for doing everything he could to keep Weiland quiet in the second 45; respect due, a job well done by the man from Leeds.

Darmstadt therefore ultimately came out on top, but the Yellascan most definitely be proud of the shift that they put in. Top stuff.

Respect due to the hosts, too. Good players, even better hospitality both pre- (‘Kaffee and Kuchen’ for everyone beforehand!) and post-game (steak, sausage, chips and coleslaw, all on the house). A proper day to remember and, fingers crossed, one that hopefully can be repeated in Ascot at some point in the future.

Brilliant stuff.