Ascot United FC advance in FA Cup but Bracknell Town FC and Highmoor-IBIS are knocked out

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Ascot United had a tremendous win yesterday as they held off Evo-Stik Southern League side Didcot Town’s late fightback to advance into the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Charlie Samuels got them off to a great start giving his side a one nil half time lead and he added a 56th minute second goal for his fifth goal in as many matches this season.

There was disaster for Didcot with Louie Gilpin scoring a minute after Samuels to give the higher division side a mountain to climb and it could have been worse had goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell not saved a Yellamen penalty.

The comeback started with Jack Powell firing home in the 71st minute before Ben Whitehead scored a Town penalty to reduce arrears to 3-2.

Credit to Ascot though who responded well and they added a fourth goal through Samir Regragui on 89 minutes and it appeared a case of job done.

There was still time for a nervous finish as the visitors player manager Andy Ballard bundle home a stoppage time goal but it was the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division side who progressed in a seven goal thriller.

Ballard tweeted his congratulations afterwards saying “We got exactly what we deserved today. Credit to Ascot United. Better team on the day progress”.

Ascot’s reward is a home tie against step three side Tonbridge Angels who are joint top of the Ryman Football League Premier Division.

Two free-kicks in a first half five minute spell were enough for Egham Town as the Evo-Stik Southern League side saw off Bracknell Town to win through.

Bajram Pashaj beat Dave Hancock before he was stopped in his tracks by Carl Davies which the referee judged to be unfair and Pashaj’s free-kick was over both the wall and stand-in goalkeeper Karl Steinborn-Busse.

In the sixteenth minute the lead was doubled as Pashaj was once again fouled, this time by Khalid Senussi, and Wes Daly took responsibility with the free-kick on the other side of the pitch but it was the same result with a fantastic effort curled into the bottom left hand corner.

Bracknell Town's Joe Grant. Photo: Neil Graham.
Bracknell Town’s Joe Grant. Photo: Neil Graham.

Joe Grant should have pulled a goal back on twenty minutes but he struck the left hand post although Adam Cornell made it five goals in five matches as he scored in the second minute of first half stoppage time for a well worked goal.

There was a contentious moment in the second half when Elliott Carey handled inside the penalty area but Kensley Maloney was very harshly adjudged to have fouled Carey and caused him to handle despite the very loud protestations from the Robins players, management team and supporters.

They huffed and puffed until the end but Bracknell were unable to find the goal needed to force a replay.

Highmoor Ibis also exited the cup losing to a last minute winner from fellow Premier Division side Brimscombe & Thrupp.

The visitors opening the scoring in the 26th minute when Ollie Pitt was fouled and his free-kick was floated over for Kyle Pitts to pick out the corner with a thumping header.

The lead lasted until almost half time before Jamie Porter profited from some generous defending as he dribbled his way through to equalise.

It appeared as though a midweek replay was inevitable but striker Jordan Yeo had other ideas volleying home from fifteen yards in the final minute.

The Lilywhites should have progressed in the same round last year but conceded a last minute goal at home to Bracknell who would progress in the replay at Larges Lane thanks to Shane Cooper-Clark’s solitary strike.

Victory over Ibis now sets up possibly to longest named match in the First Qualifying Round as its Brimscombe & Thrupp vs. Peacehaven & Telscombe.

Good luck to B&T who are a smashing club and always give great hospitality to our visiting local sides.

The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Qualifying Round results from today:

Ascot United 4 – 3 Didcot Town
Egham Town 2 – 1 Bracknell Town
Highmoor Ibis 1 – 2 Brimscombe & Thrupp

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