WEEKEND PREVIEW: YELLAMEN FACE THE ‘ALL BEFORE LADIES PLAY AFTER PARTY + ONLINE PROGRAMME

Ascot United are back in league action this Saturday with a tough clash at home against Southall (3pm). The ‘All arrive on the back of an eight-game winning run that has cemented their place in 2^nd, hot on the heels of leaders Hanworth Villa.

And, with their ongoing interest in the FA Vase, their 150^th anniversary season is shaping up well as ‘the phoenix continues to rise’; their decorated history goes back to 1871 and is spread across 3 pages of this week’s online matchday programme available here. Also be sure to check out Dave Thompson’s round-up in the programme of the Allied Under 18’s last 2 matches which yielded six points and has taken them to 2^nd place in the Allied Counties Youth League.

As for Ascot, Harry Laflin is back on a goal-a-game after his brace last week – it’s now 22 in 22 for him – whereas Jonny Denton (197), Dan Bailey, George Lock (147*) and Dan Bailey (47) are all approaching appearance milestones (which might all be reached on the same day at Reading City on December 18^th…).

*George Lock is quick to point out that he “maintains his own spreadsheet” of every tackle, pass, assist and blade of grass covered, so will no doubt have something to add to his stats…

Elsewhere this weekend, the Ladies return home on Sunday for a league match against Eastleigh in the Community in a fifth-versus-fourth place clash, whilst the Ladies Reserves are in league cup action at Chinnor Ladies. Chinnor are also in Division 3 of the Thames Valley League, albeit 4^th in the Northern section compared with Ascot who are leaders of the Eastern section.

At least there is one day of recovery between the Ladies’ festive race night on Friday and their matchday…

Back to Saturday’s Combined Counties League Programme (as follows), with Hanworth (1^st), North Greenford (3^rd) and Egham (4^th) all expecting to win against teams in 7^th, 15^th and 17^th respectively.