The Yellamen had the chance to leapfrog Kidlington and close the gap on Highmoor Ibis after the Hellenic League Premier Division clash between those sides was postponed, but missed the opportunity with a poor performance.

Kieron Cochrane and Jimmy Deabill put the hosts 2-0 ahead with goals either side of half-time, while Deabill grabbed another and Tom Melledew fired home late on to seal victory.

Dave Hancock had pulled a consolation back for Ascot at 3-0, but the Yellamen were poor throughout and had to play 40 minutes with ten men after Joe Gritt was sent off.

Ascot United assistant manager Paul McGrotty was throughouly dissapointed with the display, lamenting another poor display.

“We shot ourselves in the foot,” he said. “We weren’t good enough and again we’ve conceded four goals which is bitterly disappointing.

“Abingdon’s front line has Southern League experience and they deserve to be higher than they are, but it’s not good enough from our point of view. You win and lose together as a team. We need to improve as it’s not been acceptable lately.” It was the hosts who had the first chance of the game, when Anaclet Odhiambo’s effort from a tight angle was well saved by Chris Grace.

The Yellamen then had a great chance to take the lead, but Leon Yarnie squandered the opportunity. A loose backpass sent the striker through on goal, but Lee Farrow stood strong to deny the striker.

Deabill and Jamie Mundy both saw headers narrowly miss the target for Abingdon from teasing crosses, before a long-range drive from Yarnie sailed harmlessly over the bar.

It was an even first-half, with both sides creating half-chances throughout, but it was the tale of two strikers that impacted the score at the end of the half.

Yarnie had a neat exchange with Lee Boon but struck the ball over the crossbar in the 42nd minute, and he was made to pay 60 seconds later when Cochrane opened the scoring.

Odhiambo picked out Cochrane on the edge of the box, and his low cross-cum-shot went across Grace and into the far left-hand corner to give Abingdon the lead on the stroke of half-time.

The hosts had won just two games all season but were in dreamland 30 seconds into the second-half when they doubled their lead after more hesistant defending.

Deabill nipped in between two defenders to reach a bouncing ball first, directing his header over Grace and into the back of the net to give Jeff Lamb’s side a mountain to climb.

Moments later and things went from bad to worse for Ascot, when Gritt was dismissed for a late challenge in the 50th minute.

The red card seemed to take any fighting spirit out of the visitors, and it never looked like the Yellamen would stage a comeback of any sort.

It took until the 75th minute for the game to be wrapped up, when Deabill latched onto a through ball and finished past Grace to seal all three points.

Ascot did get on the scoresheet five minutes later when a long Hancock pass bounced over Farrow and into the back of the net to grab the Yellamen a freak consolation goal.

But it wasn’t the last score of the game, as Melledew fired home a late fourth to rub salt in the Ascot wounds and condemn them to defeat.

The Yellamen were due to play Highworth Town last night, before an FA Vase clash with Newport (IOW) at home on Saturday (3pm).