North Berks Football League Roundup - 16th December 2017
Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer
Stanley’s late winner puts Saxton back on top
Saxton Rovers Reserves went back top of Division Two when they claimed all three points and ended Blewbury’s winning run of eleven consecutive games with a narrow 2-1 victory at Caldecott Road.Saxton started the better of the two sides and Louis Bloomfield saw his snapshot go straight at Blewbury keeper Darren Gibbons when in a good position followed with a Michael Smith free kick going wide of the near post. Then shortly after Gibbons was called into action again when pulling off a superb save low down to his left following a fine header from Saxton’s Harry Winn from close range. Blewbury then took the lead slightly against the run of play when Arran Gray latched onto a bad back pass and looped his shot over the advancing Saxton keeper Tom Webber and into the back of the net. Moments later Blewbury nearly doubled their lead when a fine cross by Nathan Hill found the outstretched Jamie Prescott at the back post but he could not direct his shot towards the target.Saxton then levelled the scores on the twenty minute mark when Bloomfield fired over a high cross that evaded the outstretched keeper Gibbons and hit the Blewbury cross bar and rebounded in the path of George Goodenough who fired home from close range through a crowd of players. Both sides then had half chances to take the lead with Blewbury’s Charles Jamieson firing high and wide when in a good position followed by Patrick Mannix almost heading home at the back post from a fine Tom Stanley cross. The game then saw a few yellow cards after a couple of late challenges as tempers frayed as both sides looked to gain the Initiative and minutes before the half time whistle Saxton thought they had taken the lead only for Stanley’s fine header from a corner being cleared off the line. The second half took a while to get going and the only chance worthy of a mention was when Saxton’s Stanley saw his shot from just outside the box whistle just wide of the far post. Then just after the hour mark Saxton had a great chance to take the lead when Stanley found space and fired over an inch perfect cross only for Connor Spraggs to get tangled up with the ball from close range when in a great position. Both sides then had half chances from mainly free kicks which were ever saved or missed followed by Saxton’s Stanley being put clean through on goal only to see his shot go straight at the advancing Gibbons. Moments later Bloomfield saw his long range shot whistle over the Blewbury cross bar after good link up play with Stanley and the same two players minutes later put Saxton into the lead when Bloomfield collected the ball on the edge of the Blewbury box and his inch perfect cross found Stanley who headed home from close range. Then in the dying minutes of the game a great run from Saxton’s Liam Smith who beat two defenders in the Blewbury box and his short pass found Stanley who turned and shot only to see it rebound of keeper Gibbons and out to safety.
Division Two
Faringdon Town Reserves picked up their first league win of the season when they claimed a narrow 3-2 victory over Sutton Courtenay thanks to two goals from Adam Sly with Mark Loveridge also finding the target whilst Jack Dingwall and Rhys Griffiths scored for Sutton Courtenay.
Division Three
Long Wittenham Reserves closed the gap on the leaders when they posted a fine 5-2 victory away at Lambourn Reserves with Jay Mace and Will Vaukins both scoring twice for Wittenham with Andy Sutherland also scoring whilst Dan Jones and Geren Scarlett scored for Lambourn with Lambourn also being reduced to nine men in the match with Kean Greening and Dan Jones both seeing red. Cholsey United got back to winning ways when they beat bottom side Uffington United 6-1 with Mickey Bone claiming a hat-trick with further goals coming from Lewis Griffiths, Steve Hawes and Elliot Middleton whilst Pete Byrne scored for Uffington.
Division Four
Watlington Town Reserves hit eight for the second week running and moved into third place in the table when they claimed a 8-1 victory over Berinsfield Reserves with Sam Carter-Knight, Darren Outten and Adam Butler all scoring twice with Steve Outten and Tom Andrews also hitting the target whilst Jon Welch scored for the visitors. Marcham Reserves were also in the goals when they thumped Appleford 8-3 with Darren Webster and Jonny Lloyd both claiming hat-tricks with further goals coming from Cameron Chalmers and Michael Allen-Bloomfield whilst Appleford scored through two goals from Dean Simons and a Billy Baker strike. Hagbourne United Reserves claimed their second league win of the season when they travelled to Steventon Reserves and posted a fine 4-1 victory thanks to Jamie Clark and Jake Lee both scoring twice whilst Jordan Burgess scoring for Steventon.
North Berks Cup 2nd Round
Division Three Marcham pulled of a mini shock when they claimed a 3-1 victory over Division Two Crowmarsh with Steve Mundy, Damien Perks and Tom Coates scoring for Marcham whilst Harvey Priddey scored for Crowmarsh.
North Berks Cup 3rd Round
Holders Berinsfield had not difficulty moving into the next round of the competition when they posted a 5-1 victory over Hanney United with Brian Rawlings,Simon Kenny, Luke Saunders, Charlie Lee and Mark Ingram all finding the target whilst Andy Hope scored for Hanney.
Roll of Honour
Watlington Town Reserves hit eight for the second week running
Marcham Reserves hit eight past Appleford
Saxton Rovers Reserves go back top of Division Two
Faringdon Town Reserves claim their first points of the season
Mickey Bone hits a hat-trick for Cholsey United
Danny Webster and Jonny Lloyd both scored hat-tricks for Marcham Reserves.
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