Grant strikes in stoppage-time to earn 2-2 draw
Harry Grant’s stoppage time equaliser rescued a deserved point for Ascot United at Hayes & Yeading United on Tuesday evening. On a night where the weather and injuries dominated proceedings, the home side overturned Taylor Morgan’s first half opener before Grant popped up at the death in a 2-2 draw.
Threadbare Yellas face tough task
The Yellamen arrived without the services of Joe Gater, Josh Edwards, Ben Harris and Usman Lalustani; Chad Goulter re-signed in an effort to bolster the squad. The hosts, seemingly one of the best-placed to mount a challenge on runaway Farnham, were three points and three places better off than Ascot at kick-off; but crucially played one game less and boasted the meanest defence in the league.
A tough task therefore awaited for the travelling troops, having leaked fifteen goals in their last three games.
First half – more injuries than chances – but Morgan strikes
After a monsoon just before kick-off, the home side were forced into two injury-related substitutions in the opening ten minutes – Jude Mason and George Sippets the unlucky departees – as both sides played with gusto but lacked incision.
Ascot then lost both Ollie Mason and Sean McCormack to injury, but that was either side of Morgan’s opener; the predatory striker nipping onto an awful back-pass, clipping through ‘keeper Juliusz Pazio’s’ legs outside the area, and racing forwards to stroke into an empty net.
Substitute Anas Igozouln then fizzed a low shot wide, but his side were indebted to Mark Scott who stood up well to beat Jonathon Hippolyte’s powerful effort away for Hayes before half time.
Second half – Yellas stung – but mount superb response
United equalised nine minutes into the second half when Kaylon Hinds drilled a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner with Scott helpless.
It looked ominous when James Richmond headed into the same corner directly from a corner to give Hayes a 69th minute lead, and having already lost Morgan to injury just after the second half had restarted, Ascot’s options seemed limited.
Hippolyte then missed a sitter that would have put Hayes out of reach, but a stirring, gutsy response from the visitors saw Aiden Payne-James (pictured) turn provider for Connor Holland to fire wide on the turn before his own sublime curling effort clattered a post with Pazio clutching at thin air.
And just as it looked as if they would leave with nothing, up popped Grant. George Lock swung a cross into the proverbial mixer, Holland showed great strength to lay the ball off in the six pard box, and Grant hammered low and hard into the net, much to the delight of smattering of travelling fans.
What’s next for Ascot?
The Yellamen return home after their three-game road trip when Moneyfields are the visitors on Saturday.
Ascot United: Scott, Lock, Butler, Tack, Fraser, McCormack (Igozouln 36’), Jones, Morgan (Goulter 52’), Holland, Payne-James, Mason (Grant 17’). Sub unused: Bailey
Entertainment: 3
Reporter’s Star Man: Aiden Payne-James
Away fans (estimate): 20