Tuesday evening presented an opportunity to take a look at Southern Region Premier League leaders Ascot United. With an eight point lead at the top, they are hot favourites to finally shake off their bridesmaid tag (two consecutive runners-up seasons) and get themselves promoted into the National League system. Tuesday's game, a Combined Counties Women's Cup clash against Women's National League Division One South-East side Actonians, also gave them another perfect chance to measure themselves against the calibre of opposition they can expect if they go up. Another because, in the previous round of this competition Ascot had already seen off Actonians league-mates, Queens Park Rangers. Their 7-1 victory included a hat-trick from Beth Lloyd with further goals from Philippa Holden, Leah Littlechild, Georgia Luckhurst-McCord and Alix Todd. To give a little context to that result in respect to today's game, Actonians have already beaten QPR 4-0 in the league this season.
Jasmine Williamson heads in for Actonians The game got off to a great start as far as Ascot were concerned. With only just over 4 minutes played Kate Fox was sent clear of the Actonian's defence in what used to be the inside left position. As goalkeeper Lily Hadrava came to narrow the angle, the Ascot player calmly side-footed past her into the far corner. 1-0
Whilst it was the perfect start for the home side, it didn't last long at all. Four minutes later, goalkeeper Jodie Gray-Piazza took a little too long to clear ger lines allowing Hana Lalani to nip in, win the tackle with the keeper, and slide the ball into the empty net. 1-1
The game then settled into something of a midfield battle between two good sides who like to knock the ball about. Actonians were edging the possession and looked that yard sharper but Ascot were by no means out of their depth. The visitor's goal-scorer, Lalani, looked to be their most potent attacking force. Aside from her goal, she was very happy to try her luck from distance, which she did on a number of occasions, hitting the target on most, even though Gray-Piazza dealt with them well.
Approaching the end of the first-half, Actonians were awarded a free-kick way out on the left, some 30 yards from goal. The set-piece was delivered deep into toward the back post where Jasmine Williamson rose above everyone to head down into the corner of the net. 1-2
Behind, but certainly not downcast, Ascot pressed for an equaliser before the break and, with a minute remaining, came within a few inches of doing just that. Liv Glover burst through, chasing down a ball in a similar position to Lloyd's opener. However, this time the ball had just a tiny bit too much pace on it, allowing Hadrava to come off her line and just reach the ball ahead of Glover, blasting her clearance against the striker and out for a goal kick.
HT Ascot United 1 Actonians 2. A slender lead for the visitors at the break and one that, on e the balance, they probably just deserved. However, credit to Ascot who were battling away giving as good as they were getting. The main difference seemed to be that Actonians had that little bit more nous and were a pace quicker getting to the ball.
Whilst it was the perfect start for the home side, it didn't last long at all. Four minutes later, goalkeeper Jodie Gray-Piazza took a little too long to clear ger lines allowing Hana Lalani to nip in, win the tackle with the keeper, and slide the ball into the empty net. 1-1
The game then settled into something of a midfield battle between two good sides who like to knock the ball about. Actonians were edging the possession and looked that yard sharper but Ascot were by no means out of their depth. The visitor's goal-scorer, Lalani, looked to be their most potent attacking force. Aside from her goal, she was very happy to try her luck from distance, which she did on a number of occasions, hitting the target on most, even though Gray-Piazza dealt with them well.
Approaching the end of the first-half, Actonians were awarded a free-kick way out on the left, some 30 yards from goal. The set-piece was delivered deep into toward the back post where Jasmine Williamson rose above everyone to head down into the corner of the net. 1-2
Behind, but certainly not downcast, Ascot pressed for an equaliser before the break and, with a minute remaining, came within a few inches of doing just that. Liv Glover burst through, chasing down a ball in a similar position to Lloyd's opener. However, this time the ball had just a tiny bit too much pace on it, allowing Hadrava to come off her line and just reach the ball ahead of Glover, blasting her clearance against the striker and out for a goal kick.
HT Ascot United 1 Actonians 2. A slender lead for the visitors at the break and one that, on e the balance, they probably just deserved. However, credit to Ascot who were battling away giving as good as they were getting. The main difference seemed to be that Actonians had that little bit more nous and were a pace quicker getting to the ball.
Behind the Ascot goal The early chance in the second half went to Actonians when their captain, Mara Bramwell, got her head to a left-wing corner but could not generate enough pace to beat Gray-Piazza. Proceedings then took a turn for the worse for Ascot just before the hour mark. Having already lost Jess Drage to injury in the first half, Leah Robertson went down under a heavy but legal challenge from Bramwell. The Yellas substitute was clearly in a lot of pain and distress. The game was halted to allow physios to attend to the stricken player. At one point it looked as if the game may even be abandoned, but after 11 minutes, Robertson was able to be helped from the pitch still looking very uncomfortable. Best wishes to Leah for a swift recovery.
