Yellamen leave it late to secure victory in Oxford

There was an energetic desire about both sides in this Hellenic League Premier Division contest, and although Jamie Mundy rifled an eighth-minute shot past Grace after a fine Oxford build-up, an offside flag had long been raised to deny the hosts early on.

A foul on Lee Boon then gave the visitors a sight of goal, but Jamie West’s free-kick deflected agonisingly wide for a corner.

However, it was that corner which led to the opener. Paul Coyne’s direct delivery was cleared at the near post only as far as his feet – and with the freedom of Marston Lane he swung another cross in which Tom McGarry brilliantly headed over Christian Lawrence on 12 minutes.

At the other end, Grace did well to clear with his feet as Oxford probed for an equaliser, although it was an ultimately damaging attack for Ascot who lost Tom Hedges to injury.

The Coyne-McGarry combination brought Ascot a more audacious chance after 25 minutes, the latter this time firing an overhead kick well over the bar, and with 30 minutes of good football played by the visitors, the early signs looked promising.

Alex Rodrigues was alert to prevent Mundy’s shot threatening Grace from a narrow angle as Oxford mounted a rare attack, but an excellent display from Coyne alongside substitute Louie Gilpin in midfield ensured the balance of play remained with Ascot.

Indeed, Gilpin teed himself up with a neat piece of skill five minutes before the break only to miscue his left-footed volley wide, before McGarry conceded a corner to Oxford with a fine interception.

Louis Joyce was disappointed to fire a low shot into the side-netting in the ensuing passage of play, but it was Ascot who led at the break.

Despite their early ascendancy in the second spell the visitors were indebted to Grace who tipped a long-range Nomads effort over with 53 minutes on the clock.

Lawrence then stood up well to deny Gilpin from doubling the lead from a tight angle after the impressive youth team player’s intelligent run was picked out by Boon.

Grace then denied Joyce what looked a certain equaliser after the Ascot defence was sliced open for the striker to shoot from a central position – the goalkeeper raced out and saved with his feet – but he was powerless to prevent Joyce from drilling home substitute Drew Boyd’s cross on the hour mark.

Ascot came close to retaking the lead after 66 minutes when West nodded Boon’s delicious cross onto the crossbar with Lawrence beaten again, and West repeated the feat three minutes later with a combination of Lawrence and woodwork thwarting a more hanging effort.

A much-needed change in Ascot personnel saw James Goodey replace Brooks for the final 20 minutes, before Grace’s instinctive save denied Amer Adwah’s thumping close-range shot for Oxford.

However, it was Ascot who undid themselves with 10 minutes remaining – failure to retain possession in their own attack ended with Oxford breaking, and Joyce gleefully lobbed the despairing Grace with aplomb.

Now chasing the game, it was a combination of route-one and Goodey that drew Ascot level with five minutes remaining.

Grace provided the assist with a booming clearance, a medley of Grant and West flicked on, and Goodey superbly held off two challenges before planting the ball into the bottom right.

Re-energised, Ascot pressed again and Steven Deverall’s cross was hacked behind for an 88th-minute corner.

And, just as it had started for Ascot, Coyne swung the ball in for McGarry, who rose in the box to plant a header past Lawrence.

Ascot United host Brimscombe & Thrupp this Saturday (3pm).