PURTON'S hopes of reaching the quarter finals of the Bluefin Cup ended when they were beaten 4-1 by Premier League side Ascot United at the Red House last Saturday, writes Alan Eastwood.

Bluefin Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup

Purton 1

Ascot United 4

Manager Chris Pethick was without injured trio Darren Brown, Ryan Child and Scott

Campbell and Ascot took a 2-0 lead after seven and 10 minutes with Purton all at sea.

Steven May was then a whisker away from netting for Purton after 32 minutes when bursting through and shooting just wide.

Ascot responded by adding two more goals, in the 38th and 41st minute, with Purton just off target a minute before the break when Marcus Hall saw his effort clear the crossbar.

The second half saw Purton get back into it when a clearance by the Ascot keeper went straight to Blaine Fitzgerald who scored from 30

yards over the keeper's head.

Purton keeper Devon Brown denied Ascot a further goal in the 79th minute while Purton responded in the last 10 minutes with Tom Swindell, Fitzgerald and May shooting wide

and Dave Gee lobbing over the bar on 88 minutes when a goal seemed certain.

A disappointing end result for the Reds who return to league action this Saturday at North Leigh United – kick off 3pm.