Villains beat Yellamen 3-0 in windy conditions
Ascot United were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Hanworth Villa on Saturday afternoon despite a spirited second half display. The Yellamen trailed one-nil at the break as the hosts mastered the blowy conditions, and although a trio of second half substitutes added fresh impetus, the home side clinically added two further goals to outline their own title credentials.
With striker Aiden Higgs suspended and fellow goal-getter Harry Laflin on the bench following a hamstring injury, Ascot had added former US Major League striker Taylor Morgan to their ranks; Taylor himself having starred for Fleet against Ascot in a pre-season friendly.
In blustery conditions both sides struggled, although The Villains would create all of the chances despite kicking into the wind. And, the first of them would give them a 16th minute lead when they broke quickly, Mesach Williams threaded in Brandon Brazey, and Brazey nipped into to roll the ball into the right hand corner.
Scott Walker blasted over when well-placed and Sam Merson almost capitalized when Sam Gray came and changed his mind as the ball held up in the wind, but Ascot limited any further damage and finally threatened a minute before the break only for Riccardo Andrady’s effort to be charged down after Aaron Berry had laid off Jonny Denton’s free kick.
Laflin’s introduction at half time would almost pay early dividends, but by that time the home side were already two goals up after they broke from an Ascot corner, Walker picked out Merson’s run, and he beat Gray with a speculative cross-shot from right of goal that bounced into the bottom left; 48 minutes played.
Laflin almost pulled a goal back two minutes later when his deflected effort squirmed wide for a corner, from which Dan Bailey headed straight at ‘keeper Terry Buss.
Morgan then came on, followed by James Richardson, and then the Yellamen had enough pace on the pitch to surely grab a lifeline.
But sadly for them, Denton’s swivel and shot was their last decent chance with almost half-an-hour remaining, before Brazey struck the crossbar from long range as Hanworth almost killed the game in the 75th minute.
And, as injury time ticked by, they rubbed salt into Ascot’s wounds when Gray’s clearance was charged down and Brazey was on hand to roll the loose ball home.
The Yellamen will regroup for Tuesday night’s visit of unbeaten Abbey Rangers.
Ascot United: Gray, Lock, Haworth, Carey, Bouwers, Bailey, Andrady, Denton, Davies (Morgan 60’), Hodges (Laflin 46’), Berry (Richardson 65’). Sub unused: Evans
