Visitors Westfield beat struggling Ascot 2-0
A goal at the end of each half was enough to sentence struggling Ascot United to a 2-0 defeat against high-flying Westfield on Saturday. The Yellamen, who toiled in their attempts to create chances, were undone at the other end once again against a visiting side who moved up to third.
Two teams meet in very different form
The Field arrived buoyed by a run of results that had propelled them to fourth in the league. Sitting top of the form guide with five wins from six league games and having scored seventeen goals on the way, they were up against an Ascot side on a three-game Isthmian losing streak. A county-cup win in the middle of that had given them some relief, but having tumbled from a play-off position to thirteenth, they really needed to kick-on with their next three league games all coming against sides in the top three at kick-off.
Westfield shade chance-laden half
In an entertaining half, Westfield spurned a golden chance to go ahead in the 5th minute when they were awarded a penalty, only for Manolis Gogonas to drag wide of the left hand post.
Tom Dryer then saw his drive beaten away by Kie Plumley in the hosts’ goal before Devonte Webster-Swack thumped the rebound over, and Plumley was in action again on the quarter-hour mark when he saved Finn Evans’s low shot with his legs.
Ascot toiled without creating a clear chance until the latter stages of the half when Joden Trickett hooked wide in the 36th minute.
But, napping from a free kick, Ascot fell behind two minutes later when Dryer was afforded too much space from a free kick, threaded in Evans, and Evans fired a left-footed shot across Plumley and into the right hand corner.
But Ascot finished strongly and Joel Rollinson raced onto Trickett’s through-ball – his first touch wasn’t the best and cost him the chance of getting goal side – but he still carved out a shot through a crowd that flew just wide of the left (pictured, shoeting-stars.co.uk).
However, Ascot should have levelled in the 42nd minute when Babs Dehghani’s sublime low cross across the six yard box invited Rollinson at full stretch, although his toe-ended effort found the middle of the right-hand upright before cannoning back onto Rollinson’s arm; unlucky to say the least.
But Ascot had a let-off in the last play of the half when Dryer saw his tame effort spilt by Plumley, Evans turned in the loose ball, but an offside flag chalked the effort off; as it had also done for Westfield earlier in the period for a more clear-cut infringement.
Field of nightmares as familiar script plays out for Ascot
After the break Ascot failed to register a shot on target, and Plumley’s strong hand denied Gogonas when clean through in the 62nd minute.
The highlight of the half for the hosts was the 77th minute introduction of Sean Fraser for debutant Rudi Pache; a welcome return from injury for the defender.
And, Fraser was busy organising the troops for what was ultimately a well-worked Ascot corner routine in injury time, but sadly for him and his side, the proverbial game of penalty box pinball ended with Westfield breaking through Evans, who squared for substitute Didi Ndombe at the far post to put the game to bed.
What’s next for Ascot?
The Yellamen face a daunting trip to leaders Leatherhead next weekend; a certain Anas Igozouln plays for them and is just one of the Tanner’s ranks who will need close attention.
Ascot United: Plumley, Sankoh, Murray, Lock, Pache (Fraser 77’), Allsopp (Williams), Rollinson (Deru 62), Le-Paih, Trickett, Simmo (Brandao 62’), Dehghani (Kamara 62’).
Venue: The Racecourse, Ascot
Attendance: 177
Weather: 11c, partly rainy/sunny
Reporter’s star man: Kie Plumley (AUFC) / Finn Evan (WFC)
Entertainment: 3
Away fans estimate: 40
One-word summary: Ineffective
