Leaders Ascot beat Sholing 4-0
Ascot United Women returned to league action with a 4-0 against mid-table Sholing Sports on Sunday afternoon. After a blank Sunday last weekend following their league cup quarter final win over Havant a fortnight ago, The Yellawomen scored twice in each half in glorious sunshine to take another step towards the title.
No easy games as winning line comes closer
It’s an old adage, but with going into the game five points clear at the top and with games running out – just six remaining – the home side needed to keep their focus as their seemingly unstoppable march to glory reaches the business end of the season.
The Yellawomen also won the reverse fixture 4-0 in stormy conditions on the south coast, and with their five point and one game advantage over Wycombe in second place, the scene was set to take another step up the title ladder.
Manager Andy Cox named a strong side with all the usual suspects – Ella Rowntree and Bella Cox were also handed starts – and there was a welcome face on the bench in the form of Leah Robertson after her injury at Oxford City exactly five weeks earlier – alongside Jess Drage – who also recovered from a knock to make it into the squad.
Sholing ‘keeper stars, but Ascot find a way through
In a thoroughly entertaining first half, Ascot found visiting ‘keeper Sarah Kelsall in imperious form, and had it not been for her string of fines saves the home side would surely been out of sight by half time.
As it was, they were two-nil up after 45 minutes – courtesy of two accurate set pieces – and Kelsall almost kept both of them out.
The first of them came in the seventh minute from the boot of Alix Todd following a foul on Ella Rowntree – Todd finding the top left with a pinpoint free-kick – although Kelsall stretched her frame and almost got to it.
Sholing, however, had their chances and the best of them all came within a two minute spell. Firstly, Jodie Gray-Piazza stood up well to thwart Siena Millen after she had raced onto Katie Shorter’s through ball – the ball eventually cleared off the line – before Gray-Piazza tipped Millen’s cross-shot over moments later and Shorter headed straight at Gray-Piazza from the resultant corner.
But Ascot quickly asserted themselves and Kelsall came off her line smartly to smother at Kate Fox’s feet in the 14th minute following Beth Lloyd’s through ball, before Kelsall tipped Lloyd’s drive over.
But after Liv Glover was tripped in the 22nd minute Ascot were awarded a penalty, and although Lloyd fired it into the bottom left to make it 2-0, Kelsall would get across her line enough to get a hand on it.
Cox’s brilliant cross from the left almost teed up Fox to add a third – although she hooked wide – but what happened next left the fans gasping in amazement.
Fox picked the ball up on the half-way line and elected to go alone, and after weaving her way past three or four defenders she struck a thunderbolt that Kelsall somehow got up to her own left to tip onto the woodwork and over; a simply stunning save.
Lloyd and Cox linked up for Littlechild to fire over first-time on the stroke of half-time, but two-nil it remained.
Second half less eventful as Paver impresses off bench
Lloyd would see a 54th minute free kick palmed away by Kelsall in a half that would be more muted, but when Fox cut the ball back in the 64th minute it was 3-0 when Glover struck the ball home first-time into the bottom left.
Littlechild saw another shot deflect over in the 76th minute but Amy Paver’s introduction four minutes earlier added freshness on the left. And, she was rewarded for her persistence in the 82nd minute when she charged down a clearance before running into the box from a tight angle and drilling across Kelsall with little margin for error to make it four-nil. The goal itself was only given after consultation with the assistant; the ball having crossed the line before bouncing out off the goalframe’s inner wheel.
That was it, and Wycombe’s win at home meant the gap to second place stayed at five points, but Cox’s side are one step closer to realizing their dream.
What’s next for Ascot?
The Yellawomen are on the road next weekend at winless Badshot Lea.
Ascot United: Gray-Piazza, Rowntree, Todd, Huntley, Torry, Holden, Glover, Fox, Littlechild, Lloyd, Cox. Subs (all used): Drage, Robertson, Paver, Ward, Banduka
Entertainment: 3
Reporter’s Star Player: Liv Glover (Ascot United)
Attendance (estimate): 80 (15 away)