COUNTER-ATTACKING Longlevens inflicted Ascot United’s second 3-1 defeat inside four days at a windy Racecourse on Saturday.

The hosts were again out of sorts and although they enjoyed the majority of possession, the visitors ruthlessly exposed their defensive fragility in this Hellenic League Premier Division encounter.

This was a six-pointer in the quest for a top-five spot, as the success story of last season’s promoted sides had games in hand on their third-placed hosts.

In contrast to the previous Tuesday evening’s Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy defeat to Binfield, Ascot made a strong start, but still found themselves a goal down after 15 minutes.

Longlevens thwarted a succession of promising United moves, before Jonty Welch slotted a low drive past Chris Grace following a swift counter-attack.

Despite being camped in their own half, the visitors might have added a second goal after 28 minutes but Scott Montgomery dragged his effort wide after Luke Kavanagh’s long pass was turned back across the penalty area by Brad Martin.

Brad Vanstone then missed from a tight angle after good work from Craig Martin as Levens grew in confidence, and they struck again after 37 minutes following a couple of corner kicks.

This time, Welch turned provider – picking out defender Ed Smyllie who easily beat Grace with the goal at his mercy.

The increasingly windy conditions made attractive football difficult, and half time couldn’t come soon enough for the majority of players and supporters.

The second half started with the visitors defending their two-nil lead into the wind, and Ollie Hall made a fine close-range save to deny Jamie West’s first-time shot from Steven Deverall’s cross.

Ascot had staked their intentions at half time with the introduction of striker David Pitt for defender Joe Yeates, and Yinka Salami then replaced Lee Boon after 57 minutes – seconds before the Yellamen scored a lifeline.

Pitt received the ball in the final third, skipped past a few defenders and found the bottom right with a low left-footed effort.

However, Levens scored a crucial third after 62 minutes after Tristam Dennis’ attempted diving header on the half-way line backfired.

Martin picked up the ball, ran half the length of the pitch, cut back onto his right foot and superbly despatched the ball past Grace.

At the other end, Hall’s sensational diving save pushed West’s free-kick onto the inside of an upright moments later, but with the wind howling behind them the Yellamen could not force another goal.

Youth team starlet Samir Regrarui then made an appearance for the final 12 minutes – Grant being replaced – but it was the visitors’ substitute Aston Cooper who might have added a fourth only to slice wide when well-placed.

Pitt stung Hall’s palms with three minutes remaining as Ascot tried in vain to set up a grandstand finale, but the visitors comfortably saw out the remaining minutes for a deserved win.