Yellamen run riot against Police
Returning striker Taylor Morgan was the star as Ascot United routed Met Police 5-2 on Saturday. Morgan scored a brace and weighed in with an assist in a glittering ninety minute display, inspiring The Yellamen to victory on the road.
As good a time as any to see the Police?
There is never a good time to be playing with the police, least of all leading up to Christmas, but The Yellamen were looking for a reaction from their midweek defeat at South Park. As with Ascot, the hosts had also struggled for consistency this season; at least on paper this looked set to be a close affair at their well-appointed Imber Court home.
Morgan back in an attacking starting eleven
Morgan returned for Ascot United having previously played 56 times for The Yellamen between 2020 and 2022, and the proven goalscorer – who netted 17 times during that spell – took his place in an attacking starting line-up.
Fabulous first half for Ascot
The Yellamen were devastating in the first half and even after they conceded a soft equaliser, they showed great character in bouncing back.
Indeed, it took just sixteen seconds for Morgan to mark his return, crafting space down the right before swinging in a cross which Matthew gleefully hooked on the volley past home ‘keeper Liam Beach.
Met Police hadn’t threatened until they were gifted an equaliser when Harry Grant needlessly conceded a free-kick. Ascot defender Dan Bailey got under the resultant delivery and almost headed past Hugo Sobte who kept the ball out, although ‘Police defender Laurence Ernest was on hand to nod home the pieces; fifteen minutes and all-square.
Taylor-made goals take sting out of the Police
Grant then saw a header well tipped over by Beach as Ascot sought a second, before the home side wasted a good chance when Kareemi Akinnibi mis-timed a far-post header when well-placed.
However, the rest of the half belonged to Ascot and they scored a sublime second in the 28th minute – Matthew again – as he placed a wonderful glancing header into the left-hand corner from McCormack’s cross; Morgan setting up the delivery.
And if that wasn’t good enough, Morgan helped himself to a goal seven minutes before the interval; George Lock finding McCormack who delivered a delicious cross that Morgan brilliantly clipped first-time into the bottom left.
Lock and McCormack then combined again for what might have been a fourth just before the break, but Matthew was unable to convert.
Changes mix it up as Yellamen keep foot on the gas
There was no let-up in intensity after the break and they were 4-1 up in the 51st minute when Beach couldn’t deal with McCormack’s delivery and Grant hoovered up in the aftermath by tucking into the left.
The home side did reduce the deficit shortly afterwards to an almost eerie silence; Charlie Brown snooping around to loop a header over Sobte and into the net to bring it back to 4-2.
But it was otherwise all Ascot – Alfie Wates almost sliced McCormack’s delivery into his own net, Beach tipped Matthew’s header over from impressive half-time substitute Chad Goulter’s cross and Morgan’s snap-shot fizzed wide from a tight angle as Jamie Tompkins’ side relentlessly pressed.
The thirty-five or so vocal travelling supporters then saw Matthew plant arguably his easiest opportunity high and wide when well-placed, but they were in dreamland three minutes from time as Morgan netted his second and Ascot’s fifth.
This time, even defender Dan Bailey was involved in the right wing build-up – McCormack squared the ball – and even though Beach saved Matthew’s low-effort it was Morgan who showed a true striker’s instinct by reacting first to thump low into the net.
The Yellamen were well worth their win and maybe, just maybe, this is the performance that will turbo-charge their campaign.
What’s next for Ascot?
It’s a pre-Christmas homecoming for The Yellamen in the shape of Chertsey Town, two days before Christmas.
Ascot United: Sobte, Lock, Edwards (Ellis 60’), Bailey, McCormack, T. Morgan, H. Grant, Welch, Matthew, C. Morgan (Goulter 46’), Lalustani (Harris 77’). Subs unused: Lahtinen- Kalsi, Balogun
Entertainment: 4
Reporter’s Star Man: Taylor Morgan
Away fans (estimate): 35
