North Berks Football League Roundup - 16th September 2017
 Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer

Dennis is a Menace and hits four for Drayton

The early start of the first hop game never seemed to give Drayton any problems as they beat Uffington United 7-1 at the Diamond Light Source Ground in front of around 120 spectators. Josh Dennis scored his first of four goals on ten minutes when firing home from short range after a Kyle DeFreitas header had rebounded off the bar. Sandy Bolton then quickly added a second when he fired home a fine strike from twenty yards into the far corner with Dennis then added a third on the half hour mark tapping home from short range after the Uffington keeper failed to hold on to a loose ball. The second half started much like the first half with Drayton creating most of the chances and they added a fourth when Carl Bolton was put through on the Uffington right and he fired home from just outside the box. Dennis then completed his hat-trick after converting a penalty and then Keiron Hughes added a sixth on the hour mark getting on the end of a long cross and tapping home from short range. Uffington who created half chances throughout the second half finally got on the score sheet when a long shot was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by the outstretched Drayton keeper Ed Fegan only for it to fall to Dalton Harfield who tapped home from short range. Drayton then made it seven with around twenty minutes remaining when Dennis collected the ball just inside the box and took a touch and fired home past the outstretched keeper. Both sides then had half chances which were either missed or saved as Drayton went on to secure a fine victory which moves then up to second in the table.

Harwell reduced to ten but still collect a point
Harwell Village hosted the second hop game of the day and earned a hard fought 1-1 draw against Long Wittenham after being reduced to ten men and missing a late penalty in front of over a hundred spectators. Long Wittenham had the better of the first half with Kieron Cooper firing just over from long range and Lewis Monahan hitting a free kick just wide. Then Harwell defender Daniel Cox-Rogers performed miracles on his goal line somehow keeping out two attempts and eventually clearing to safety. Wittenham then went close just before the end of the half when Sam McMermaid found Sam Borland on the edge of the six yard box but he could only fire over from an acute angle. Wittenham then went into the lead just before the hour mark when Joe Cheong fired home from short range following a long shot which was only parried by Harwell keeper Adam Spurrett.Harwell were then reduced to ten men after Ross Tyler was sent off for his second bookable offence which then saw Harwell level the scores minutes later when Substitute Paul Churchouse headed home from short range from a long free kick. The game was now end to end with ten minutes remaining Harwell’s Jake Chaffrey saw his header cleared off the line by a Wittenham defender and minutes later at the other end Harwell keeper Spurrett made a fine save to keep out Cooper when clean through on goal. Then Harwell had a glorious chance to collect all three points when Paul Powell was brought down in the box with minutes remaining and awarded a penalty which the same player dusted himself down only to see his strike from twelve yards saved by Wittenham keeper Rob Heyday. Both teams then had half chances before the final whistle but both failed to find the killer touch as the game ended at one a piece.
Younie hits four as Westminster hit five.
In the final game of the ground hoppers trilogy Westminster overcame a determined North Oxford side claiming all three points with a fine 5-1 victory mainly thanks to a four goal spree from Andy Younie.Despite missing a fifth minute penalty, Westminster opened the scoring in the 18th minute when a superb right wing cross from Luke Lewis-Rippington was unavoidably turned into his own net by North Oxford defender Ellis Connelly. However straight from the kick off North Oxford equalised through Sadiq Hamis only for Westminster to restore their lead in the around the 25th minute when Andy Younie finished off a perfect cross from Dan Hill. Westminster were then reduced to ten men but the game remained fairly even until a three goal burst from Younie in the final fifteen minutes completed the scoring coinciding with heavy rain sending most of the spectators diving for cover amongst the nearby trees and bushes. North Oxford were also reduced to men in the closing stages of the game for a second bookable offence.

Sutton Courtenay kept up their one hundred percent record and remained on top of Division Two with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Compton thanks to goals from Rhys Griffiths and Kieran Kerby whilst Liam Murray scored for the visitors. Saxton Rovers Reserves kept in the leader’s footsteps with a fine 3-0 victory over Crowmarsh thanks to two goals from Connor Spraggs with Joe Pratley also finding the target. Watlington Town lost ground on the leaders when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Blewbury with Adam Holloway scoring from Watlington whilst Boyan Thorpe scored for Blewbury.

Cholsey remained on top of Division Three with a hard earned 1-0 victory over thanks to Steve Hawes hitting the only goal of the game. Long Wittenham Reserves got their first points of the season with a 3-1 victory over Marcham with goals coming from Steve Malloy, Wayne Railton and Charlie Pay with Stuart Armstrong scoring for Marcham.

Watlington Reserves remained on top of Division Four claiming a 3-1 victory over Appleford and opened a two point gap over nearest rivals Berinsfield Reserves who were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Ardington Reserves with Iain Pledge, Jon Welch and Mennan Calvin all scoring for Berinsfield whilst Chris Bucknall, Jamie Wilkins and Jordan Goddard scored for Ardington. Hanney 66 Club got their season up and running with a fine 5-1 victory over Hagbourne Reserves with Luke Ulyatt hitting a four timer with Jake Bonner also finding the net whilst Adam Lee scored for the visitors. Marcham Reserves took all three points in a hard fought 3-2 victory over with Jason Hicks, David Yallop and Alex Meakin amongst the goals whilst Dalton Harfield and Callum Bryant scored for Uffington

It was not good news for most of the North Berks sides playing in the Berk&Bucks cup competitions with East Hendred bowing out with a 4-1 defeat at Wright & Unity Sports whilst Lambourn Sports also went down by the same score to Wraysbury.Stanford went out with a 2-0 defeat by Milton United and Steventon went down by 3-1 at home to Shrivenham Reserves. Better news came with Ardington going through 6-1 at Frilsham thanks to a Jamie Gregory hat trick and Kintbury Reserves winning 5-4 in a nine goal thriller at Eldon Celtic. In the all North Berks tie it was Lambourn Reserves who overcame Letcombe Reserves 3-1.

Roll of Honour.
Drayton hit seven against Uffington.
Ardington hit six at Frilsham.
Josh Dennis hits a four timer for Drayton.
Luke Ulyatt hit a four timer against Hagbourne Reserves.
Andy Younie hits a four timer for Westminster
Jamie Gregory hits a hat-trick for Ardington