Ascot United FC Picture: Andrew Batt
ASCOT UNITED made it through to the last four of the FA Vase after their penalty shootout success over West Didsbury & Chorlton to put them one game away from Wembley.
The Yellas got off to a poor start on their away trip and fell behind after four minutes.
With just 10 minutes left on the clock, Ascot ensured they put themselves back in the cup tie when Brendan Matthew latched onto Harry Grant’s pass and slotted past the keeper to equalise.
The game went straight to penalties and it was goalkeeper Rhys Forster who proved to be the match winner when he saved a spot kick after the hosts had already struck the crossbar.
That gave Usman Lalustani the chance to send Ascot through and he held his nerve to seal the Yellas’ place in the final four where they are now just 90 minutes away from winning a place in the final to play at Wembley Stadium.
Ascot will play Corsham Town in the semi-finals on the weekend of Saturday, April 1.
Ascot manager Jamie Tompkins said: “Character and a winners mentality. So proud of our brilliant group and onto the semi-finals we go. Unbelievable support from our fans and can’t thank you enough for making the trip. The journey continues.”
Speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire, Ascot vice captain Dan Bailey said: “It’s been unbelievable. We’ve played six of our eight games away from home so we’ve had to go the long way round.
“The coach journeys have been great and we’ve come through as a group. To be one game away from Wembley is unbelievable.
“It was a difficult quarter-final, neither side wanted to make a mistake. We were the better team in the second-half and we got the win on penalties.
“The celebrations were pretty wild at the end. The coach journey home was rocking.
“We’ve had a couple of lads that have already done it so we’ve got experience. It would be a dream. It’s been a great run and hopefully we can go one further.”
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