North Berks Football League Roundup - 4th November 2017
 Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer

Ardington hit seven and remain unbeaten

Ardington maintained their unbeaten record this season when they travelled to Sutton Courtenay and claimed all three points in a six goal second half blitz which finally ended in a 7-2 victory. Both sides started slowly with no real chance to note falling to any side inside the first fifteen minutes until Ardington were awarded a free kick just inside the Sutton half which Sam Connors took quickly and found the unmarked Gavin Jones on the edge of the box and he took a touch and fired his shot towards goal which beat keeper Stuart Kerby at the near post and into the back of the net. Ardington then had a couple of chances to extend their lead with Jason O Hanlon firing his shot straight at the keeper when in a good position which quickly followed with Jones putting though Jamie Gregory only for him to lose control of the ball at the vital moment. Then on the half hour mark Ardington saw the ball thump against the Sutton bar and out to safety after a fierce shot from outside the box which quickly followed with Sutton’s chance to pull the game level when a fine cross by Rhys Griffiths found the head of Jack Sewell six yards out but he somehow headed wide with only the keeper to beat. Then Ardington keeper Craig Payne had to be at his best to deny Jack Dingwall from close range which quickly followed just on the half time whistle with Ardington hitting the woodwork twice in a minute firstly with a snap shot from Shane McGowran which hit the underside of the bar and then Jones seeing his low shot hit the outside of the post. Then Ardington came out for the second half a different team and quickly doubled their lead when Adam Fecher collected the ball just outside the Sutton box and then beat a couple of challenges and fired past Kerby and into the far corner of the net. Then only minutes later Ardington increased their lead after Luke Faircloth collected the ball on the Sutton left and he beat two defenders and saw his close range drive ricochet off his team mate Jones and past the wrong footed Kerby.Sutton then pulled a goal back on the hour mark when a long ball evaded the Ardington defence and Dingwall pounced on the loose ball to fire it past Payne from just inside the box and into the far corner of the net. Ardington then had a few long range efforts that sailed over the Sutton bar before they increased their lead when Jones completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot following a late challenge inside the box. Sutton would not lie down though and they pulled a goal back on seventy minutes through Jack Badger following a fine move on the Ardington left between Griffiths and Sewell then minutes later a moment where the Sutton keeper would like to forget when Connors collected the ball twenty five yards out and he fired his shot towards goal only for it to slip through Kerby’s hands and into the back of the net. Ardington were in full swing now and they quickly made it six after a long ball found Gregory who ran took a touch and fired it past the onrushing keeper which then followed with Ardington adding a seventh when a long cross was headed out to the edge of the box where Ardington’s striker Josh Cottrell brought the ball down and fired his low shot through a crowd of players and beating the outstretched Kerby and into the net. Both sides then had chances that were either saved or missed late on as Ardington went on to seal the game and record a fine victory that keeps them in second place in the Division just in the shadow of the leaders but with games in hand.

Division One
East Hendred moved up to joint top of Division One after they travelled to Lambourn Sports and claimed all three points with a fine 4-0 victory thanks to goals from Tom Austin, Dan Timbrell,Michael Farrelly and Richard Clayton. Berinsfield missed the chance to join the leaders when they travelled to the inform Long Wittenham and were held to a 1-1 draw with Max Palmer scoring for Berinsfield whilst Arran Colley scored for the home side. The two bottom sides in the Division came up against each other and both earned their first league points of the season in a 3-3 draw with Curtis Stevens, Tennyson Mawema and Merhawi Haille scoring for North Oxford whilst Alex Dawson, Lewis Camm and Ben Trotman all found the target for Steventon.

Division Two
Wallingford Town Reserves were in the goals again this week and proved far too strong for leaders Saxton Rovers Reserves when running out with a thumping 9-2 victory with Charlie Silkstone, Brandon Burton, Dan Walkingshaw and Mark Jarman all scoring twice with Harry Voice also finding the target whilst George Goodenough and Liam Smith scored for Saxton. Blewbury moved into fourth position with a hard fought 3-2 victory over Faringdon Town Reserves with Cameron Hollick,Warren McCabe and Boyan Thorpe all found the net whilst Faringdon replied through Adam Finney and Charlie Rowland.

Division Three
The top two sides came up against each other at Mill Lane and it was East Hendred Reserves who narrowly beat Cholsey United 1-0 which leap frogs them into top spot thanks to Liam Eltham scoring the only goal of the game. Drayton got back to winning ways and went goal crazy when they came home from Wallingford Town A with a thumping 10-1 victory with Josh Dennis and Sandy Bolton both hitting hat-tricks and Nathan Merry scoring twice with Kieron Hughes and Bradley Cox also hit the target whilst Charlie Dodd scored for the home side. Letcombe Reserves were in the goals again this time travelling to Uffington United and posting a fine 6-0 victory with Charlie Knight hitting a four timer for the second week running with Reef Winslet scoring the other two goals. Lambourn Sports Reserves got back into the points when they travelled to Hagbourne United and posted a fine 5-3 victory with Jack Appleby scoring twice with James Hutchins, Dan Jones and Mikey Keel also hitting the target whilst Hagbourne replied through two goals from Alex Rodman and a Jamie Clarke strike.

Division Four
Berinsfield Reserves moved back into second place in the table after they claimed a narrow 2-1 victory over Faringdon Town A with goals from Jon Welch and Dean McGirr with James Tyler scoring the Faringdon consolation. Marcham Reserves caused a mini shock when they took all three points off high flyers Ardington Reserves with a hard fought 2-1 victory thanks to two goals from Billy Wilson whilst Jamie Wilkins replied for Ardington.

AG Kingham Cup 1st Round
Long Wittenham Reserves moved into the next round of the competition when they posted a fine 3-0 victory over Watlington Reserves with Matthew Sammons, Will Vaukins and Wayne Railton all scoring for Wittenham. Hagbourne United Reserves also moved into the next round with a 5-2 victory over Steventon Reserves thanks to James Murphy scoring twice with George Smith, Jake Laing and Jake Lee also hitting the net whilst Ben Griffiths and Phil Barton scored for Steventon.

North Berks War Memorial Cup 1st Round
Watlington Town avoided a shock happening when they travelled to Division Four Appleford and posted a 3-0 victory thanks to two goals from Chris Swales with William Wright also hitting target. Marcham also avoided a shock when came home from Division Four leaders Cumnor U21 with a fine 5-1 victory with Tom Graham and Jamie Salter both scoring twice with Stuart Armstrong also hitting the net whilst Ouchie Johnson scored for the home side.

Roll of Honour
Drayton hit ten at Wallingford Town A
Wallingford Town Reserves hit nine at league leaders Saxton Reserves.
Ardington hit seven at Sutton Courtenay
East Hendred Reserves go top of Division Three
Charlie Knight hits a four timer for Letcombe Reserves for the second week running
Gavin Jones scores a hat-trick for Ardington.
Josh Dennis and Sandy Bolton hit hat-tricks for Drayton