Bracknell Town hit four in Ashford Town win

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Bracknell were hosting Ashford Town (Mddx) on Saturday afternoon in their latest BetVictor South Central Division fixture with neither side getting off to the flying start that they hoped would see them challenging for the top spot at the end of the season.

The Robins have won one, drawn one and lost one in the league punctuated by a decent 5-0 victory against Bournemouth FC in the FA Cup.

Meanwhile the Tangerines find themselves bottom of the league with an unhealthy goal difference, after losing all three of their opening fixtures and getting knocked out of the FA Cup. Though the one caveat which should be mentioned is that they have played three of the top four teams in the division in these matches.

Although Nathan Minhas created space for himself his shot was deflected wide, it was Ashford who showed the greater threat in the first ten minutes Vitor Monteiro, Ivan Machado and Sam Humphries working chances a couple of which Mark Scott had to be aware of to save.

At the other end Nicholas Bignall got on the ball, and squared to Dan Carr who saw his cross deflected out for a far post corner kick which Joe Gater headed back into the box, but it was scrambled away. On the 13th minute Robb Sheridan launched a long throw into the box which was flicked on by Justin Clayton to where Minhas was lurking in the six yard box, and he tapped it home to give the home side the lead 1-0!

Scott had to deal with another shot from Ashford’s Machado, but the home side were soon on the offensive again Seb Bowerman passed to Carr and again his cross went out for a corner kick. Bowerman took the set piece and Clayton found himself space, but his free header went wide of the goal.
Moments later he was involved in a mirror image of the previous goal to double the Robins lead when he headed on another Sheridan long throw which Minhas put away with an overhead kick on the 21st minute to make it 2-0.

Opportunities continued to be fashioned for both sides with Bignall seeing a header saved by Sam Mason ; Scott sprinted off his line to clear at the feet of the onrushing Machado; Bignall played in Max Herbert, but he shot wide ; Carr found Minhas with a ball over the top, but the striker hit his strike well wide ; Max Webb forced Scott to parry away a stinging drive and was tackled as he tried to advance into the area.

Herbert and Minhas created space for Bignall to get a shot away, but it was deflected out for a corner kick which Sheridan headed wide.

Quick thinking set Minhas off on a break down the right, and he put a low cross into the six yard box which Herbert met to make it 3-0 to The Robins on the 38th minute.

Ashford now found themselves under the cosh until the end of the first half with Mason making a double save from Bowerman and Bignall ; Carr pulling the ball back to Herbert ; Brown ballooning a chance over the bar and Mason saving another shot from Bowerman.

Half time: Bracknell Town 3-0 Ashford Town (Mddx)

As the home side looked to maintain this pressure Herbert played a ball through to Bignall, and he looked to back heel it to Bowerman, but that was cut out.

Machado played the ball Monteiro and Scott had to be alert to make the save, and Monteiro had another shot which was deflected out for a corner kick, that kick was simply headed clear though.

Marcus Mealing was brought off the bench, and nearly had a dream start to his time at Bracknell when Bowerman found him unmarked in the box, but he put the ball over the bar.

Again Mason found himself called upon to keep out shots from Bowerman and Brown amongst other chances which fell to Mealing as The Robins looked to increase their lead.

A long clearance from Joe Green saw Scott scrambling back towards his goal, but much to his relief it ended up going wide of the goal.

Bracknell finally made it 4-0 on the 75th minute when Mealing dummied a pass which ran through to Carr, and even though Mason saved his shot it went out for a corner kick and from that set piece Minhas was able to complete his hatrick !

Mason still had to be focused as he saved from Minhas after Carr pulled it back to him, and Bowerman put the ball into the danger area from the right, but Carr shot wide.

The Tangerines had a couple of half chances as Webb shot over, and Kelvin Adjei ran onto a ball over the top, but he was soon closed down.

Minhas headed over after substitute Ben Mulley put a ball into him before the referee blew his whistle to end the match.

Full time: Bracknell Town 4-0 Ashford Town (Mddx)

The home crowd applauded the team at the end of this comprehensive victory which certainly should give them a boost as they head into two tough tests ahead. Marlow will be the visitors on Monday night in the Velocity Trophy, before the Robins of Carshalton Athletic arrive next Saturday for the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup .

Bracknell Town: Mark Scott (c), Robb Sheridan, Max Herbert (Ben Mulley 76 Mins), Dan Brown (Ousman Darboe 68 Mins), Clayton, Minhas, Bowerman, Carr, Gater, Bayley and Bignall (Mealing 56 Mins). Unused Subs: J. Mulley and Kibaki.

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