North Berks Football League Roundup - 3rd February 2018
 Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer

Parry hat-trick puts Saxton into the last four

Saxton Rovers moved into the last four of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy when they beat Wiltshire Premier League side Kintbury Rangers 5-0 at a rainy Caldecott Road. Both sides started slowly with neither side creating any chances in the first ten minutes to trouble either keeper as both defences held firm in the wet conditions.Saxton then took the lead with their first real attack when Tom Stanley was put through on the Kintbury left he took a touch and as the Kintbury keeper Ross Thorne advanced Stanley slid the ball in the path of Dan Parry who walked the ball into the Kintbury net. Then just after Kintbury were turned down for a strong penalty appeal Saxton doubled their lead when Stanley put through Parry who was then brought down inside the box by keeper Thorne in which the referee had no option to award a penalty and a yellow card and Parry picked himself up and rifled the ball home from the spot. Then game then went into a period where both sides cancelled each other out as chances were few and far between as the rain started to fall. Then just on the half hour mark Saxton extended their lead when the same to players combined again when Stanley collected the ball mid way in Kintbury’s half and threaded the ball through to Parry who took a touch and fired it past the diving Thorne and into the far corner of the net. Kintbury then had a ten minute spell of possession but could only create one good chance when George Smith collected the ball on the edge of the Saxton Box and fired his shot through a crowded area but Saxton keeper Jack Absolom was well placed to turn it away to safety as Saxton went into at half time 3-0 to the good. Kintbury started the second half well and should have pulled a goal back on fifty minutes when Smith put through Charlie Allsop and he could only watch his first time shot go just wide of the far post. Then minutes later good work from Kintbury’s Harry Winn on the left and his low cross found Luke Johnson in space in the area turned and fired just wide when in a great position.Saxton then went close themselves when a Louis Bloomfield free kick was headed just over his own bar by a Kintbury defender which followed with the same player firing just wide from a free kick from the edge of the Kintbury box.Kintbury continued to push forward and went close again when Johnson collected the ball just inside the Saxton box and could only watch his shot rebound off the Saxton far post and out to safety. Then minute’s later Saxton keeper had to be on his toes to tip over a Smith free kick which followed with Saxton’s substitute Ollie Nadin going on a fine run beating three Kintbury defenders before firing inches wide of the near post. Then as the game was coming to the end Saxton extended their lead when Substitute Niall Hodgkin’s was put through one on one with keeper Thorne and he kept his head took a touch and fired home from just inside the box. Then Saxton made it 5-0 in time added on when following a long cross which was headed back into the area Frank Haines was in space at the back post to head home from close range to take Saxton into the last four of the competition.

Division One
Steventon claimed their first league win of the season when they travelled to Harwell Village and posted a fine 2-0 victory with goals coming from Alex Dawson and a Dave Johns penalty. Hanney United overcame a potential banana skin when they played bottom of the table side North Oxford and posted a 2-0 victory with Joe Richardson and James Bishop both hitting the target.

Division Two
Watlington Town bounced back from last week’s cup exit when they claimed all three points with a fine 4-2 victory over Sutton Courtenay with Adam Holloway scoring twice with further goals coming from Jon Little and Joel Thompson whilst Sutton replied through Craig Davis and Rhys Thompson. Faringdon Town Reserves claimed their second league win of the season when they posted a fine 4-1 victory over bottom of the table Benson Lions with Andrew Munns scoring twice and Mark Loveridge and Ryan Bradbury also scoring whilst Benson replied through Lee Dixon.

Division Three
Letcombe Reserves got back to winning ways with a fine 5-0 victory over Hagbourne United thanks to a Zachary Pettifer hat-trick with further goals coming from Angelo Fragata and Iggy Iiott.Lambourn Sports Reserves maintained their good form with posting a 4-1 victory over Cholsey United thanks to two goals from Jake Allen with Marc Connelly and Damian Harris also scoring whilst Howard Hawkins scored for Cholsey.

Division Four
In the only game played in Division Four Ardington Reserves extended their lead at the top to four points when they were held at home 3-3 by Hanney 66 Club with Ardington scoring through Dale Cameron, Jamie Wilkins and an own goal whilst Hanney replied through Jake Bonner, Josh Giles and John Green.

North Berks Cup 3rd Round
Ardington booked their place in the Quarter finals with a game against holders Berinsfield when they were taken all the way to extra time by Marcham with eventually winning 3-2 after the game ended 1-1 after normal time with Ardington being reduced to ten men after Mathew Pedder received his marching orders. Ardington scored though a Jonny James hat-trick whilst both Marcham goals were scored by Tom Graham.
North Berks Charity Shield Quarter Final
Division Two Kintbury Rangers Reserves produced a mini shock when they posted a fine 4-0 victory over Division One Stanford-in-the-vale thanks to two goals from Luke Conner with Lee Franklin and Kye Williams also finding the target which was Kye first goal for the club. Kintbury now go on to meet either Westminster or Long Wittenham in the semi-final.

Roll of Honour
Saxton Rovers reach the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy Semi-final
Kintbury Reserves reach the Charity Shield Semi-final
Ardington Reserves go four points clear in Division Four
Zachary Pettifer hits a hat-trick for Letcombe Reserves
Jonny James hits a hat-trick for Ardington.
Steventon claim their first league win of the season