Unsurprisingly, after such a nasty injury and long break, the second half failed to ignite for either team. The introduction of Molly O'Reilly for Actonians certainly added some liveliness to their attack and a little mirth to proceedings with her constant banter to and fro with the bench. However, goalmouth incidents were at a premium at each end until we entered the last five minutes of normal time, knowing that there were at least 12 minutes to be added on. That was when Bramwell pumped a free-kick from the halfway line into the home box which very nearly deceived Gray-Piazza before the keeper got back to tip the ball over the bar. Then on the stroke of 90 minutes, a ball into the heart of the Ascot box saw O'Reilly and Gray-Piazza slide into a 50-50. The striker reacted the quickest to get to her feet and strike goalward only for a good block from Erin Huntley to seemingly save the day. However, the ball looped up perfectly for Lalani to plant a header over the defenders and stranded keeper into the net. 1-3. There was another small hold-up after the goal due to another injury, this time to goalkeeper Gray-Piazza. Captain Phil Holden took over the gloves and managed to raise a cheer from the home support when she first punched a shot over the bar and then made a good stop when the resultant corner produced a low drive from the edge of the box.
The electronic scoreboard had stopped at 99:35 but we had played well over 100 minutes by the time the referee blew for the end of the game.
FT Ascot United 1 Actonians 3. Defeat for Ascot but certainly no disgrace. They fought hard against a very good Actonians team who just had that little extra. However, the signs are that, should Ascot gain promotion, they are capable of holding their own in the next level. Actonians will face either Ashford United or Margate in the quarter-final. However, it's back to league action for both teams next weekend. Actonians welcome 9th placed Dulwich Hamlet to town looking to avenge a 2-0 away defeat in October. Meanwhile, Ascot travel to Oxford City who boast a 100% home record so far.
Ascot United: Gray-Piazza, Mitchell, Todd, Huntley, Drage, Torry, Holden(c), Fox, Lloyd, Littlechild, Glover. Subs: Rowntree, Doyle, Robertson, Perkins, Kjaer
Actonians: 1.Hadrava, 5.Bramwell, 4.Clement, 3.Farah Luboya, 19.Dredge, 16.Beaufort, 9.Turnet, 15.Hanif, 8. Williamson, 13. Reimer, 10.Lalani. Subs: 7.Redhead-Ling, 14.O'Reilly, 12.Pejcic
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: c50
Entrance: £5.00
Unsurprisingly, after such a nasty injury and long break, the second half failed to ignite for either team. The introduction of Molly O'Reilly for Actonians certainly added some liveliness to their attack and a little mirth to proceedings with her constant banter to and fro with the bench. However, goalmouth incidents were at a premium at each end until we entered the last five minutes of normal time, knowing that there were at least 12 minutes to be added on. That was when Bramwell pumped a free-kick from the halfway line into the home box which very nearly deceived Gray-Piazza before the keeper got back to tip the ball over the bar. Then on the stroke of 90 minutes, a ball into the heart of the Ascot box saw O'Reilly and Gray-Piazza slide into a 50-50. The striker reacted the quickest to get to her feet and strike goalward only for a good block from Erin Huntley to seemingly save the day. However, the ball looped up perfectly for Lalani to plant a header over the defenders and stranded keeper into the net. 1-3. There was another small hold-up after the goal due to another injury, this time to goalkeeper Gray-Piazza. Captain Phil Holden took over the gloves and managed to raise a cheer from the home support when she first punched a shot over the bar and then made a good stop when the resultant corner produced a low drive from the edge of the box.
The electronic scoreboard had stopped at 99:35 but we had played well over 100 minutes by the time the referee blew for the end of the game.
FT Ascot United 1 Actonians 3. Defeat for Ascot but certainly no disgrace. They fought hard against a very good Actonians team who just had that little extra. However, the signs are that, should Ascot gain promotion, they are capable of holding their own in the next level. Actonians will face either Ashford United or Margate in the quarter-final. However, it's back to league action for both teams next weekend. Actonians welcome 9th placed Dulwich Hamlet to town looking to avenge a 2-0 away defeat in October. Meanwhile, Ascot travel to Oxford City who boast a 100% home record so far.
Ascot United: Gray-Piazza, Mitchell, Todd, Huntley, Drage, Torry, Holden(c), Fox, Lloyd, Littlechild, Glover. Subs: Rowntree, Doyle, Robertson, Perkins, Kjaer
Actonians: 1.Hadrava, 5.Bramwell, 4.Clement, 3.Farah Luboya, 19.Dredge, 16.Beaufort, 9.Turnet, 15.Hanif, 8. Williamson, 13. Reimer, 10.Lalani. Subs: 7.Redhead-Ling, 14.O'Reilly, 12.Pejcic
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: c50
Entrance: £5.00
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