Another return on the road courtesy of one-all draw
Ascot United held on for a one-all draw at mid-table Hartley Wintney on Easter Monday. Leading at half time and having enjoyed most of the chances, the visitors sat deeper in a second half where The ‘Row equalised five minutes from time, although it could have been worse but for a penalty miss two minutes later.
Can Yellamen win again to ease pressure?
Saturday’s win with results elsewhere had taken The Yellamen two points and two places above the drop zone, and after a sequence of decent results on the road, there was almost an air of expectation against a side who have little to play for. Now up against Hartley Wintney, lying in mid-table with only one win in six and having scraped a last-gasp draw at strugglers Met Police two days earlier, this was a golden chance for The Yellamen to take a further stride towards safety.
Relegation rivals Met Police and Littlehampton both had unenviable road-trips to Leatherhead and Moneyfields, whereas 16th placed Bedfont Sports and 18th placed Binfield would play each other in what is proving to be an enthralling run-in for the 17th placed Yellamen.
Sam Sesay came in for his debut at right back after Adam Queally’s collision with the perimeter fence on Saturday, with an attacking formation boasting Jaheim Kamara, Lui Edwards, Quaye Vine and Tyrese Osbourne.
First half ignites after slow start
In a tight opening, neither side was able to force a clear opening, but once they had got to grips with the dustbowl of a pitch, it could have easily been 3-2 at half time.
Ascot created the best chances and were first to get a foothold when Jeremy Stewart – who was excellent for his side – won back possession, picked out Vine who in turn found Osbourne, and he brought a finger-tip save from Nick Jupp, not that the referee or his assistant spotted the intervention.
But when Osbourne swung in a 23rd minute corner, Henry Curtis headed the ball back across the six-yard box, and Edwards continued his fine scoring form by nodding home.
At the other end, Kie Plumley tipped Mac Ford’s free-kick over after it had bounced up off the hard surface in front of him, but it should have been 2-0 when Jupp stood up well to deny Vine before producing a sensational follow-up save to beat Osbourne’s thunderbolt away.
Vine then scuffed an easy chance two minutes later after Jaheim Kamara had snaffled passion back on the right and fed Edwards to pick out the big striker, but he snatched and scuffed his chance, which was easily saved.
The home side came into it as ex-Ascot player George Wallace crossed for Conor Lynch to stab over the bar from close range and Liam Gavin headed over from a central position when unmarked from Ford’s right-wing cross, before Calvin Camara and Nick Medcraft linked up for the latter to feed Lynch, whose cross-shot across Plumley deflected just wide of the left-hand post.
Ascot deserved their lead at the break nonetheless, but The Row certainly asked some questions as the half ended.
Yellas sit back as Row fight back
After the break, Ascot rarely threatened and sitting increasingly deeper, it was certainly the home side who looked more likely to score the next goal.
That said, a largely uneventful half ticked past the seventy-minute mark before any action of note – Ascot happy to mop up anything thrown into their box – with Henry Curtis the stand out protector at the back.
But Lynch’s 70th minute shot on the turn – saved at his near post by Plumley – signalled the start of increased pressure, and that told in the 85th minute when Camara pounced on a rebound to slam past Plumley and level it up.
Aston Gayle then bundled Camara over from behind when he was going nowhere right-of-goal for the softest of spot-kicks two minutes later, but Camara fluffed his lines after picking himself up; dragged his effort wide-right.
Defender Joel Johnson-Cole’s second yellow card for the home side near the end of five added minutes was the only other blot on his side’s copybook, but there was no time left for Ascot to try and exploit their numerical advantage, even if it was a game where they – and indeed Hartley Wintney – didn’t deserve to win.
Results elsewhere largely went int Ascot’s favour – Met Police once again squandering a lead in injury time to draw – whereas defeats for Littlehampton and Bedfont Sports maintain their precarious positions around Ascot, who are 18th and still two points above the drop.
If Ascot could win next Saturday against lowly Horndean, coupled with defeats for Littlehampton and Met Police, then they would pretty much be safe.
A few weeks ago, they’d have taken that scenario.
Ascot United: Plumley, Sesay, Gayle, J. Edwards, Curtis, Stewart, Le Paih, L. Edwards, Vine (Tanner 76’), Osbourne (Oupoh 71’), Kamara. Subs unused: Allsopp, Long, Mohamed
Venue: The Memorial Playing Fields, Hartley Wintney
Attendance: 284
Weather: 17c, sunny
Ascot United MOM: Henry Curtis
Entertainment: 2
Away fans estimate: 35
One-word summary: Scrappy