BRACKNELL Town completed a win double over the Bank Holiday weekend by defeating Ascot United 3-1 in front of a 200 plus crowd at The Racecourse Ground on Monday, writes Dave Wright.

There was extra spice to this local derby with ex-Yellamen Chris Grace, Dave Hancock, Alex Rodrigues and substitute Joe Grant all facing their former club.

Bracknell took the lead on 24 minutes through Kensley Maloney following good work down the right by Terence Bohane.

It was 2-0 after 38 minutes thanks to Adam Cornell following good work by left-back Danny Wing, but the Robins were fortunate not to have seen their lead halved before half-time Charlie Samuels missed a sitter and then Luke Wilson shot into the side-netting when a short cross to the right would have found Ben Knight unmarked in front of goal.

But Ascot did pull one back less than two minutes into the second half when Wilson’s header dropped over Grace with the keeper caught inches off his line.

Grace redeemed himself by denying Samuels, who was a constant threat to the Bracknell defence, where skipper Carl Davies and Rodrigues were outstanding.

At the other end, home keeper Carl Dennison did well to block Bohane’s effort and was relieved to see Cornell knock the rebound over an empty net.

But Dennison was beaten for a third time shortly before the end when Bohane turned the defence inside out before supplying a cool finish.

Bracknell are away to Burnham, who have lost all seven games so far, in the Bluefin Sports Hellenic Cup on Saturday (3pm ko).

It wasn’t a good weekend for Ascot, as on Saturday they lost 4-0 at Longlevens. But they were missing several regulars for this long trip to Gloucestershire and had only 11 players including manager Jeff Lamb, while his assistant Paul McGrotty was on the bench. They conceded goals in the 41st, 58th, 61st and 79th minutes.

United will be looking to return to winning ways on Sunday (3pm) when they entertain unbeaten Ryman Premier League side Tonbridge Angels in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.

  • TERENCE Bohane made a sensational debut for Bracknell by scoring two goals and setting up another in their 4-1 win at Thatcham on Saturday.

One of the most lethal strikers in Hellenic League football for a number of years, the man known as ‘TJ’ joined the Robins last Wednesday from league rivals Royal Wootton Bassett, having only moved there in the close season from Highworth.

It took him just 18 minutes to open his account for Bracknell, netting from close range after Carl Withers’ corner had been flicked on by Carl Davies.

Earlier, Thatcham’s Shane Cooper-Clark had grazed the top of the crossbar with a free-kick, while there were appeals for a penalty when he went over in the area under a challenge from advancing keeper Chris Grace.

Bracknell, who had knocked the Kingfishers out of the FA Cup three weeks earlier, went further ahead on 24 minutes. Bohane, deep out on the right flank, delivered a superb cross towards the far post, where the unmarked Adam Cornell had time to head home.

Thatcham’s best move of the half came shortly before half-time and ended with Gareth Thomas forcing Grace into making a brilliant save.

The hosts made two changes at half-time, but Robins made it 3-0 on 56 minutes. Seb Bowerman saw his effort saved by keeper Paul Strudley, but Bohane was on hand to smash the ball home.

Shortly afterwards, Thatcham, who had won 11-0 at bottom club Burnham the previous Tuesday, pulled a goal back through Cooper-Clark, his ninth in the last five games.

But the visitors regained their three-goal advantage after 72 minutes when Cornell capitalised on a mistake by Strudley.

Five minutes later the Bracknell striker beat the keeper again, only to see his effort strike the inside of the far post and rebound out.