Solitary late goal knocks Yellawomen out
Ascot United Women were knocked out of the Berks and Bucks County Cup by sixth-tier Newport Pagnell Town on Sunday.
The game itself was far from a vintage, and fully twenty-one minutes had elapsed before Leah Robertson scooped an effort wide for the hosts.
At the other end, Courtney Briggs escaped Alix Todd’s attentions and crossed for Becky Shephard, who fired over first-time.
Liv Glover then fired wide for Ascot in the 38th minute, before Ascot ‘keeper Sophie Allen was almost undone when attempting to play out, although she recovered to deny Briggs.
Leah Littlechild’s header early in the second half was well blocked by her opposite number eight Rachael Mumford as Ascot threatened first, although Allen made a brilliant save in the 52nd minute when the visitors’ Alex Bartlett got goal-side – Allen stood up well to maintain parity – but in a delicately poised game Charlie Torry’s fine strike sailed over visiting ‘keeper Laura Beevor’s bar after good work from Littlechild and substitute Phil Holden.
Lauren Knight and Littlechild then combined well only for Emma Gladman to nick the ball off Glover’s feet – Ascot trying to put the game to bed – but Newport posed a threat of their own and Erin Huntley’s fine tackle on substitute Jasmine Spence averted danger after Shephard had teed her up.
Huntley had a fine game for Ascot and she combined well with Chloe Ball for Holden to fire first-time onto the foot of the left-hand post with nine minutes remaining, but it would be Newport who struck the killer blow three minutes from time when the lively Spence raced clear of the Ascot defence and kept her head to slot past Allen.
Ascot United: Allen, Luckhurst-McCord, Todd, Drage, Huntley, Fox, Littlechild, Taggart, L. Robertson, Rowntree, Glover. Subs (used): Knight, Holden, Ball, Doyle, Torry
Entertainment: 2
Reporter’s Star Player: Kelsey Mugford (Newport Pagnell Town)
Photo: Liv Glover is denied (shooting-stars.co.uk)