LEE Ashbolt came agonisingly close to a second ton in this week’s Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Roll-Up final.

Lee 'The Lightning' Ashbolt

And the 20-year-old, who described his performance as “the best I’ve played up here”, sent out a defiant message as his final under-21 series approaches.

In the first frame of a 3-0 whitewash of Marchwood’s Billy Castle, Ashbolt, who scored a first competitive century last week, missed the final blue on 85.

“I played the brown and punched it, but it was quite close to the side cushion,” explained Ashbolt. “I was thinking as I played it ‘don’t hit it straight’ otherwise it will hit the far knuckle. So I aimed to a bit more to the other side and it hit the knuckle. Shame really.”

Ashbolt saw off newcomer Dom Flood 3-0 and fired in 87 in a five-frame victory over three-time Roll-Up champion Dan Hildyard. Famed throughout the region for his never-say-die attitude, Ashbolt wrapped up a 3-0 semis win against Daniel Woods, 16, after trailing by 53 with 43 on.

“I felt as if I was going to win it today,” he said. “Instead of getting 50s, I’m getting a lot of higher breaks now. I’m feeling more confident as I get towards the century mark.

As his 21st birthday nears, Ashbolt, who accepts that a first title is out of reach with five weeks left, is keen to leave his mark on the competition. “I’ll be ready for the next series, my last one,” he said. “I’m going to win it, definitely. I know I will.”

Nine-year-old rankings leader Shane Castle let slip a 2-0 lead against Woods and trailed by 41 points in the decider. The Marchwood wonderkid chalked up a 44 break - but lost on the black.

EASB referee Steve Hildyard remarked: “He still hasn’t learnt he can lose.”

Billy Castle, 15, beat Jordan Sainsbury, 14, 3-2 in the semis. Lee Roling, 16, saw off left-hander John Smith 2-0 in the Plate final.

 Picture: Kevin Legg