Laflin brace sets Yellamen on way to 3-0 win
Harry Laflin scored two and Keaton August bagged another as Ascot United beat CB Hounslow 3-0 on Saturday. In Baltic conditions, the Yellamen were worthy winners, bouncing back from their midweek league cup exit in style.
Ascot were well on top in the first half and it took them just seven minutes to take the lead following a fine team goal. George Lock and August linked up on the left, Sean McCormack played the ball back to man-of-the-match James Harper, and Harper’s delicious, hanging cross was met with an equally delicious cushioned header by Harry Laflin, which looped over home ‘keeper Zack Basey.
At the other end, Rolly Illunga couldn’t make the most of a half-chance after Thomas Kanek and Ademola Larukma had combined in the build-up, but after that it was a comfortable ride for Ascot despite being forced into an early chance when Louis Bouwers limped off shortly after that goal.
Laflin planted a header wide from McCormack’s cross – arguably an easier chance than his first – but made amends just before the half-hour mark with an overhead kick after Dan Bailey had headed Tom Scott’s free kick back across goal.
The second half was more uncomfortable for the Yellamen who were scrappy for long spells, although credit to the hosts who rallied and indeed struck the angle of post and bar just after the hour mark.
But Ascot should have scored and hit the woodwork themselves when, after great work from Taylor Morgan in the middle, August’s cross put the ball on a plate for McCormack who somehow managed to thump the crossbar from close range, before Laflin’s thunderous follow-up was heroically charged down by defender Andy Morris.
The hosts’ next and final real chance of setting up a grandstand finish ended when substitute Amari Morgan slashed wide after a promising run by Baruwa – although Sam Gray was on hand to make an awkward save form Jordan Ireland later on – but it was Ascot who wrapped it up four minutes from time when August tucked the ball home first-time from McCormack’s right-wing cross.
Ascot United: Gray, Lock, Everiss (Merrick), Harper, Bouwers (Amate), Bailey, McCormack, Scott (Hamid), Morgan (Merrick), Laflin, August (Northey)
