Outstanding Ascot win 3-0 in semi final
Ascot United Women reached the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup Final for the first time in their history with a front-footed display against league rivals Abingdon United. In a match played at Wantage Town’s Alfredian Park given the concerns over Abingdon’s Northcourt grass pitch, the visitors struck both early and late in a game which ebbed and flowed, and they were indebted to outstanding ‘keeper Cherry Preisner for a string of fine saves to keep the Oxfordshire side at bay
Yellawomen strike early and finish half strongly
In a bright start for Ascot, they were ahead just after the two-minute mark courtesy of Anaisa Harney’s fine strike. Poppy Dearlove had escaped down the left and drilled in a low cross, Abingdon only half-cleared it, and whilst there was still work to do, Harney rifled the ball home on the half volley from just inside the area.
After that, the visitors were pegged back for long spells, lively winger Molly Lygo’s cross from the left-wing by-line cannoned back off the outside of Preisner’s post in the 11th minute before Mimi Hodges drove forwards and fired over from long-range at the mid-point of the half.
But credit Ascot, they played their way into the game and were rewarded in the 24th minute when Jacey Lane won a corner, Bella Cox swung it in under the crossbar, and Erin Huntley bundled home from a matter of inches.
Incredibly, Lane’s neat finish from Harney’s flick might have made it 3-0 except for an offside flag, before the two combined again for Lane to roll agonisingly wide of the left-hand post, and then Harney rifled just wide of the right-hand upright after Abingdon had got themselves into a mess directly from the resulting goal kick.
But with a two-goal margin at the interval, the tie was far from over.
Positive Ascot keep pushing
Credit to Cox’s side, they continued to play football and would eventually run out comfortable winners.
However, Abingdon threatened first as Nell Boxall’s diagonal pass picked out Lygo left-of-goal in the 53rd minute, but she blazed over.
At the other end, Mia Delaney met Dearlove’s free kick with her head and at full stretch – over and wide it sailed – and although they would continue to create chances, they looked to their own number one to stop any nerves from jangling.
Priceless Preisner is unbeatable
The final half-an-hour was, quite simply, the Preisner show.
Firstly, her back-pedalling save at full stretch to deny Lygo’s dipping effort set the tone, but her sharp double save – both of them down to her own right in quick succession – would deny Lygo again.
However, deep in injury time and with Ascot leading 3-0 at this point, she somehow got enough height and fingertips on Millie Hodge’s free-kick to tip the ball onto the face of the crossbar; it wouldn’t have mattered if it had gone in, but this was the icing on the clean sheet.
Defender Hodge – also an accomplished striker had pushed forwards for Abingdon in the second half – but there was simply no way past Huntley and her rock-solid fellow centre-back Hattie Kettle.
“We’ve got proper strikers on the bench too”
Before that late save, Harney would leave the field after another fine performance up top – not long after Dearlove’s long-range effort had drifted wide – but in forwards Sianna Hegarty and Mae Goulden, Ascot had a couple more weapons off the bench.
The former – introduced in the 69th minute – used her physical prowess to barge and bludgeon her way to winning the ball back and plough through the defence; her time will come.
Goulden, meanwhile, a later introduction, got her rewards for a driving run and check back on to her right foot as the clocked ticked past 90 minutes, unleashing a dipping, curling effort than flew over rangy ‘keeper Maisy Moore and into the top left-hand corner.
Just before that, substitute Poppy Wannell had blazed over for Abingdon with a chance that might have set up a grandstand finale, before Preisner’s wonder-save in the third added minute sealed the deal.
Ascot United will face league rivals Maidenhead United in the final – likely mid-March – after The Magpies beat MK Dons on penalties in Sunday’s other semi-final. All roads lead to Beaconsfield SYCOB’s ground on that day.
But it’s back to business at Bridgwater next week; The Yellawomen are on something of a roll.
And, let the good times roll too.
Ascot United: Preisner, Doyle, Cox (Ayres 90)’, Huntley, Kettle, Dearlove, Maxted, Fox, Harney (Goulden 83’), Delaney (Hegarty 69’), Lane (Rowntree 69’)
Entertainment: 4
Reporter’s Star Player: Cherry Preisner/Erin Huntley (tied), Ascot United
Attendance (estimate): 80 (35 away)
Image is a library shot.