ASCOT United manager Jamie Tompkins says his players thoroughly deserve to have the opportunity of playing in a cup final, writes Dave Wright.

They defeated Wantage Town 1-0 in their Hellenic League Bluefin Sports Cup semi-final at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday, with Kai Walters getting their all-important goal.

The Yellamen will now meet east Berkshire rivals Windsor on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6 at Ardley United's ground in Bicester.

"The boys deserve to have a cup final to look forward to," said Tompkins.

"Our performances over the last few games have been very good and reaching the final is their reward.

"I feel we deserve to be there and I am really, really pleased, not just for the team, but for the whole club as well.

"It will be a nice way to finish off the season."

Playing at home for the last time in this campaign, Ascot had to battle hard to get the better of a Wantage side who are favourites to win the league crown and are also involved in two other cup competitions.

"It was a very tightly contested game and one we were very pleased to win, especially as we kept a clean sheet," added Tompkins.

Wantage looked to have equalised when Chris Jackson beat Sam Gray with a header, but the ball came back off the post and the young keeper managed to stop it crossing the line with his flailing leg.

"In a tight game, you always need a bit of luck and that is something we have not had in recent weeks. Today we got it," commented the United manager.

"Sam deserves some credit as he made some good saves and our whole defending was superb. Their desire in the box was absolutely fantastic."

The Yellamen, fifth in the Premier Division standings, have three league games remaining and Tompkins said: "We want to finish the season as strongly as possible. We need to find really good form before going into the final.

"It's important to us that motivation is high in the squad and the boys are all fighting for places as well."

The manager told the News: "We are really looking forward to playing Windsor, we know each other really well and we have had two good league games with them this season.

"They deserve to be in a cup final because of how well they have done in the FA Vase in the last couple of years."

The semi-final with Wantage was the last to be played on grass at the Racecourse before a new 3G pitch is laid there during the summer.

Tompkins commented: "Our ground has always been known for being really good and in some ways it's sad to see the end of it, but 3G pitches are the way forward.

"We are looking to playing on a consistent surface next season to the extent where our boys will be playing at an even higher level of intensity."

The new pitch is unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2019-20 campaign and they will be requesting some away fixtures in August.

With funding from the Football Foundation confirmed in writing last week, work is expected to start next month.