Keeper makes his mark in 1-0 Ascot win
Ascot United goalkeeper Mark Scott produced a succession of fine saves as his side stole all three points at Metropolitan Police on Saturday afternoon. After conceding most of the chances to their opposition, Ascot struck early in the second half through Anas Igozouln before Scott’s late show earnt a second consecutive win and clean sheet.
Struggling Met have form to forget
The home side went into the game languishing just above the relegation zone, although the dreadful form of the four teams below them – all winless in their last six – had kept The Met above the proverbial precipice.
Ascot had won September’s reverse fixture 3-0 courtesy of Liam Tack’s brace and Igozouln, and having won last season’s encounter at Imber Court, they had high hopes of securing their first double of the season as they continue to probe just below the play-off berths.
First half: Police have more sting
It was a poor first half showing from Ascot who were a little fortunate to go in level at half time.
Home striker Donell Moore forced an unorthodox save out of Scott after fourteen minutes and midway through the half Wilson Bernal curled just wide of the top right after the referee had intelligently allowed play to continue after an earlier foul on Moore.
Ascot’s only chance came between those visiting efforts when Chad Goulter led the breakaway, Harry Grant played Khalid Simmo in, and he checked back onto his right before forcing Zack Basey into a good save high up at his near post.
Ascot almost undid themselves just before the half hour mark – ironically at the end of their longest sequence of passing moves in the first half – when Sean Fraser’s errant pass found Ezra Ikebuasi on the right wing, and he crossed for Moore whose first-time drive curled inches over the angle of post-and-bar.
Bernal’s low shot then forced another sprawling save from Scott, before Joe Gater limped off before half-time to be replaced by Ollie Kalsi.
Ascot much-improved after interval
The Yellamen were much-improved after the break and were rewarded in the 51st minute by scoring what transpired to be the winning goal. The goal itself owed much to the tenacity of Grant, who demonstrated how to win the ball back fairly with a crunching midfield tackle, before Simmo picked out Goulter on the left, Goulter cut the ball back into the six-yard box, and Igozouln side-footed home.
Grant then fired wide of an open target when he might have otherwise punished Basey’s poor clearance, but despite being in the ascendancy, Ascot couldn’t add a killer second goal.
Home substitutions almost pay dividends; Scott proves unbeatable.
As the clock ticked past 78 minutes, substitute Igor Souza wriggled his way through Ascot’s defence before Mason Galloway dragged wide from long range, before Galloway blazed over moments later when Souza linked up with fellow substitute Alfie Walter to deliver a dangerous right-wing cross that owed more than the finish bestowed upon it.
But after Noah Amissah had stung Scott’s palms in the 82nd minute, it looked for all the world that Amissah would draw his side level three minutes later when he got goal-side of Josh Edwards, although Scott stood up and brilliantly kept out Amissah’s stinging effort.
At the other end, the improving Goulter then turned provider for substitute Aiden Payne-James, who got in behind napping home defender Kynan Wright and fired across goal and wide with two minutes of normal time remaining.
The visitors then sought out the corners to good effect in running down six minutes of added time, and even in open play Simmo’s 94th minute effort still required the intervention of a sprawling Basey to deny Ascot what would have been sugar on top of their own version of doing porridge.
It wasn’t quite a smash-and-grab raid, and Goulter probably served the best time in a yellow shirt since his return, but Scott stole the limelight with another stellar display; one which warranted another man-of-the-match award with both the consent and authority of the travelling faithful.
What’s next for Ascot?
Ascot are back at home next weekend for the visit of Hayes and Yeading United, with whom they drew the reverse 2-2 fixture last month.
Ascot United: Scott, Goulter, Jones, Fraser, Edwards, Grant, McCormack (Butler 69’), Simmo, Holland (Lalustani 81’), Igozouln (Payne-James 69’), Gater (Lahtinen-Kalsi 41’). Sub unused: Swyer
Entertainment: 2
Reporter’s Star Man: Mark Scott (Ascot United)
Away fans (estimate): 15
Photo: both sides pay tribute ahead of kick-off, to those who have given their lives so that others may live feely, on Remembrance Sunday weekend.