North Berks Football League Roundup - 24th February 2018
 Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer

Cooper’s strike moves Wittenham into the last four

At a cold and windy Bodkins Sports Ground Long Wittenham came from behind to book their place in the North Berks Cup Semi Final with a 2-1 victory over fellow Division One side East Hendred. In a game that saw few clear cut chances it was the home side that carved open the first real chance to note after around ten minutes when Lewis Monaghan found Sam Boland just inside the Hendred box and he played in Joe Cheong who’s first time shot went just wide. Then with East Hendred’s first real chance of the game they took the lead on twenty minutes when Pat Howe ran onto a long through ball he took a touch beat a defender and fired his shot under keeper Rob Hayden and into the back of the net from just inside the box. Then moments later Wittenham had three shots from just outside the box in quick succession from Monaghan, Kieron Cooper and Will Houseman all charged down by a resolute Hendred defence. Wittenham then forced a few corners that never troubled the Hendred goal which followed with Hendred mounting an attack of their own when Ben Taylor found Tom Austin in space just inside the Wittenham box but he could only fire over when in a good position. Then minutes before half time Wittenham drew level when Marc Merritt collected the ball on the Hendred left and his cross found Will Vaukins who headed home past the outstretched Arron Timbrell and into the corner of the net from around ten yards. The same two players then nearly produced an identical move seconds later but Vaukins failed to get his head onto the Merritt cross as the referee blew for half time. The second half was only a few minutes old when Wittenham took the lead when Cooper ran onto a through ball took a touch and fired his shot past Timbrell and into the far corner of the net from just outside the box. Hendred who were now playing down wind had the next chance of note when following a long clearance Austin brought the ball down but only could fire his shot over the bar from just outside the Wittenham box. Both sides then had half chances but these were either saved or missed as Hendred started to push men forward in search of the equaliser. It was again Austin who had the next chance when a fine move down the Wittenham left found Mark Brind who then put over across which found Austin on the edge of the area but his shot went straight at keeper Hayden who gathered the ball at the second attempt. As time was running out and Hendred pushing forward Wittenham nearly put the game out of reach when a through ball found the busy Borland on the right and his cross found Vaukins in space but he could only fire wide when in a good position. Then with ten minutes remaining Hendred had to substitute keeper Timbrell following an injury and this followed with them creating two good chances to pull level when firstly following a Austin corner the ball fell kindly to Jason McDowell whose shot went inches wide with keeper Hayden rooted to the spot and secondly when Hendred’s defender Ben Taylor headed over from six yards out following a good move between Dan Timbrell and McDowell. In the final moments of the game Wittenham should of secured the victory when Borland collected the ball on the right ran into the Hendred box and his cross found substitute Joe Murphy who saw his shot saved by the out rushing substitute keeper. Long Wittenham then saw out the final moments of the game to move into the last four of the competition in a game that was played hard but in a good spirit against two well organised North Berks sides.

Division One
Lambourn Sports maintained their good run of form when they travelled to league champions Berinsfield and came away with all three points in a fine 3-2 victory at Laye Avenue. Berinsfield scored through Max Palmer and Brian Rawlings and were leading 2-1 at half time but Lambourn fought back in the second half to claim the points with goals from Jonathan Peachey-Score, Jason Tatum and Kris Redford who scored the winning goal coming on off the bench. Hanney United also maintained their good run of form posting a fine 4-0 victory over Stanford-in-the-vale thanks to a hat-trick from James Bishop and Joe Richardson also finding the target.

Division Two
Blewbury kept in the shadows of the leaders when they claimed a fine 4-0 victory over Sutton Courtenay with goals coming from Arran Gray, John Robert Willis, Warren McCabe and Boyan Thorpe. Compton kept up their good form when travelling back from Watlington Town with a fine 5-3 victory thanks to a hat-trick from Ben Brzoska with further goals coming from Michael Butler and Jack Baker whilst Watlington scored through two goals from Adam Holloway with the other goal coming from Nick Little.

