Ascot ease past Worthing with second win in three days
Dominant Ascot United Women romped to a 5-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Worthing Women on Tuesday night. In shocking conditions, the home side were almost out-of-sight after establishing a 3-0 lead at the break, and although the visitors struck back, there would be no late drama as Andy Cox’s side extended their lead – and their gap to the drop zone – in a stellar three days for his side.
Tuesday night under the lights for Ascot-Worthing part two
This was the reverse fixture of October’s showdown in Sussex – also on a Tuesday evening – and on a night that Ascot nearly lost a match they should have sewn up before half time. In that game, they led 2-0, surrendered the lead to trail 3-2, before a dramatic equaliser deep into added time salvaged a point.
Three months on, and that point might still prove to be priceless as Ascot – who had opened up a five-point gap to the drop zone with victory over 2nd-bottom Portishead 48 hours earlier – now had the chance to put further daylight between themselves, Portishead and Worthing in the night’s only league fixture.
Worthing would surely look for a response to their own 10-0 mauling at Swindon on Sunday, but the home side were also sniffing the three points that would take them eight points clear of the trap-door and up two places.
Yellawomen dominate first half
The home side were well on top in the first period, and it took just ten minutes to prise open the visiting defence. Kate Fox and Jacey Lane were both involved – the former had a pop and the latter’s shot was well saved by visiting ‘keeper Ella Hunkin – but Fox was on hand to fire into the bottom right hand corner.
Darcey Maxted – arguably the stand out player of the half – checked back from her right to left foot and fired narrowly wide in the sixteenth minute, but it was two-nil in the 32nd minute. This time, Alice Balaam – a flying right wing back – showed her strength to outmuscle her marker, cut the ball back across the penalty area, and Anaisa Harney swept home first-time with a right-footed shot into the bottom left; her contribution throughout would not go unnoticed.
Prolific Kettle is in her element
Poppy Dearlove fashioned space for a left-footed effort that flashed across goal and wide as half-time approached, but The Yellawomen gave themselves a 3-0 lead deep into first half stoppage time when Hattie Kettle’s looping header from Dearlove’s corner dropped into the right-hand corner; two goals in two games for the rangy defender.
Worthing continue to press as weather depresses
In frankly shocking second-half conditions, the visitors showed the mentality required at step-four and came out looking for a response.
Credit to them, and they were denied by home ‘keeper Cherry Preisner’s smart save to thwart Skye Bacon’s free-kick which was heading for the right hand corner seven minutes after the restart, until she palmed the effort away.
But Nicole Mackay smashed home in the 61st minute to give Worthing hope – eight minutes after Mia Delaney’s sin-bin for the hosts had led to Bacon’s chance – although the hosts were soon back to their full quota and would soon add to their tally.
Up pops Pops to make it safe
Dearlove somehow fired over first-time from Dani Dias’s right-wing cross barely a minute after Worthing’s goal, but her strike into the bottom left in the 73rd minute made it 4-1 after more good work from Harney.
Dias then showed great strength down the left to get her side moving again, and it was Dearlove who side-footed home a fifth in the 79th minute.
Bella Cox’s fine pass down the left almost led to a sixth with substitute Mae Goulden involved, but an offside flag thwarted a gaggle of Yellawomen at the far post.
What a difference a day makes. Or three.
The 72 paying spectators got their moneys’ worth. Worthing go home with nothing but respect and best wishes on a miserable night.
It was an illuminating performance from Ascot – certainly for over 93 minutes – and onto the next one.
And, The Yellawomen have the chance to make it three on the spin when they entertain Marine Academy Plymouth on Sunday. The hosts are indeed now in 8th place and the Devon side in 9th after tonight’s win; the lights may now be coming on again in their maiden step-four campaign.
Ascot United: Preisner, Balaam (Dias 46’), Cox, Huntley, Doyle (Luscombe 79’), Kettle, Dearlove, Maxted (Goulden 79’), Fox, Harney (Mason 79’), Lane (Delaney 46’). Sub unused: Carter
Entertainment: 3
Reporter’s Star Player: Anaisa Harney (Ascot United)
Attendance: 72