YELLAS PROVE TOP FELLAS!
ASCOT UNITED came from behind to reach the semi-final of the FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history thanks to a penalty shoot-out victory against West Didsbury & Chorlton.
A deflated West Didsbury manager Chris Rowley was full of praise for his team afterwards.
He told The NLP: “I have a mixture of feelings, from pride through to frustration.
“As a management team we can only be proud of where this group of players have come in such a short time, winning the league last year and now taking the club so far in the Vase.
“I know that there will be some regret and frustration too as we created so many chances to put the tie out of sight.
“But fair play to Ascot, they hung in and struck back with a quality goal.”
The hosts had come out of the traps in quick style.
Ben Elliott saw an early strike fly just wide of the post before Zeke Eme slotted a lovely ball in behind the visitors back line for Billy Matthews to open the scoring.
Rob Gerrard’s attempted clearance deflected off the wide man and into the goal defeating the stranded Rhys
Forster.
The home side kept up their early onslaught with Matthews finding skipper Matt Cook to cross into the box, George Lock clearing the danger from the onrushing Elliott.
Goalkeeper Forster claimed another dangerous Cook cross under pressure from Elliott.
Eme was looking a real threat and his ball out to Cook started a move that saw Elliott miss a chance to double his sides lead moments later as he headed his skippers cross wide when it looked more likely that he would score.
The lively Eme tricked his way passed two defenders but fired his effort is just over as West kept up their pressure before the halftime break.
Just after the half-hour mark Brendan Matthew had the visitors first effort on goal, picking up a pass from the left his crisp shot was charged down by good work from Andrew Jones in the home goal.
The visitors grew into the game after the break and eventually they grabbed the goal that would take the tie to penalties.
Substitute Marcus Mealing slid in a delightful ball to Matthew to level the scores with a clipped effort underneath Jones for his 36th goal of the season and despite both sides’ efforts the game was to end with a penalty shoot-out.
Both sides saw success and failure from the spot during the shootout, but Usman Lalustani stepped up to fire home the last and most important spot kick of the day to seal victory for the Yellas. STAR MAN: Ezekiel Eme (West Didsbury) ATTENDANCE: 1,300 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: John Mulligan