It may have felt to you like Ascot United’s FA Vase win came and went in a flash, so we’ve put together five things you may have missed from the day during all the excitement.
Isuzu car taking the ball onto the pitch
If anything can elevate a game above a standard league of cup fixture then it’s the ball on a plinth before kick off. We’ve seen it at Berks and Bucks Cup finals in the past. However, the magnitude of the FA Vase Final was above the level of plinths, and we moved into the arena of remote controlled cars delivering the ball onto the field of play.
Competition sponsor Isuzu provided the tiny car to deliver the matchball into the Wembley centre circle on Sunday, and we very much support this development.
Harry Tucker’s foray into the opposition half and long range strike
There was a wonderful moment in the first half when Ascot centre-half Harry Tucker picked up the ball at the back and began to stride forward. The Newport Pagnell midfield appeared to open up for the defender as he moved into the opposition half. He arrived thirty-five yards from goal, the sun shining down on a Wembley cup final and saw his name up in lights. He took his chance to take a strike on goal, the ball rolled harmlessly wide and we got on with the game.
Jeffsy’s suit
This shouldn’t really come under “things you may have missed” as it was a bit garish to put it mildly! Ascot United match reporter Neal Jeffs certainly understood the sartorial assignment for a cup final, turning up at the big match wearing an all-yellow suit. It was the perfect outfit for a Wembley final but is the Isthmian League ready for Neal Jeffs’ suit? We’re not so sure.
Jamie Tompkins checking his watch seventeen* times in two minutes at the end of the game
OK, so we exaggerated a bit here. It was only six. It was certainly the longest two minutes of Jamie Tompkins’ managerial career.
Usman Lalustani wearing the lid of the FA Vase on his head
All cup wins at Wembley should be celebrated with the lid of the trophy worn atop a player’s head as a hat. For Ascot United it was no different, striker Usman Lalustani placing the lid of the famous trophy on his head during the post-match celebrations.
