YELLAMEN HIT ROCKS AS YELLAWOMEN EXIT CUP [duplex report]
Men lose at Bognor alongside Women’s FA Cup exit
Ascot United Women’s and Men’s teams both lost on Sunday in disappointing circumstances. The Yellawomen spurned the chance to reach the first round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup after a below-par performance, whilst overlapping with Ascot United Men’s result; they missed the chance to go second in the league in Sussex.1
The Women’s game kicked off at 2pm and the first half was a dismal watch from an Ascot perspective as Actonians made more light of the tough pitch and slope – which the home side were kicking up – as Cherry Preisner at least kept The Yellawomen in touch at half time.
Ascot’s cause was not helped by Erin Huntley and Beth Lloyd both withdrawing in the warm-up, but their side would labour nonetheless.
Preiser made a good save midway through the half to deny Abigail Karebo with a strong hand when one-on-one, before nervy moments when Hana Lalani’s free kick squirmed across goal before being hacked off the line.
But captain Mara Bramwell would exploit poor marking to give the home side a 31st minute lead, nodding home from almost under Preisner’s crossbar when rising first-time to meet a corner from the right.
At the other end, Alice Curr’s speculative 39th minute volley sailed just wide of the top right before Elisa Dogor’s fine, clawing save kept out Mia Delaney’s thumping header from Bella Cox’s free-kick in Ascot’s only two chances, but in and-around the latter effort Preiser saved twice from Jasmine Williams to deny Actonians an even bigger lead at the break.
Meanwhile, kicking off at Oaklands Park in Chichester at 3pm, Ascot United men’s quest for a win that would take them second in the Isthmian League South Central Division took an early boost when Jaheim Kamara stuck early-on against lowly Bognor Regis Town; Lamin Sankoh with the assist to Sankoh at the far post after just three minutes.
Back in West London, Preisner stood up well again to deny Lalani – four minutes after the restart – but just after the hour mark as her side made substitutions to help forge an equaliser it was actually The Rocks who did that down in Sussex.
And, it was Kashanga Kasukumya who found space in the box and squared for Callum Laycock for an easy finish; 1-1 at Oaklands Park.
Back at Berkeley Fields, The Yellawomen were still riding their luck as Curr’s attempted clearance – horribly sliced – teed up Andrearna Dunbar, although she fluffed her lines when clean-through and Preisner saved again.
Still in the first half in Sussex, the Yellamen had lost their early momentum and were undone when Laycock found Seok-Jae Lee, whose step-overs would tee up the chance for a fine strike that put his side 2-1 ahead.
The Yellawomen, meanwhile, fell further behind in the 68th minute when Preisner misjudged a long free-kick from Bramwell; two goals for her and her side and the Women’s FA Cup run was almost over before it had even begun; 0-2 and a mountain to climb.
Ascot United Men were fortunate to go in only a goal down at the break in Sussex, whilst the Women huffed and puffed but the closest they came was Darcey Maxted’s effort onto the top of the bar with thirteen to play from Cox’s free kick.
Preisner would save late-on to atone for her own poor clearance, but it was 2-0 in favour of Actonians at full time; could their male counterparts find a response? Sadly in Chichester, they couldn’t.
Khalid Simmo might have levelled it up early in the second half but his sweetly-stuck half-volley came back off the upright.
However, Laycock also struck the woodwork for the home side as they chased a third – Seok-Jae Lee with the assist – but they held on to deny Ascot 2nd place; 2-1 in favour of the hosts.
All-in-all, a poor Sunday for both teams.
Ascot United Women: Preisner, Curr, Cox, Kettle, Wort, Maxted (Machado 88’), Dearlove (Glover 46’), Fox (Goulden 70’), Harney, Delaney (Dias 70’), Lane (Balaam 62’). Subs unused: Lloyd, Huntley.
Entertainment: 2
Reporter’s Star Player: Mara Bramwell (Actonians), Darcey Maxted (Ascot United)
Attendance (estimate): 80 (15 away)
Ascot United Men: Plumley, Sankoh (Garlinge 90’), Williams, Lock, Lamb, Allsopp (Osbourne 76’), Deru (Rollinson 57’), Le-Paih, Ceesay, Simmo (Brandao 63’) Kamara.
Entertainment: TBD
Ascot United MOM: Ezekiel Williams (Ascot United)
Attendance: 320 (5 away)
