​STEVE Deverall snatched a dramatic last-gasp win for Ascot United at Tuffley Rovers on Saturday.

One of five new faces in the team, he scored direct from a corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

His goal capped a spirited recovery, as the Yellamen were trailing with less than 20 minutes remaining.

United were without the suspended Dave Hancock and Jesse Wilson, and manager Jeff Lamb had to include himself in the starting 11 and assistant boss Paul McGrotty among the substitutes.

The new-look line-up took time to settle down in their Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division opener and soon found themselves trailing to their newly-promoted Gloucestershire hosts.

Their goal had already been threatened before they fell behind after seven minutes.
Brett James played a neat one-two with Mark Ford before flicking the ball past keeper Chris Grace with the outside of his right foot.

Grace was the busier of the two keepers in the opening stages and the big stopper was forced to pull off a fine save from Marcus Foxwell’s swirling 11th​-minute free kick.

A torrid opening half hour for the visitors almost ended with a goal from their first meaningful attack, but Lee Boon failed to apply enough contact to Deverall’s corner in the six-yard box. ​

Tuffley almost ​doubled their lead from a four-man breakaway, ​but the unmarked Jordan Dowdeswell ​saw his effort deflected wide.

Ascot’s main threat lay in the shape of tricky winger Joe Jarra, although when he skipped past two tackles two minutes before the interval home keeper Aaron Taylor was well placed to save.

And the Yellamen’s best spell almost brought an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when the outstretched leg of newly-signed striker Jamie West – who joined the club from Holyport during the summer – came agonisingly close to applying a touch to Deverall’s cross following more good work from Jarra.

With the breeze and slope both in their favour, ​United made a positive start to the second half although West’s header lacked the pace to trouble Taylor.

​West wasted a good chance after 65 minutes when he out-muscled the home defence to get a clear sight of goal, but he side-footed the ball wide of goal.

United, unbeaten in the league since December 2014, made two substitutions in a bid to change their fortunes, with David Pitt replacing Ian Brooks ​and player-manager Jeff Lamb giving way to Luke Dexter.

With fresh legs, the Yellamen pressed forward and West and Jarra both went close amid frantic goalmouth scramble ​s while Pitt rattled the post with a rasping volley.

But the pressure eventually paid off. After Pitt had been denied by Taylor, Jarra squared the ​ball for West to fire home a 78th-minute equaliser.

Spurned on by the equaliser, Ascot proceeded to continue to take control of the game. 
Jarra twice spurned opportunities when well placed and West saw his goal-bound effort brilliantly blocked by Tuffley defender 

Liam Wright’s brilliant block from West’s goal-bound shot in the third minute of injury time deflected on to the post and wide for a corner.

​From the corner, however, ​former Holyport star Deverall ​took advantage of the wind to curl the ball over Taylor into the far corner of the net.

Ascot, who were due to play last season’s runners-up Highmoor Ibis at home last night (Tuesday), entertain Premier Division rivals Kidlington in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday (ko 3pm).

The same two sides are also scheduled to meet in the league at Kidlington next Tuesday evening.

​Ascot​: Grace, Smith, Deverall, Rodrigues, Dennis, Lamb (sub Dexter ​71mins), Burrell, Brooks (Pitt ​56min), West, Boon, Jarra. Subs unused: Yorke, Hines, McGrotty. ​.