MANAGER Jeff Lamb believes Ascot United have a bright future after finishing the season with a deserved piece of silverware, writes Dave Wright.

The Yellamen won the Hellenic League’s Perpetua Press Floodlit Cup by beating Brimscombe & Thrupp 2-0 in extra time at Kidlington FC last Thursday.

They also finished a creditable fourth in the Premier Division standings.

“It has been tough and a hard old slog this season, but there has been a lot of positives,” said Lamb.

“Two boys, Louis Gilpin and Samir Regragui, from our Allied team started tonight and another, James Goodey, just missed out.

“They have been with the (first team) group for the last 10 games and that is a credit to the club and its youth policy.

“So the future of Ascot is looking good.”

Lamb saw his team taken to extra-time by Premier Division rivals Brimscombe, but was always “quietly confident” they would win the final.

He added: “They came here on the back of some good results, but in the end I think their run of games had taken its toll on them.”

While Ascot had had a 10-day rest, this was the Gloucestershire side’s fifth fixture in nine days, although none of the starting 11 had played the previous evening, when they drew 1-1 at home to Highmoor Ibis.

It wasn’t the most exciting of finals, with both defences having the measure of the opposing attack and noteworthy scoring chances were few and far between.

Yinka Salami and Alex Rodrigues were outstanding at the heart of United’s defence, while Ascot’s main threat in attack came from Joe Grant, and it was he who netted their second goal.

“He runs for ever and got himself a well deserved goal,” added Lamb.

Chris Turner did miss a good opportunity for Brimscombe when he headed wide from close range and Ascot keeper Chris Grace had to make a fine late save, but the Yellamen always looked the more likely side to break the deadlock.

They did eventually do that, but not until the seventh minute of extra time.

And it came from substitute David Pitt, who perhaps surprisingly had to wait until the end of 90 minutes before leaving his seat on the bench.

He received a pass from Paul Coyne and, despite the close attendance of two Brimscombe defenders, the striker turned before hitting a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

Keeper Steve Sparrow got a hand to it, but the shot carried too much power and he couldn’t keep the ball out.

“We know he (Pitt) always causes problems when he gets into the box and he tucked it away pretty well,” said Lamb.

“He has had an injury, so that was one of the reasons why I didn’t start him tonight. He has also been away with his country.”

Pitt, along with Tom Hedges, nearly set up a goal for Grant, who was denied by a Brimscombe defender as he looked to get in his shot.

But Grant was not to be denied a goal, heading home Coyne’s free-kick early in the second period of extra time.

Brimscombe’s Karl Nash and Billy Jones both missed a late chance to pull a goal back, but Ascot, skippered by Dave Hancock, held on for a deserved victory.

Ascot United: Grace, Hancock, Deverall, Rodrigues, Salami, Gilpin, Boon, Coyne, Grant (West 106’), Regragui (Hedges 75’), Mclean (Pitt 90’). Subs unused: Brooks, Dennis.