Ascot United 0-2 Broadbridge Heath

For our first ever visit to the impressive home of Ascot United, Heath manager Chris Simmons took a squad of 18 players which included several new faces appearing for the first time in Heath colours.

A perfect afternoon for a match with the sun out, sky of blue (apart from the grey bits) and Heath wearing their changed colours of all red.

The first chance of the match came Heath’s way on 18 minutes when Jamie Chesworth played a long ball down the left over the Ascot defence allowing Mason Doughty to run through on goal but his attempted lob of the goalkeeper was saved at full stretch.

Seven minutes later and Doughty was again put through this time by a lovely one-two with Ashley Mutongerwa on the edge of the box but his effort crashed against the post.

Heath deservedly took the lead on 30 minutes when Louis Evans received the ball wide on the left and picked out the run of Mutongerwa who lifted the ball over the advancing keeper to make it 1-0.

At the other end a fine save by Heath’s debutant goalkeeper Claudio Boakye denied the Yellas an equaliser before further chances came Heath’s way via Louis Evans whose shot was well saved low to the keepers left and Doughty again who shot into the side netting but a deserved lead for the Bears at the break.

Both teams made wholesale changes to their line-ups for the start of the second half and the hosts should have drawn level within minutes of the restart when a cross was whipped in from the left but somehow the Ascot striker headed over the bar when it looked easier to score.

While at the other end another debutant Mario Quiasacca was causing the homeside a lot of problems with his pace and strength on the ball and the forward was unlucky not to double the lead midway through the half with an effort that went inches wide of the post.

In the closing stages with the home team pushing players forward in search of an equaliser the ball fell to Brad Peters in the Heath penalty area who took a touch, looked up and played a long ball forward towards Quiasacca who shrugged off a defender to win the ball and run through to slot past the advancing keeper low into the bottom right corner of the net.

A really good run out for both sides to help blow away a few cobwebs, much more football to play yet before the season starts in earnest and we go again on Tuesday evening with another friendly when the Bears travel to Newhaven for a game against the Dockers, hope you can make it.