Ascot win 3-0 to extend sequence
Ascot United made it five wins on the trot with a comfortable victory over Metropolitan Police on Saturday. Liam Tack scored a fine brace either side of Anas Igozouln’s exquisite glancing header, inspiring their side to a 3-0 win and the lofty heights of third in the Isthmian League South Central Division.
Yellamen seek record-equalling win.
Ascot came into the game looking for a fifth consecutive win to equal their best run since promotion to step 4 last season, but standing in their way was a Met Police side who were buoyed by their win over Southall during midweek and were tied on seven points with The Yellamen.
Sean McCormack made his 150th appearance for the hosts who also welcomed new signing Nathan Jones into their squad after his move from Marlow, whereas the Met’s line-up was devoid of injured ‘keeper Liam Beach and striker Sid Gbla who signed from Berks County; instead they had big signing Duarte Murray-Martins from Farnham Town in their ranks.
First half verdict: slow burner
In contrast to their previous victory, the hosts were made to work hard for what was eventually a deserved half-time lead, but only after Murray-Martins had fluffed his lines fifteen minutes in when he side-foot-volleyed wide of a gaping target after Ayoub Enajar had helped Alfie Waters’ cross into the danger area.
After that, Ascot gained a foothold and Igozouln might have opted to shoot early when robbing defender Kynan Kirlew-Wright, only to dither and eventually fire wide.
Igouzouln and Taylor Morgan might then have made more of an opportunity on the half-hour mark – gifted to them by calamitous defending by Kirlew-Wright and Waters – but frustratingly Morgan was offside.
Moment of quality gives Yellamen half-time lead
When the goal finally arrived, it was worth waiting for as Igozouln did well on the left-wing, and after the ball had found itself to the opposite flank it was George Lock and McCormack that combined for the former to cross, and Tack applied a superb, glancing header that looped over Max Foulkes and into the net; 39 minutes played (pictured, shooting-stars.co.uk)
Second half cruise control for impressive Yellamen
Manager Jamie Tompkins had spoken in a pre-match fans’ forum about having a structure which players are thriving in, being attractive to watch and striving to get better, and they certainly looked every-bit a well-drilled outfit after the break.
Solid at the back, Ascot managed to run any remaining steam out of the weary visitors, and almost doubled their lead when Sean Fraser won possession, McCormack played Morgan in, and he lobbed agonisingly wide from outside the box after a hesitant Foulkes had raced from his line.
Pressure eventually yields high-quality goals
But Taylor has had something of a second-coming this season and he would provide the telling delivery that led to Ascot’s second goal on the hour mark. This time it was Fraser again in the build-up, Ollie Mason – who ran Tack close for man-of-the match- teed up Morgan on the left, and he dug out a low cross that Igozouln exquisitely cushioned across Foulkes and into the far corner with the deftest of headers.
Tompkins then made mass changes and three of his five substitutes – Harry Grant, Ben Harris and Connor Holland linked up for what would have been a fine third, only for the latter to fire wide under pressure first-time after Harris had cut the ball back form Grant’s reverse-pass.
But as time ebbed away, the ever-hungry Tack robbed substitute defender Isaac Nkosi, raced clear, and chipped Foulkes for a champagne third.
Ascot United: Scott, Butler, Lock, Tack, Gater, Edwards, McCormack (Payne-James 60’), Morgan (Harris 66’), Fraser (Grant 66’), Igozouln (Holland 66’), Mason (Jones 66’).
Entertainment: 4
Reporter’s Star Man: Liam Tack (Ascot United)
Away fans (estimate): 10