Strengthened Yellas earn comfortable 4-0 win
Ascot United turned on the style as they eased past local rivals Binfield on Tuesday evening. After an uneventful first half where Ascot somehow found themselves two goals up, they turned the screw after the break with a scintillating second half performance and deservedly doubled their tally to earn their first league win of the season.
Derby day comes early amidst incredible sequence of home games
The Forest Road Derby would be Ascot’s third of seven home games on the trot as favourable draws in the FA Cup, FA Trophy and League Cup all came in-and-around three Racecourse league outings.
Ascot had moved quickly to add familiar names Luis Le Paih and Sam Sesay to their starting eleven – returning from Step-three experience – and they were named alongside debutant Elijah Anthony. Goalkeeper Kacper Orlowski also made his debut in goal, covering for the suspended Sam Swyer.
Just as three days earlier, the visitors arrived with a Wembley legend in their ranks. Dan Bailey skippered Ascot to FA Vase glory three years earlier and made 154 appearances for the Yellas; the likeable defender imparting his wisdom in a coaching capacity with The Moles.
Orlowski shines early before Ascot strike late brace
The first half was a proverbial chess-match. Devoid of chances aside from the opening and closing minutes, it was difficult to see where a goal might come from.
Had Binfield taken their best chance after two minutes it might have been a different game, but Orlowski did superbly well to get down low and block ex-Yellaman Lucias Vine’s drive, before TJ Moorcroft’s follow up was smothered by a packed home defence.
Midway through the half, CJ Fubler in the visitors’ goal saved from Kai Zini, but the game didn’t ignite until late-on when Quaye Vine – brother of Lucias – fell under a clumsy covering challenge in the box, got up, and then was properly fouled. Up he stepped to take the resultant spot-kick, Fubler guessed correctly, but it found the bottom right-hand corner to make it 1-0.
Then, it was Fope Deru’s turn to create number two in the 45th minute when he dinked the ball through for Le Paih, Le Paih cut the ball back towards the near-post, and Kai Zini coolly slotted first-time across Fubler and into the bottom left; 2-0 at half time.
Rampant hosts turn on the style in the second half
After the break it was pretty much one-way traffic.
When Isaac Brown played Deru in to lift over Fubler for number three in the 52nd minute it was a case of how many more his side might score as Binfield ran out of ideas.
Man-of-the-match Le Paih lofted an audacious 50-yard effort wide when Fubler had fluffed his clearance and substitute Cameron Rohart-Brown almost capped a wonderful team move that ended with Zini’s lay-off, only for Fubler to get down low to divert his low left-footed shot across goal away from danger.
By now, the hosts were now both slick and quick in possession. Attack is, they say, the best form of defence.
And another substitute – livewire TJ Mboge – would tee up number four in the 88th minute when his ball across the box picked out Anthony, who cut back onto his left foot right-of-goal and smashed low into the bottom right (pictured, Shooting-Stars.co.uk).
It was a good night for the home faithful, and certainly a good one for a team that welcomed four new starters who ultimately slotted in like a well-oiled machine; aside from Orlowski, Anthony and Le Paih, Sesay would also make his mark.
Onto the next one as they say – and it’s FA Trophy action on Friday night under the lights as Margate provide the next test for Gavin Smith and his troops.
Ascot United: Orlowski, Anthony, Schutter, Clarke-Salter (Rohart-Brown 53’), Pache (Allsopp 72’), Sesay, Deru (Bullard-Jeffrey 70’), Le Paih, Vine (Long 59’), Brown (Mboge 53’), Zini.
Venue: The Racecourse, Ascot
Attendance: 267
Weather: 24c, partly sunny
Ascot United MOM: Luis Le Paih
Entertainment: 4
Away fans estimate: 30
One-word summary: Dominant