Published: Thursday, 18th March, 2010 10:31am

Scammell - We've proved we're a Premier side

ASCOT United boss Stuart Scammell believes his side have proved they are a Hellenic Premier Division side after producing another two impressive displays in the last seven days.

The Yellamen came from behind to beat fellow-strugglers Carterton 3-1 last Wednesday.

And then on Saturday the Premier Division newcomers held title-chasing Almondsbury to a 1-1 draw at the Racecourse Ground, meaning they now sit a comfortable 10 points clear of the drop zone.

The two results delighted Scammell for different reasons and he is now convinced more than ever that his team deserve their place in the top flight.

He said: "We had two results this week that were good for different reasons.

"The Carterton win was important to allow us to move away from the mess at the bottom of the table. But Almondsbury was very different.

"They are a side who have lost just twice this season and who are looking like a very good bet to win the title.

"The match against them was a barometer to see where we stand against arguably the best side in the division.

"And to be honest, it is a test we passed with flying colours."

On Wednesday United trailed at the break to a goal from Carterton's Michael Duerden before Jon Bennett equalised with a half-volley from outside the box.

Then man of the match Richard Mills struck twice to give the Yellamen all three points.

On Saturday United fell behind after only 90 seconds to a well-taken Dean Griffiths strike.

Almondsbury were then reduced to 10 men before a trademark free-kick from Rob Saunders rescued United a share of the spoils.

Scammell said: "It was a well-worked goal from them after 90 seconds. We had not started and I don't even think we had touched the ball.

"It was excellent from their point of view, but poor from ours. After that we came into the game.

"They had a lad sent off for lashing out at one of our players and we capitalised.

"Rob Saunders scored a tremendous free-kick. I have seen him score free-kicks before, but that was something special."

And Scammell believes his side could even have gone on to inflict the Almonds' third defeat of the season.

He said: "We had our chances and we could have even snatched it in the end.

"Their goalkeeper made the best instinctive save I have seen from a Jon Bennett header with three minutes to go.

"I thought for all the world he had scored, but their lad managed to touch it onto the bar.

"Having said that I'm delighted with the point. That is the kind of game we would have got nothing from before Christmas, I'm quite sure about that. But now we are made of much sterner stuff."

Saturday's draw meant Ascot, who lost 11 of their opening 13 games, have tasted defeat just once in their last nine outings.

Next up is a home game against another of the Premier Divisions top guns, Shortwood United. And while Scammell admits earlier in the season he would have taken a point, now he feels his side are capable of competing for all three.

He said: "The important thing is that we keep our unbeaten run going because confidence is sky high at the moment.

"At the start of the season we would have looked at a game like Shortwood and thought - keep it tight and maybe we can nick a point.

"But now, especially at home, we feel we can match even the top teams.

"We have not really changed too much since the start of the season, there hasn't been any magic wand.

"We have brought in a few players with what we thought was the right level of experience to help the rest of the squad develop. And we have worked hard."

A boost for United on Saturday will be the return of skipper Tim Standing who has now completed his four game suspension. The central midfielder was given a run-out in the reserves in midweek, and will be available for selection.

Scammell added: "You are always going to miss your captain, but - and I know this sounds like a bit of a football cliche - in his absence we have had 11 captains on the field.

"Everyone has stood up and been counted and our results show that."