ASCOT United have been drawn away to Abbey Rangers in the second round of the FA Vase, which means the clubs will meet on successive weekends.

They face each other in the Premier Division at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday, October 26 and the following week at Addlestone Moor in the Vase.

Currently, the Yellamen are top of the table with Abbey close up in fourth place.

Last Friday, they cruised through their first-round tie, winning 5-1 away to Kent side Sporting Club Thamesmead.

Harry Laflin netted a hat-trick with Ian Davies and Ben Hodges adding a goal apiece as United easily saw off their Southern Counties East Division One opponents, a level below the CCL.

With the game starting in torrential rain, Usman Lalustani shot over the bar before Laflin opened the scoring in the ninth minute, curling a free-kick over the wall into the top left-hand corner.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Davies glanced home Jonny Denton's corner, and five minutes later Laflin made it 3-0.

United's tempo dropped in the second half, but that did not stop them extending their lead after 65 minutes. Hodges, receiving from Sam Gray, picked out Lalustani on the left and charged upfield to take a return pass and rifle the ball home from just inside the area.

Three minutes later Laflin headed home to complete his hat-trick with Dan Edwards netting a consolation goal for the home team 15 minutes from time.

Ascot's first game on their new 3G pitch ended in defeat, their first in the league this season, when they lost 3-0 to Guildford City in front of a crowd close to 500 at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday last week.

And disappointed manager Jamie Tompkins admitted the City slickers deserved their win.

"They came with a plan and executed it well," he said. "We had chances and got in shots from inside their box and we should have scored, but there was some good defending and goalkeeping from them."

He added: "In big moments of the game, I think we lacked a bit of composure, game understanding and intelligence.

"We gave them opportunities to win the game and fair play to them, they did really well. They were the better team on the night and deserved to win."

Whilst disappointed with the result and his team's performance, Tompkins was quick to highlight what Ascot have achieved so far.

"The players have been absolutely fantastic since the start of the season," said Tompkins, speaking to the News immediately following the Guildford defeat.

"We have played eight away (league) games without losing, which is a fantastic achievement, and the players can be really proud of themselves. We are still top of the table, which is a good position to be in come the middle of October."

Tompkins said his team were disappointed with their performance on the night, but added: "The players are very happy with the pitch – it's great to be playing on it – and obviously they are delighted to be back playing at home."

His side squandered chances to take the lead, but it needed two excellent saves by home keeper, Gray, late in the first half to stop Guildford being ahead at half-time.

It took them less than three minutes of the second period to break the deadlock with Dan Stewart sweeping home Dan Harding's right-wing cross.

The visitors were left with 10 men after 55 minutes when Wayne Ridgeley committed a second yellow-card offence and Ascot looked all set to equalise through James Haworth's fiercely-struck shot, only for defender Billy Irving to somehow block the ball close to the line.

United suffered a double blow with seven minutes remaining, conceding a second goal to Stewart and losing substitute James Richardson with a hamstring injury at a time when all three replacements had been made.

And their defence was nowhere to be seen when Eli Ogunseye raced through from halfway to net Guildford's third goal in time added on.

Ascot went on to suffer a second straight home defeat when they were beaten 3-2 by second-placed Camberley Town on Tuesday.


Hodges gave the Yellamen a 27th-minute lead with a long-range strike which went in off the post, however Harry Rapley levelled before the break.


The same player completed a brace with 12 minutes remaining, but Ascot looked as though they would rescue at least a point when Lalustani equalised shortly after.
Yet Camberley captain Dan Jewell had the final word, his stunning late strike securing the victory for the visitors.


Ascot United will be looking to stretch their unbeaten away league record to nine games when they take on Southall at the Robert Parker Stadium in Stanwell tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm).

Sandhurst defeated Holyport 5-3 after a penalty shoot-out in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy, the tie having ended 2-2.

The Fizzers were behind for much of the game, with Andy Forisky putting the visitors ahead on 10 minutes and Fabian Driffill doubling their advantage eight minutes later.

They quickly pulled a goal back through Brad Brown after Mitchell Cooper had flicked on Matt Watson's free-kick, but it wasn't until the 83rd minute when Brown headed in the equaliser from Luke Cox's corner.

Brown was also on target in the penalty shoot-out.

Sandhurst's next two fixtures are at Bottom Meadow, facing Dorking Wanderers Reserves in a Division One match this Saturday and Chessington & Hook United in the Division One Cup next Tuesday (7.45pm).

Eversley & California's home match with Godalming was called off on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch.

Last night (Tuesday) they were due to play Kensington & Ealing Borough away in the Division One Cup before returning to league action at Cove on Saturday, seeking only their second win in 10 games.