Ascot United Women impressively progressed to the Quarter Finals of the Southern Region Women’s Football League Cup with a 2-1 victory at Premier Division pacesetters Abingdon United on Sunday.
The Yellawomen led early on courtesy of striker Hayley Cruickshanks (pictured), who got the better of the home defence and slotted home from close range.
Nicole Brown and Cruickshanks again had chances to double the lead, before the pair linked up in the 41st minute for the latter to roll home with the home ‘keeper well off her line.
In the second half, Ascot dug deep with Georgia Luckhurst-McCord and Izzy Woods both making important clearances, although in the middle of that Amelia Kimble kickstarted a flowing move that ended with Woods threading Brown in, whose shot was saved.
Rose McCabe did set up a nervy final five minutes when she scored for the home side, but it proved to be a consolation as Darrel Evans’s side held on.
The win is also a statement of intent from The Yellawomen by beating one of their main title rivals – and all that after Abingdon had hammered fellow title challengers Bournemouth Sports 5-0 at week earlier.
Ascot now travel to Bournemouth next weekend in what is a proverbial title six-pointer.