ASCOT United suffered heartbreak in the Buildbase FA Vase with hosts Newhaven grabbing a 2-1 win in the second minute of stoppage time, writes Dave Wright.

This second-round tie could have gone either way and the Yellamen can consider themselves unlucky to have lost.

Keeper Carl Dennison was soon called into action, while defender Gary Smith twice denied the home side with first a block and then a header.

From the latter, Ascot broke quickly and James Goodey headed Luke Wilson’s left-wing cross onto the crossbar.

Then another effort by Goodey and Samir Regragui’s follow-up might have given Ascot a half-time lead, but it remained goalless at the break.

Newhaven hotshot Lee Robinson, the Sussex County League’s leading scorer this season, was proving a constant threat to United.

The home side had penalty appeals waved away inside the opening minute of the second half when he went down in under a challenge with Smith.

However, the hosts were awarded a penalty on the hour mark when Robinson played a neat one-two before being felled by Smith. Scott Taylor made no mistake with the spot kick, hammering the ball straight down the middle.

Ascot replaced Regragui with Louie Gilpin, before Goodey’s low drive was tipped around a post by keeper Jake Buss.

But Goodey was not be denied. After 67 minutes he controlled Paul Coyne’s left-wing cross, held off a defender, and slammed the ball into the bottom corner for a richly-deserved equaliser.

Newhaven finished the game strongly and Dennison was forced into making a fine save with 90 seconds left on the clock before they snatched their winner.

Ascot failed to deal with one final, desperate punt forwards, and Robinson had time to turn before rifling a low shot past Dennison.

There was still time for the visitors to force two corners, but they were unable to turn them into a goal.

Highmoor Ibis 2

Ascot United 2

THERE were also late goals at the Rivermoor ground on Tuesday night when Ascot United held Highmoor Ibis to a 2-2 draw.

The Yellamen, having lost 2-1 to a stoppage-time goal at Newhaven in the FA Vase last Saturday, twice trailed their hosts, but James Goodey volleyed home the first equaliser on 70 minutes while Jack Smillie rescued a point with a well-placed free-kick two minutes into added time.

Goodey also hit the crossbar and United were not far away from grabbing victory just before the final whistle when Highmoor managed to get the ball away from a goalmouth scramble.

Mitch Parker and Harry Grant were on target for the hosts.

Ascot, who are 12th in the table, now face two games against bottom-four clubs – at home to Brackley Town Saints this Saturday (3pm) and away to Oxford City Nomads next Tuesday (7.45pm).