North Berks Football League Roundup - 20th January 2018
 Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer

Determined Drayton Bow out against South Reading in Junior Cup

Drayton bowed out of the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup at the last sixteen stage when they were beaten 5-1 at home against their Thames Valley Division Two rivals South Reading. In very heavy condition with the pitch starting to hold some water in places both sides found it difficult to carve out any worthwhile chances with the best of these falling to South Reading with Liam Lewendon and Hayden Best both going close when in good positions. South Reading keeper Daniel Springer then had to be on his toes to deflect a fine cross from Drayton’s Carl Bolton out to safety as Drayton looked to create an opening. Moments later South Reading took the lead when a fine move by Best who put through Lewendon with an inch perfect pass and he took a touch and slotted the ball past the onrushing Drayton keeper Ed Fegan and into the net. South Reading then nearly doubled their lead minutes later from a corner but Best headed over the bar from ten yards out when in a great position. Drayton then produced a fine move which saw Drayton’s leading scorer Josh Dennis collect the ball on the left and he beat his defender but only could hit the side netting when attempting to cross the ball from an acute angle. The next ten minutes of the half Drayton had to be thankful to keeper Fegan who made some great reaction saves from Best and Jordan Sawyer to keep Drayton in the game. Then right on the half time whistle South Reading doubled their lead when a long cross found Lewendon who took a touch and he found Sawyer who headed home from six yards. The second half started and Drayton hit the ground running and played some good football in the conditions and Dennis created an opening but saw his shot go straight at the South Reading keeper. Then after a flurry of Drayton corners they pulled a goal back after some good work on the left from Ryan Seamark and Carl Bolton which resulted in a pin point cross which found the head of the unmarked Dennis who powered his header past Springer from close range. Moments later Drayton nearly levelled the score when Bolton and Seamark linked up well from just outside the South Reading box which resulted in Bolton firing just wide of the far post. Then slightly against the run of play South Reading increased their lead when a long ball found Sawyer at back post and he took a touch a fired the ball past Fegan from ten yards. Drayton kept attacking which saw two close range efforts from Dennis and Lewis Collacott as they looked to get back into the game. Then with twenty minutes left South Reading scored the goal of the game when Kenny Evans collected the ball thirty yards out and he tried his luck and saw the ball whistle over Fegan’s head and into the roof of the net. Drayton then forced a couple of corners which never amounted to much until with five minutes remaining South Reading made it 5-1 when Sawyer ran with the ball just outside the box and he took a touch and fired the ball past Fegan and into the top corner of the net. Drayton then created a few half chances through Dennis and Connor Powell which were either saved or missed as the final whistle blew which saw South Reading moved into the last eight of competition.

Division One
Saxton Rovers moved into second place in Division One when they travelled to Lambourn Sports and came away with a hard earned 2-1 victory with Saxton also finding time to miss two penalty’s through Kyle Allsworth and Tom Stanley.Saxton also had keeper Jack Absolom to thank for a superb one handed save to keep the scores level and eventually Saxton hit the winner with five minutes remaining. Saxton scorers were Louis Bloomfield and Jack Bernasconi whilst Lambourn replied through Luke Richards. Westminster remained in fourth place with a 4-1 victory away at Hanney United thanks to a hat-trick from Andy Younie with Mike Hooton also hitting the target whilst the Hanney consolation was an own goal. North Oxford picked up a rare point when they posted a 3-3 victory over Harwell Village with Harwell scoring through two goals from Jack Powell with Gareth Fenton also scoring.

Division Two
In the only game to be completed in the Division Two Compton and Kintbury Rangers Reserves played out a 2-2 draw with Compton scoring through Jake Rostron and Ben Brazoski whilst Luke Connor scored both Kintbury goals. The Watlington Town game against Crowmarsh was abandoned after seventy three minutes due to the conditions when Watlington were winning 5-3.

Division Three
Uffington United picked up their first point for a while when they claimed a 2-2 draw with Hagbourne United with Sam Butler and Dom Terrett scoring for Uffington whilst Macaulay Churton and Ben Drabble scored for the away side.
Division Four
In the only game played in Division Four Cumnor Minors U21 reduced the gap at the top to three points when they claimed a thumping 9-1 victory away at Steventon Reserves with Jordan Howe hitting a four timer with William Jones scoring twice with George Carter, Joshua Rough and Ouchie Johnson also hit the target whilst Steventon replied through Ben Griffiths.

AG Kingham Cup Quarter Final
East Hendred Reserves moved into the last four of the Kingham Cup when they thumped local rivals Ardington Reserves 7-0 at Mill Lane thanks to two goals each from Bill McDonald and Kai Parton-Edy with Tom North, Steve Vaux and Ben Eltham also finding the target.
North Berks League Cup Quarter Finals
Berinsfield Reserves moved into the semi finals off the competition when they posted affine 5-1 victory over Marcham Reserves with Mennan Calvo scoring twice with Chris Murphy, Jon Welch and Tony Beechers also scoring whilst Alfie Kingsbury scored for Marcham.Hagboune United Reserves also made it through to the last four with an emphatic 9-3 victory over Hanney 66 Club with Connor Dawson and Ross McDonald both scoring twice with Adam Lee, James Murphy, George Smith, Jake Lee and Tyrese Williams also finding the target whilst Adam Day scored twice for Hanney with the other goals scored by Andy Hayward.
North Berks Cup 3rd Round
It turned out to be an epic battle between the Long Wittenham and Steventon with the game finishing at 1-1 in normal time with Sam Borland scoring for Wittenham and Kevin Scott replying for Steventon with Long Wittenham eventually going on to win 4-2 on penalties.
Berks & Bucks Junior Cup 4th Round
There was not much luck for the North Berks sides in the 4th round with Drayton as mentioned above going out 5-1 to South Reading, Saxton Rovers Reserves lost narrowly to Maidenhead Town Reserves 1-0 and Marcham taking Eton Wick right to the end eventually going out 4-3 on penalties after the game was locked 0-0 after normal time.

Roll of Honour
Hagbourne United Reserves hit nine against Hanney 66 Club
Cumnor Minors U21 hit nine away at Steventon Reserves
East Hendred Reserves hit seven against Ardington Reserves
Jordan Howe hits a four timer for Cumnor Minors U21
Andy Younie hits a hat-trick for Westminster

Photos from Drayton and South Reading match