Mae is Golden in salvaging 3-3 draw
Ascot United Women scored a dramatic 99th minute equaliser to rescue a point at Worthing on Tuesday evening. Having seen the hosts overturn Ascot’s 2-0 lead and seemingly running out of ideas, Mae Goulden popped up with a late header from fellow substitute Erin Huntley’s free-kick to send 2 travelling ultras and a smattering of yellow slick roadies home relieved.
In an entertaining first half, The Yellawomen came within an inch of taking a seventh minute lead but for the width of an upright. Jacey Lane’s pace took her clear down the right wing, Lane played a neat-one two for Beth Lloyd to lay the ball off to her, and Lane’s cross-shot across home ‘keeper Ella Hunkin crashed back of the inside of the left-hand post.
But the visitors took a deserved lead in the 20th minute with a goal owed as much to an initial, raking pass from Hatte Kettle to Poppy Dearlove on the left. Dearlove was initially thwarted as she shaped to cross, but Lloyd was on hand with another lay off – this time to Mia Delaney – who curled a fine effort over Hunkin from left of goal into the top right hand corner.
And, they were two goals up on the half-hour mark when Lane chased down a lost cause, Hunkin dithered and saw her attempted pass charged down, and although the rebound rolled goalwards, it needed a final touch from Dearlove to double the advantage.
However, having been snuffed out for most of the half, Worthing made it interesting at the break when Ella Newman’s throw-in allowed standout-player Lauren Amerena to escape down the right, and her delicious pass to the far post was gobbled up by Skye Bacon, who rifled a low shot back across Cherry Preisner and into the bottom right.
2-1 at half time, but much to play for after the interval.
The goal before the interval, as the old adage goes, was a crucial one and now buoyant, Worthing gained control against their faltering visitors.
That said, Ascot had threatened first when Bella Cox and Dearlove linked up for the former to volley over, albeit with an incredibly tough chance and from a narrow angle.
But two minutes later, Worthing drew level.
58 minutes played, a corner for the left, and manager Andy Cox will be furious with the space given to Grace Jarrett from Ella Newman’s delivery; the defender planting an unmarked header into the left.
Ascot’s agony was compounded when set-piece specialist Cox’s right-wing corner flew across the six yard box and struck the inside of the left-hand post three minutes later as they came within inches of retaking the lead. But, with 68 minutes played, it was the home side who forged ahead with Amerena involved again – supplying Bacon for a cross that fizzed across the box for substitute Amber Hazlewood to convert at the far post only a minute after her introduction.
A flurry of substitutes threatened much for Ascot but yielded little; the highlight being Anaisa’s Harney’s hold-up play, but a string of long range shots from those around her flew over Hunkin’s bar.
But, with the clock ticking towards the 100 minute mark following a duo of earlier lengthy stoppages, the visitors surged forwards in one last desperate attempt. 85th-minute substitute Ana Machado did superbly well when racing onto a ball down the right wing, and won her side a free kick when pushed to the ground.
With Cox already replaced, set-piece duties fell to Huntley, who produced a telling, outswinging free-kick from near the touch line that Goulden showed most desire to win; nodding into the bottom left to cap a remarkable recovery.
It was a case of late jailbreak for Andy Cox’s side, and their hardy band of supporters who made the tricky midweek trip to Sussex were rewarded with a point on the road.
Ascot move up one place to fifth; Worthing remain in drop-zone territory in eleventh – but there are just four points between them in a congested middle-order.
Next up are Bournemouth Sports, as the league programme continues on Sunday at The Racecourse.
Ascot United: Preisner, Curr (Huntley 67’), Cox (Machado 85’), Kettle, Wort, Kettle, Maxted, Dearlove (Balaam 67’), Fox, Lloyd (Harney 60’), Delaney, Lane (Goulden 67’). Sub unused: Carter
Entertainment: 3
Reporter’s Star Player: Katelyn Wort (Ascot United ) / Lauen Amarena (Worthing)
Attendance (estimate) 80 (10 away)