A SOLID defensive display backed up by a brace from Charlie Samuels and a Ben Knight strike gave Ascot United a 3-0 Hellenic League Premier Division win at Carterton on Saturday.

Early pressure from the visitors saw Jesse Wilson head Paul Coyne’s header wide at the near post, although Carl Dennison’s well-timed save at the feet of Corey Forbes kept Carterton at bay.

The eager Samuels then struck two long-range efforts off-target for Ascot, before Carterton nearly undid themselves when Wilson charged down ‘keeper Max Dunmall’s clearance, although Knight could not convert in the ensuing passage of play.

Then came a fine passage of play for the visitors.

Louie Gilpin bludgeoned his way through two Carterton tackles, fed Luke Wilson, and after Wilson’s perfectly weighted pass had set up a return from Samuels, the same player was muscled off the ball when bearing down on Dunmall.

At this point, Ascot looked like a side who had played more than two competitive matches since their Summer rebuild, although it still required Dennison to use his head – literally – to thwart Rob Johnson midway through the half.

At the other end, Samuels might have punished more hesitant home defending with a difficult lobbed chance, but it remained goalless through the half-hour mark.

At that point, Carterton had credibly muscled their way back into the game, although their only threat appeared to be through the lively Johnson.

Gilpin then saw a rasping effort sail just right of target after good work from Remy Meyers, but the Yellamen carved out a 41st-minute lead which they would ultimately take into the interval. Luke Wilson threaded through to Knight, and with the home defence’s offside trap sprung, Knight kept his composure to slot past Dunmall.

Knight should have doubled Ascot’s lead 10 minutes after the restart when a combination of Samuels and Luke Wilson created the chance but Knight blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

Chances were fewer and further between than in the first period – partly due to the heat – although Forbes’ snapshot for Carterton after 65 minutes reminded the visitors they were still in it, albeit his effort was comfortably over the crossbar.

However, that was as good as it got for the hosts who were stung just one minute later.

This time, they thought they had done enough to avert danger when Jack Kennedy shepherded Samuels away from goal, but after he charged down Kennedy’s clearance, Luke Wilson played Samuels back in, and he drifted across the penalty area before ramming into the bottom left hand corner.

Ascot substitute James Goodey fired straight at Dunmall with a quarter of an hour remaining, but his inadvertent miss led to a third goal on 82 minutes. Samuels’ turn of speed paved the way for a cross to Goodey at the far post, and although he somehow missed, Samuels was on hand on the other post to slot home.

Goodey then chipped over as another chance went begging, but the result was already beyond doubt as Dennison and his side exited with a well-deserved clean sheet.

Ascot are due to host Didcot Town in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday (3pm).

They then host Binfield in the league next Tuesday (7.45pm).