JOE Grant scored a contender for goal of the season as his brace and strikes from Jamie West and Daryl McLean took Ascot United into the FA Vase third round with a 4-1 success at Hailsham Town.

After Grant came close early on, the Yellamen went ahead after eight minutes when West beat keeper Ben Head to Lee Boon’s deflected shot and flicked home with the outside of his boot.

It then took a fine save from Chris Grace in the Ascot goal to deny Sam Divall’s rasping drive when the angle looked too acute to threaten, but it was Ascot who struck again shortly after.

Fifteen minutes had passed, and Daryl McLean threaded the ball through to Joe Grant, and the in-form striker opted to shoot low and early with a fine effort that found the bottom right.

Head was soon in action again when he denied Joe Yeates, whose free-kick was otherwise destined for the bottom left.

Divall went close again for Hailsham after a quickly-taken free-kick – his cross-shot whistled narrowly wide – before Grace’s improvisation averted danger when he chested and cleared Yeates’ wayward backpass.

Neither Grant nor West could convert McLean’s 37th-minute cross as the Yellamen pressed again, but it was McLean himself who added a third just before the interval. Breaking down the right wing, Boon was again the provider, and after cutting the ball back, McLean’s first time shot beat Head at the near post.

The second half began with Grace producing a brilliant point-blank save to thwart Jamie Salvidge’s header, whilst at the other end Head’s more unorthodox method – keeping Grant’s cross out via the woodwork – drew gasps from the disbelieving away contingent.

Grace stood up well to deny Muhamad Kinteh, and as the game opened up, West struck the post for Ascot after rounding Head, before Salvidge nodded home a 55th-minute lifeline for Hailsham.

Ian Brooks replaced Boon after 63 minutes before Grant’s moment of brilliance. Receiving the ball from West, the striker took two sublime touches past two defenders, raced clear and smashed a simply unstoppable drive past Head from outside the area.

To their credit, Hailsham continued to press. Salvidge subsequently found the side-netting for them, before McLean almost eclipsed Grant with an audacious dipping effort for Ascot from outside the area which struck the underside of the bar, but it remained 4-1.

Bradley Fraser then exited for West with 18 minutes left, before Seb Costello replaced McLean on 80 minutes.

Fraser’s far post header was chalked off for offside as the Yellamen sought a fifth, but they were still indebted to Grace after another fine save from Divall to keep the score at 4-1.

Ascot host Ardley United in the Hellenic League Premier Division this Saturday (3pm).

l ASCOT United will host Combined Counties Premier side Camberley Town in the FA Vase 3rd round on Saturday, December 12 (3pm).