Two first half goals enough against Sutton Common Rovers
Ascot United beat lowly Sutton Common Rovers 2-0 in Surrey to maintain their hopes of securing a play off place; the hosts relegation confirmed as a result. And, with results elsewhere also going in favour of their play-off rivals, the last week of the season is building up to a showcase crescendo with Ascot having their destiny in their own hands.
Three big matches to go; one job to do
With a proverbial log-jam of teams battling out for what is realistically three remaining play-off spots, the Yellamen knew fate was in their own hands – especially after the midweek point at Hanworth Villa – and bag in the dugout was manager Jamie Tompkins after Steve Quelch and Alex Sykes had overseen proceedings in West London.
Tompkins named the same line-up that had dismantled Westfield a week earlier in the hope of repeating the trick against second-bottom Sutton Common Rovers, and whilst the hosts’ hopes looked bleak, they knew nothing other than a win would be needed to maintain their slim survival hopes.
Yellamen ease into game before managing game after interval
Ascotunited.net writes remotely on the game, and having striker Ben Harris in the side is always a positive, but after he had overstretched for the ball in the 14th minute, last week’s hat-trick hero limped off to be replaced by Aiden Payne-James.
But in their other flock, Ascot have goals in their armoury and their cause was helped by a straight red card for home defender Steven Sylvester-Ajudua in the 32nd minutes after he pulled down top scorer Anas Igozouln when clean through following Harry Grant’s superb assist.
And, just three minutes later the visitors were ahead when home ‘keeper Kacper Orlowski ran the ball out of play on the touch-line, Connor Holland took the resulting throw-in quickly, and Harvey Harry found the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Ascot then struck a killer second goal just before the break when Payne-James beat his man and picked out Connor Holland at the far post; Holland slotting home to knock the stuffing out of Sutton (pictured, shooting-stars.co.uk).
After the break, Orlowski’s fine save down low to his right denied Harry another goal just inside the hour mark, but it would have been icing on the cake in a comfortable win.
Mark Scott was untroubled for Ascot and watched one hopeful effort from the hosts being skied over his crossbar.
Tompkins eventually used all five substitutes to good effect on a day where results elsewhere brought a new meaning to ‘congestion charge’.
What’s next for Ascot?
Easter fixtures come thick and fast in the semi-professional ranks, and The Yellamen have just under 48 hours to rest, ice and regroup before already-relegated Badshot Lea visit on Monday (3pm). It’s a game the home side surely need to win, and even then it will probably go down to a nerve-jangling final day trip to Kingstonian.
Ascot United: Scott, Jones, Fraser (Rogers 78’), Gater, Edwards, Simmo (Goulter 73’), Grant (Mason 73’), Harry, Igozouln (Lock 73’), Holland, Harris (Payne-James 14’).
Entertainment: 3
Reporter’s Star Man: Nathan Jones
Away fans estimate: 25