Blues fall to fifth as promotion race takes another big twist
Combined Counties Premier Division North: Murray's men beaten by new league leaders Ascot at Racecourse Ground
Ascot United 2, Burnham 1
Burnham fell from first to fifth place after the latest twists and turns of what's becoming an enthralling Combined Counties Premier Division North promotion race.
On Saturday, the Blues were beaten by promotion rivals – and now table toppers – Ascot United at the rainy Racecourse Ground.
With several key players missing, including Marcus Mealing who picked up a red card for a reckless challenge in their clash with Holyport last week, the Yellamen dug deep and opened up a two goal lead before Ben Murray’s men netted late on from the spot.
Both sides squandered good chances in a goalless first half with Ascot’s best opportunity arising when Ethan Relf brought down Ollie Harris in the penalty area. Fortunately, following the yellow card issued to Relf, Harris’ spot kick was beaten away by Carl Dennison. The visitors finished the half strongly with Jamie Ashdown forced to get down low to smother Ollie Bishop’s shot before Ethan Light nodded a header agonisingly wide.
Jamie Tompkins’ side took the lead five minutes after the interval when Brendan Matthew was alert to fire home Louis Bouwers’ flicked header.
Sixty seconds later, Matthew turned provider for Harris to make the score 2-0 to the home side.
In fairness, the Blues shook off the shock quickly and had a flurry of chances to halve the deficit, Jamie Mitchell first hitting the woodwork from range before Bishop’s venomous strike was parried away by Ashdown.
Bishop eventually crashed the back of the net from the spot but unfortunately it was too late, and the hosts defended confidently to end the game with maximum points.
The defeat is just Burnham’s second of the season, and they remain three points off the league leaders, after 13 games played. Next up for the side is a trip to Reading City on Saturday. The Cityzens sit second with nine wins and two draws.
Flackwell Heath 2,
Wallingford & Crowmarsh 1
One of the sides to leapfrog Burnham last weekend were Flackwell Heath after they won 2-1 at Wallingford & Crowmarsh. Chris Ayres' side have won nine of their 13 league matches to
date, raking in 28 points to sit only a couple of points off new league leaders Ascot. The home side lost captain Jamie Essex to a red card in the 73rd, but the prolific Ryan Avery scored twice as the Heathens claimed all three points and moved up to fourth in the table. The referee awarded Wallingford a penalty in the 25th minute after a coming together in the Heathens area and the spot kick was duly dispatched.
But the hosts grabbed a deserved leveller just before the break when Fraser's through ball picked out Avery and he kept his cool to score, taking a touch before poking the ball past the keeper.
The Heathens hopes of all three points were seemingly hindered by the dismissal of their captain for a late tackle, but once again they found a way to win, Avery nodding the ball home at the back post after a ball into the box bounced through to him in the 79th minute. Flackwell are back in league action this Saturday, when they host Wembley.
Edgeware & Kingsbury 2, Windsor 0
Elsewhere in the Combined Counties Premier Division North, Windsor's disappointing form continued as they were beaten 2-0 at Edgeware & Kingsbury FC. Hafid Bounyafe opened the scoring in the sixth minute and Nico Papov doubled the hosts advantage in the 17th minute. The result sees Windsor slip to 16th with only three wins so far from their 14 league matches. The Royalists next scheduled league game is away to Broadfields United on November 19.
Wembley 3, Holyport 1
Third from bottom Holyport were beaten 3-1 at Wembley, falling 3-0 down before staging a late fightback.
Wembley led 2-0 at the interval, Davante Adams grabbing their second, and Ben Lawson-Hatch stretched that lead to 3-0 on the hour mark. The game looked to be dead and buried but Ashley Hunt pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute and then missed a 78th minute penalty which, had it gone in, would have made the final 10 minutes very interesting. Port pressed well in the closing stages but weren't able to cut the deficit further. Holyport's next game is their highly anticipated trip to Montpelier Villa in the FA Vase on Saturday, November 12.