Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25/02/2025 | 19:45 | The Pitching In Isthmian Football League - South-Central Division | 2024-2025 |
Ground
| Woking Park |
|---|
| Woking, Surrey, England, GU22 9BA, United Kingdom |
Report
ASCOT FIGHT BACK TO BEAT WESTFIELD
Yellamen produce stirring recovery from 2-0 down
Substitute Ben Harris came off the bench to nod home a dramatic late winner for Ascot United at Westfield on Tuesday. Trailing 2-0 and lucky to still be in touch, The Yellamen dug themselves out of an abyss to put their play-off hopes back on track.
An abysmal start, an abyss to climb and an absurd opening
In a nightmare start for the visitors, the home side could have been four-nil up inside eight minutes, although fortunately for Ascot it was only one-nil. The goal itself came after just thirteen seconds; Lui Edwards slamming into the bottom right after a defensive calamity.
Mark Scott then twice saved brilliantly from Adaje Mayowa either side of his scuffed clearance that looped back over him and wide for a goal kick, but a complete failure to apply any pressure on John Adebiyi from a throw-in led to the defender punting over Scott from long-range in the 22nd minute to make it 2-0.
“We didn’t see that coming”
Against the run of play, Ascot responded a minute later when Kickie Dzimba made a nuisance of himself from Nathan Jones’s cross, and Harvey Harry slotted the loose ball into the bottom right.
Home defender Kyle Bailey was cleaned out by a team-mate in attempting to keep that effort out, and after hobbling off injured there would be no further chances in the remaining 22 minutes of the half, which ended 2-1 to Westfield.
Ascot started the second half with intent – and that would continue throughout as they played with more gusto – and got an early reward when Dzimba bundled home Khalid Simmo’s dangerous cross from the left flank first-time; the cross having split the home defence and ‘keeper apart in the six-yard box.
Westfield were as woeful in the later stages as Ascot were in the opening ones, and after Harris’s 77th minute introduction, there was a new threat.
Ben take a bow
And with 82 minutes on the clock, Harris did was Harris does best – use his head – with a cushioned header around the penalty spot from Scott’s thumping free-kick out of his own half; home ‘keeper Lewis Gallifent electing to come and ending up in no-man’s land as the ball bounced into the net, before Harris wheeled away in celebration.
After that, Harris was as good in defence as he was up top, and his galvanised side never really looked like surrendering their hard-fought turnaround.
As the hosts came off, the travelling fans acknowledged former Yellaman Sammy Balogun, who was a staple part of their FA Vase run and monumental in their semi-final win at Corsham; their respect for him will never wane.
Nathan Jones earnt himself another man-of-the-match award from the smattering of travelling supporters, and on a night when no other league games survived the recent deluges, The Yellamen put themselves eleven points clear of sixth-placed Raynes Park Vale and level with Kingstonian, although games in hand are in the favour of the chasers.
Entertainment: 3
Star Man: Nathan Jones (Ascot United)
Ascot United: Scott, Rogers, Jones, Gater (Butler 77’), Fraser, Simmo (Grant 71’), Dzimba (Harris 77’), Holland, Harry (Payne-James 87’), Mason (Lock 77’), Curtis.