Youngsters impress in 4-1 Win over Wycombe Wanderers
Ascot United Women kicked off their Southern Region Women’s Premier Division campaign in style with a 4-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers on Sunday afternoon. Fielding a number of their junior players, The Yellawomen still had enough quality to see off the visitors on a sweltering afternoon at the Racecourse.
New faces, same end result
This was a much-changed Ascot United with notable absentees Sarah Davern and Hannah Bennett (both transferred), ‘keeper Lucie White (sabbatical), Chloe Connor (vacation), Nicole Brown (injured) and Sarah Leonard (back in training after longer-term injury). However young Amelia Kimble seized her chance with a player-of-the-match display, well supported by sixteen year old debutants Sophia Allen in goal and Kate Fox in defence; they will surely fledge into first team regulars.
Yellas on top in dominant first half
In stifling hot conditions, The Yellawomen were quickly into their stride and took just ten minutes to open their account. The impressive Kimble, handed a place in the starting line-up, laid the ball off to Laura Spark who picked out Dom Carrington with a ball over the defence, and she struck a low effort into the left-hand corner despite ‘keeper Chelsea Coles getting a strong hand to the effort.
Wanderers did have their chances, although they were wasteful with the best of them as Katie Riddington lacked composure when unmarked at the far post just four minutes later and she fired over the bar.
After that it was all Ascot. Kimble would react quickest to the second of two Ascot corners to fire home from inside the six-yard box to make it 2-0 in the 27th minute, and in the move of the half only a brilliant tackle from visiting defender Bonny Lynch denied Hayley Cruickshanks after she had met Farrah Yewing’s excellent cross; Kimble again earlier involved in the build up spraying the ball out to the right.
Coles then made a fine save from Fox’s first-time shot when it looked destined for the bottom right in the 39th minute, but Ascot would soon add a third when Cruickshanks skipped through the visiting defence, rounded Coles and slotted home to give her side a comfortable half-time advantage.
Classy Kimble calls the shots
The second half would never match the first in terms of intensity as pitchside temperatures pushed towards 30c, but that didn’t stop Ascot creating further chances. At the heart of most things good was Kimble, who saw a 63rd minute effort clawed away by Coles before turning provider with a key-hole pass through for Cruickshanks to slot home her second and Ascot’s fourth barely a minute later.
Fox then saw a cross skim along the crossbar when cut back from the by-line as she continued to impress, but credit to Wycombe they never gave up and would eventually be rewarded.
Allen steps up to fill big gloves
Allen would save comfortably from Amy Leach’s late effort, although her save from Giulia Livi as the ninety minutes ticked past eclipsed that – seemingly getting the faintest of fingers on Livi’s rasping effort to tip the ball onto the crossbar, before gathering at the second attempt.
And, she might have celebrated her debut with a clean sheet but for Leach to fire home amid six-yard-box mayhem after Lynch had lofted the ball in following a drop ball in the fourth minute of overages.
For stand-in manager Will Blithing and player-coach Alix Todd this was a good day at the office, and it might also just give recuperating boss Darrel Evans a boost on his own road to recovery.
What’s next for Ascot?
Ascot have a week off before Oxford City, who lost their opener on Sunday, visit The Racecourse for a league game.
Ascot United: Allen, Luckhurst-McCord, Killick-Bird, Spark, Todd, Fox, Carrington, Holden, Cruickshanks, Kimble, Yewings. Subs (rolling): Sheppard, Huntley, Woods, Couzens
Entertainment: 3
Reporter’s Star Player: Amelia Kimble (Ascot United) – creative, provided assists and was in the right place to score. A notable step-up from last season physically and mentally.
Attendance (estimate): 65
Pictured: Ascot’s mascots pictured with the squad before kick off.
