Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League Premier Div.
Captain Bunyan led by example on Saturday with two goals to set up a fine away win at top two side Ascot United. A splendid first half performance by The Knappers saw them go in at half time 2-0 up and it could have been even more as they dominated play. Perry Coles set both goals up in similar fashion as he tricked and teased his way past Burden, the Ascot right back. In the 2nd minute his cross found Carlo Santoro and he finished impressively and 14 minutes later more trickery saw his flighted cross headed in by Matt Bunyan from six yards. Bunyan looked odds on to get a third before half time but another headed went just over. Kane Fitzgerald also gave Burden a real test with good close skills and Callum Abraham-Barlow was always there in support.
The home side were struggling to get any attacking momentum but with Ian Davies in their line up there is always a chance of a goal and he popped up before half time with an instinctive header that Jake Maddock did well to tip over as the ball bounced up off the artificial surface.
As expected, Ascot came out strong at the start of the second half and Knaphill had far less of the ball with George Spiers and Owen Roberts standing firm in the centre of the back four. Jack French and Sam Balogan worked tirelessly in front of them to stem the tide and Coles and Bunyan were always a threat when found.
On the hour, Ascot found themselves back in the game when that man Davies popped up to slip the ball past Maddock from 8 yards. It looked like a rehearsed free kick that worked to perfection. With their tails up Ascot found another gear and Knaphill had to hold firm and 5 minutes later Bunyan increased the lead to 3-1 with an emphatic finish from 18 yards that looped up and over Gray in the Ascot goal.
Ascot have won many games this season so they were not going to rollover even at 3-1 down and on 73 minutes it was game on again as Higgs scored for Ascot. From Knaphill it was a poor goal to concede as a long clearance from Gray caught Victor Ocansey out and his attempted touch got away from him allowing a square ball to be played to Higgs who slotted home. Knaphill were determined to hold on to the three points and managed to see the game out and in doing so climbed to 6th, 4 points behind Ascot who have played one game less.
With Ascot visiting Spelthorne Sports on Tuesday evening the chasing pack will be hoping for a draw so as not to widen the gap by too much. There is much football to be played with the obvious twists and turns to come so it would be unwise to predict who might win the league just yet.
Mike's blog 