SUBSTITUTE Gavin Brainch was Ascot United’s FA Vase hero as he scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time to earn a 1-0 win in their first-round tie away to Hollands & Blair, writes Dave Wright.

It was a battling performance by a patched-up side with manager Jeff Lamb again being hit by the absence of players due to a number of reasons.
There was a cagey start to the tie in Gillingham with little goalmouth action.

Louis Valencia’s 20th-minute long-range effort flew well over the Ascot crossbar, while, at the other end, Jamie West was also too high with his lob and later saw another shot sail well wide.

United keeper Carl Dennison palmed Tom Staff’s header on to the angle of post and bar and then Bailey Pearce snatched at a shot when well-placed for Blair.

The Southern Counties East League side, playing in only their second FA Vase match, finished the half more strongly with Valencia and Pearce both squandering chances to break the deadlock before half-time.

Blair went close again through Bryan Greenfield’s free kick on the hour mark.

The home side might have been awarded a penalty when Mark Chiverton got goal-side of Jon Palmer before going down under a heavy challenge and substitute Lee Armstrong’s honesty, staying on his feet when fouled in the box, probably cost his side a penalty award.

With the game entering its last 15 minutes Jamie West blasted wide from another rare sight of goal for Ascot and then the home side were left with 10 men when one of three already-used substitutes, Sam Prescott, was carried off with a knee injury.

The Yellamen saw their chance to make one late extra push. In an attack down the right, James Goodey saw his first attempted cross go begging.

However, when it came back to him, he smashed the ball back across the six-yard box,  where Brainch, one of Ascot’s most loyal players, hammered an unstoppable volley low into the net.

Ascot will play Sussex club Newhaven away in the second round on November 12.

Yellamen are due to travel to Flackwell Heath in the league tonight (7.45pm) and are home to Highmoor Ibis in the Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Cup on Saturday (3pm).