Players mourn Zeke before visitors win 4-2
Ascot United lost 4-2 against in-form Hayes and Yeading United on Tuesday evening. Always chasing the game, Ascot were 3-0 and 4-1 down in a largely one-sided affair, but football was secondary after hearing just before kick-off that former player Ezekiel Williams – well known to both sides – had lost his life earlier aged just 26.
Its almost Ascot new versus Ascot old!
The visitors arrived in strong form having won three and drawn three of their last six league meetings as their surge up the table continues. Lying in a somewhat false position of 11th with enough games in hand to make it into the play-offs, they would surely be confident against an Ascot side who have free-fallen of late. And, with seven players in their squad boasting a combined appearance total of 473 games for Ascot, there was added bite for a positive result against The Yellamen.
Ascot, meanwhile, needed points desperately, and perhaps the main confidence booster was that Hayes had not won on the road this season, even if Ascot themselves hadn’t won any of their previous six outings.
Hayes take their chances
In a stale first-half, the visitors would take their chances and took the lead in the 10th minute when Louis Rogers prodded home after Ascot had made a hash of a corner to their near post.
Ascot had to reshuffle early-on when Elijah Anthony limped off, and they were soon exposed down their left when Dernell Wynter breezed though and crossed for Amari Fashanu, who had the easiest of tap-ins.
Rogers’s long-range shot into the right went through the gloves of Kie Plumley to make it 3-0 in the 42nd minute, before Hani Berchiche at least made it interesting with a rising left-footed strike into the top right within sixty seconds to cut the deficit back to two goals at the break.
Ascot improve after the break, but still comfortable for Hayes
Plumley would make a brace of good saves early-on to keep the score at 3-1, but Rogers would cap a brilliant performance when he smashed home from long-distance in the 62nd minute to make it 4-1; a rare hat-trick from one of the ex-Yellas.
Ascot’s lack of being clinical – often taking one touch too many – would hamper their own ambitions, but a spell of pressure would lead to a late corner from which Quinn Schutter flicked home from Hani Berchiche’s delivery.
With ten minutes remaining there was a glimmer of hope at 2-4, but there would be no further goal to set up a grandstand finale.
But the last word will go to Zeke; his exquisite volley for Ascot United at Egham Town last season was voted goal-of-the-season; we are together in football, and united as one.
Ascot United: Plumley, Bullard-Jeffrey, Schutter, Richardson, Adaje, Allsopp, Brandao, Berchiche, Parkinson, Anthony, Bratvedt. Subs (all used): Deru, Long, Dehghani, Rowan, Mboge
Venue: The Racecourse, Ascot
Attendance: 156
Weather: 9c, partly cloudy
Ascot United MOM: TBC
Entertainment: 2
Away fans estimate: 40
One-word summary: sombre