ASCOT United dropped into the bottom four of the Hellenic League Premier Division following a 3-1 home loss to Ardley United.

Ardley were the better side in the first half, but by the interval they only had Chris Jackson’s solitary 11th-minute goal to show for their efforts when the defender stabbed home after Matt Hill had failed to deal with a corner.

Most of the action was centred in the final 15 minutes of the first half. First, Ascot’s Ryan Cooper was lucky to receive only a yellow card for a two-footed challenge, before Jack Ross’s 37th-minute shot cannoned back off the hosts’ crossbar.

Only one goal down at the break, any early hopes of a comeback were extinguished just 33 seconds after the restart when Nathaniel Lewars latched on to a long ball, held off the Ascot defence, and slotted the ball into the left-hand corner from a tight angle.

James Goodey shot wide for Ascot after Josh Dillon had flicked on Tom Wensley’s throw-in, although Ardley made it 3-0 when substitute Troy Bryan threaded through for Matt Cruse to slot home with an hour played.

Dillon cut the deficit two minutes later with a shot on the turn after substitute Matt Forder had made an immediate impact in the build-up, although he was guilty of missing a golden opportunity shortly afterwards when he failed to connect with a free header.

Ascot United – who last won in the league in November – host Highworth Town on Saturday (3pm).

  • HAMILTON Bowler scored the only goal of the game as Finchampstead beat Shrivenham 1-0 in the Bluefin Sport Hellenic Supplementary Cup on Wednesday.

They were due to visit Didcot Town Reserves in Division One East of the Hellenic League last night.

  • SANDHURST Town lost 3-1 at home to AFC Aldermaston in their Hellenic League Division One East clash on Saturday.

Josh Mynard put the 10th-placed Fizzers in front on 17 minutes, but two Kai Parton-Edey goals and a Joe Cummuskey effort sealed the points for the visitors.

Sandhurst Town were due to travel to Rayners Lane last night, before visiting Chinnor on Saturday (2pm).

  • EVERSLEY & California were held to a 0-0 draw in their Combined Counties League Division One game at Staines Llamas on Saturday.

The sixth-placed Boars host Cobham this coming Saturday (3pm).