As the half wore on, it was a very tight and close contest, but it was Ascot United who edged slightly ahead with the number of attempts on goal. Fortunately for Newbury, Ascot’s finishing was wayward. Newbury did have one scare though when a long goal kick evaded their defence and the Ascot striker was allowed to run through unchallenged. With only the keeper to beat, Brown was quickly off her line to make an excellent save and keep the match at nil, nil. Then in the 40th minute, a Burnett breakaway following a defensive mistake, saw her shot just inside the area well blocked, but the loose ball came out to Shelley Forster, who slammed in a first time effort that was always rising. Sadly for Newbury, it was just too high for the top corner and Ascot escaped. That was not to be the last of the first half drama, with Ascot earning another corner that Newbury had to deal with and clear. And then Reed found herself inside the Ascot penalty area, and from a narrow angle, her shot just skimmed the cross bar and went over for a goal kick. Again, Ascot breathing a huge sigh of relief to make it to the half time break at nil, nil.

Ascot United started strongly again in the second half, with Newbury’s keeper, Brown, forced into making an early low save at her near post. She was called upon again just five minutes later, when the Newbury defence found itself stretched. Brown again came to their rescue, diving to her right to make a parried save and then Leanne Saunders reacted first to clear the loose ball to safety for Newbury. Soon after, Newbury made their first substitution of the afternoon, with Amy McNab replaced by Lauren Hanson. Hanson’s introduction saw Reed pushed further forward in attack and the change nearly paid off straight away, when Reed linked up well with Burnett. The latter’s lay off, saw Reed send a sweeping cross into the Ascot box, which was met by Jazz Bird. But she was unable to get enough power into her shot and the Ascot keeper gathered comfortably.

The match was on a real knife edge and it could easily have gone in either team’s favour, but no one seemed able to break the deadlock. Each team would enjoy short passages of pressure, but the game remained goal-less as the clock ticked down. With one last roll of the dice, Newbury called upon substitute Amie Barnard and she provided a threat on the right, sending in two or three inviting crosses, but the ball just didn’t quite fall for the Newbury forwards. Then the game’s best chance came Newbury’s way, with 88 minutes played. Burnett was played through for another one-on-one chance, as it was becoming almost a personal dual between her and the Ascot keeper. This time the keeper dived at Burnett’s feet as she got her shot away, blocking the ball, but it bobbled back into Burnett’s path. With the goal gaping and the defender struggling to get back towards the goal-line, Burnett’s second shot headed goal-wards. Agonisingly for her and her team mates, Burnett saw the ball cannon back off the base of the post and away to safety. That could have clinched the victory for Newbury, but it wasn’t meant to be and when the Referee’s whistle blew for full time, the match ended nil, nil. A draw and a point apiece was a fair result on reflection.

Newbury Captain, Ellie Reed, was named Player of the Match for her all-action display in the heart of the midfield.

Match report by Sue Hewett