Creeksiders record first points with late Ascot victory
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM TOWN recorded their first 3 points of the Isthmian League Central Division campaign as they hosted Ascot United in their third match on Saturday afternoon (August 23); narrowly completing a late one-nil victory after a closely fought encounter that was decided by a single penalty in front of over two hundred supporters at a sunny Cams Alders.
The hosts started brightly and created the first chance after eight minutes through Jamie Arnold. who dragged narrowly wide from a tight angle following a free flowing move. Dan Sibley than had a powered attempt blocked at source by the Ascot defence whilst Casey Bartlett Scott broke down the left side but his driven ball was cleared away from the striker.
Sibley went close again through a scuffed effort before Ascot showed their quality in a succession of openings; the first seeing Luis Le Paih having the ‘volleyed effort’ pushed away by Declan McCarthy on 21 minutes. This was followed by Joden Trickett forcing another stop by the home keeper; this time with his left foot following a sprint through the middle.
An injury forced Ascot into their first substitution and the stoppage seemed to dampen the momentum across the sides who had good periods of possession but to little success for attacking. There was one final chance before the half time whistle and it fell to Fareham as a set-piece was pumped into Will Ayre round the back but his effort flew over at range.
Ascot made some tactical tweaks and came out firing for the second period as they did move this ball quicker; Jaheim Kamara beating the keeper on the left and seeing this shot cleared off the line by Bartlett-Scott. Baback Dehghani and George Wallace further had their efforts blocked by stubborn defending, including one block that drew penalty appeals.
McCarthy was performing brilliantly and made an outstanding ‘fast’ stop to deny Kamara after the striker broke through in the penalty area, whilst Cheik Sylla was causing issues with good strength as he flashed just over just after the hour. Substitutions followed for Fareham, but this didn’t stem this flow with Dan Bennett heading off the line after 70 minutes.
The superb defending got its ‘big’ reward as Charlie Cooper was fouled running inside the area and the referee gave a penalty despite loud Ascot protests; Bartlett-Scott converting the spot-kick into the corner after 84 minutes. Ascot threw everybody forward in added time, but it was the hosts who were closest to scoring a second from Sam Godfroy’s effort.
The success means that the Creeksiders rise to seventeenth in these current standings after three matches and was a combination of the positives of recent weeks despite two narrow losses to date. They are due to travel to Littlehampton for a midweek encounter on Tuesday night before visiting Winchester City for a tie in the FA Cup First Qualifying Stage.
PICTURED BY FAREHAM TOWN MEDIA: Home defenders successfully halt Ascot attacks during ‘tense’ final minutes.
