Harry’s Hundredth spoilt by 3-2 win for Raynes Park Vale
Raynes Park Vale fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Ascot United on Saturday. In a landmark appearance for one of their FA Vase Immortals, Ascot’s visitors showed great resolve to recover from going two goals down early-on.
Grant reaches ton for Yellas against play-off sniffing Vale
Home midfielder Harry Grant celebrated his 100th appearance for a home side seeking a record-extending eighth consecutive victory, although their opposition were just three places and two points below and had also recorded the double over Ascot last season.
Grant was part of an unchanged starting line-up from that which disposed of Margate in the FA Trophy one week earlier; eyes down at 3pm as the Yellamen sought a record-extending result.
Ascot rewarded for starting well; Vale fight back
It was a lightning-fast start for the hosts who found themselves ahead after just two minutes through Liam Tack’s penalty; Billy Bishop clattering Sean McCormack who had raced onto Taylor Morgan’s pass in the build-up.
Morgan was involved again in Ascot’s second goal in the fourteenth minute, nicking in behind the defence before digging out a sublime, hanging cross to the far post that Anas Igozouln squeezed home from close range (pictured, shooting-stars.co.uk).
But ‘Vale came into the game and pulled a goal back six minutes before the break when James Dickson tapped home at the far post following Jordan Gallagher’s header back across Mark Scott’s goal.
And Scott would preserve Ascot’s lead at the break with a smart stop to parry Dan Hector’s thunderbolt away in the 45th minute.
Yellas stunned in second half
Hector rifled his side level midway through the half with a long range shot that clattered off the underside of the crossbar and into Scott’s net.
And, moments after being clattered at one end, ‘keeper Bishop took credit for his part in what proved to be Vale’s winner with a booming clearance that substitute Dan Berry slid home after a flick-on.
Scott came off his line well to smother at the feet of Tom Barnes as the visitors sniffed a fourth, but Ascot came within a whisker of levelling it deep into eight minutes of added time when Bishop claimed substitute Connor Holland’s glancing header from Ben Harris’s cross from just under the crossbar; VAR would have had a look at whether it had crossed the line but with this being the eighth tier of English football, everyone was spared any further overages.
What’s next for Ascot?
The Yellamen head to Harley Wintney for a league match on Tuesday evening before testing their mettle at Step 3 Folkestone Invicta in the third and final qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Trophy next Saturday.
The Wembley arch is a long way off, but the spirit of 2023 isn’t too far behind.
Ascot United: Scott, Lock, Butler (Payne-James 79’), Tack, Gater, Bailey, McCormack (Jones 63’), Grant, Morgan (Holland 74’), Mason (Fraser 63’), Igozouln (Harris 74’).
Entertainment: 4
Reporter’s Star Man: Dan Hector (RPV)
Away fans (estimate): 15