Division Three
East Hendred Reserves moved eleven points clear in Division Three following their victory over Long Wittenham Reserves with two goals coming from Liam Eltham with Tom North and Ben Eltham also scoring whilst Long Wittenham scored through Andy Sutherland and Arran Colley.Marcham got back to winning ways with a bang after they claimed all three points with a fine 4-1 victory away at Lambourn Sports Reserves thanks to a hat-trick from Dan Thomas with Tom Graham also scoring whilst Jake Allen scored for Lambourn. Hagbourne United made it three wins in a row when they posted a fine 5-1 victory away at Wallingford Town A with Jamie Clarke scoring twice with further goals coming from Ben Drabble, Macauley Churton and Jordan McKinley whilst Ben Hazell scored for the home side.

Division Four
Cumnor Minors U21 went two points clear at the top of Division Four when they beat Marcham Reserves 4-0 with goals from Ben Winn, Jordan Howe, James Large and William Jones. Watlington Town Reserves lost ground on the leaders when they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Hanney 66 Club with John Green scoring for Hanney whilst Andy Gray scored for Watlington. Faringdon Town A produced a mini shock when they beat previous leaders Ardington Reserves 2-0 with both goals coming from Rich Evans. Berinsfield Reserves got back to winning ways with a thumping 8-4 victory over Steventon Reserves thanks to Jon Welch who scored a four timer with further goals coming from Mennan Calvo, Jack Hastings, Brian Honer and Harvey Moore whilst Steventon replied through a hat-trick from Stuart Coppock with Kenny Clements scoring the other goal. Appleford continued where they left off last week and claimed another three points in a narrow 3-2 victory over Hagbourne United Reserves with Eddie Stanhope, James David and Richard Kirk whilst Jake Lee and George Smith scored for Hagbourne.

North Berks War Memorial Quarter Final
Ardington made short work of moving into the last four of the competition when they thumped Steventon 6-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Luke Faircloth with further goals coming from Jamie Gregory who scored twice with Jonny James scoring the other goal. Division Three Letcombe Reserves produced a fine performance to beat Division Two side Kintbury Rangers Reserves 4-2 after extra time. Kintbury made the perfect start when Jason Brizell was adjudged to have committed a foul in the fifth minute and Luke Conner scored from the resulting penalty. Letcombe were level minutes later when a low cross was turned into the net at the far post by Charlie Knight. Letcombe took the lead moments later when Knight scored his second when scoring at the back post .Kintbury were level just before half time when Luke Connor scored with a free header following a free kick. An even second half saw defences on top but Letcombe had a great chance to take the lead after Charlie Knight was fouled inside the box. He had to leave the field to receive treatment so Zachary Pettifer took the resulting penalty but hit the bar. Kintbury then had a chance to win the game in added time but home keeper Ben Beasley made a brilliant finger tip save to push Connor`s shot over the bar. Letcombe gradually took control in extra time and Jason Brizell gave them the lead with a far post header from a left wing cross and they made the game safe with ten minutes remaining when Pettifer was brought down in the box and normal penalty taker Charlie Knight made no mistake from the spot to complete his hat-trick and take Letcombe into the semi final where they will meet Ardington.

Roll Of Honour
East Hendred Reserves go eleven points clear in Division Three
Cumnor Minors U21 go top of Division Four
Berinsfield Reserves hit eight against Steventon Reserves
Jon Welch hits a four timer for Berinsfield Reserves
Luke Faircloth hits a hat-trick for Ardington.
James Bishop scores a hat-trick for Hanney United.
Ben Brzoska hits a hat-trick for Compton
Dan Thomas scores a hat-trick for Marcham.
Stuart Coppock scores a hat-trick for Steventon Reserves.
Charlie Knight scores a hat-trick for Letcombe Reserves.