North Berks Football League Roundup - 7th April 2018
 Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer

Saxton comeback creates a piece of North Berks history

Saxton Rovers travelled to Bracknell Town Football Club and with a lot of hard work and team spirit lifted the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy by coming from behind to then claim a fine 3-1 victory over Marlow United. Marlow started the better of the two sides and were in front as early as the fourth minute when following a corner Saxton failed to clear their lines and the ball ran kindly to Liam Bushy who turned the ball home past Saxton keeper Jack Absolom from close range. Then Marlow had a chance to Increase their lead when Alan McKie latched onto a long ball but Absolom was equal to his shot by turning it away around the post and from the resulting corner James Hardie fired the ball over the bar when in a good position.Saxton were struggling to make any Inroads and it was Marlow who created the next chance when Andrew Nichol beat the offside trap but his shot from the edge of the box was straight at Absolom who saved comfortably.Saxton then started to come into the game and forced a string of corners which followed with Dan Parry finding Niall Hodgkins with a fine ball but Hodgkins mistimed his shot from the edge of the Marlow box and was cleared to safety.Saxton were now starting to get into full swing and they came close to drawing level on the half hour mark when Hodgkins got on the end of a Louis Bloomfield corner but could only direct his header the wrong side of the post from six yards when challenged. Then minutes later the moment came when the ground erupted with Saxton pulling level when following a long cross the ball fell to Frankie Haines who took a touch rode a challenge stayed on his feet and then unleashed a unstoppable shot from twelve yards past keeper Callun Akerman and Into the back of the net. Marlow then went straight up the other end and a fine move between Nichol who put through Bushey but he could only watch his shot well saved at the near post by Absolom.Then just before the half time whistle Absolom was called into action again when Nichol was put through on the Saxton left he took a touch but his shot from ten yards was saved by the feet of the out rushing Absolom and out to safety. Saxton started the second half well and Tom Stanley creating a few chances early on but he saw his shots either saved or blocked which followed moments later with Marlow’s Nichol being denied by Absolom again when he turned his shot from twelve yards around the post. Then Saxton came very close to taking the lead on the hour mark when following a corner Marlow failed to clear and the ball ran to Hodgkins on the edge of the six yard box but he could only watch his shot canon off the post and then out to safety. Saxton though did not have to wait long to take the lead when a Bloomfield corner was swung into a crowded six yard box which eventually the ball found its way to the unmarked Stanley who bundled the ball over the line from close range to the jubilation of the two hundred travelling Saxton supporters. Marlow were not going to lay down though and then created two great chances which were blocked by some resolute Saxton defending firstly Bushey beat two defenders in the box and found the onrushing Joe Jarra who’s shot from ten yards was somehow kept out by the body of Lydon Szabo with the goal gaping which followed with George Miles heading a fierce shot from Nichol over his own bar from ten yards out. The game then went into a period where both sides cancelled each other out with neither side creating any chances to note and the half chances that were created were either saved or missed. Then with just under ten minutes remaining Saxton went further clear when following a Bloomfield corner Marlow keeper Akerman miss timed his punch and the ball fell to Hodgkins who fired home from around ten yards out. With time running out and Marlow pushing forward Saxton’s Substitute Kyle Allsworth almost scored with his first touch when he collected the ball mid way in the Marlow half and then ran towards goal only to see his shot saved by the feet of keeper Akerman from just inside the box. In the dying minutes Allsworth then saw his header go over the Marlow crossbar when in a great position following a fine cross from Parry as Saxton saw out the remaining time to create a piece of North Berks history and to lift the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy following a fantastic team performance.

Division One
East Hendred went back to the top of Division One when they beat last year’s champions 4-0 at Mill Lane thanks two goals from young substitute Jake Farmer with Jason McDowell and Mark Brind also finding the target. Westminster made short work of their afternoon when they travelled back from Steventon with a 5-1 victory with Dan Hill scoring twice with Jason Hillis, Michael Hooton and Andy Younie also scoring whilst Engeli Zaneli scored for Steventon. Long Wittenham continued where they left off last week with collecting three points when they beat Hanney United 2-0 with Steve Pyne and Kieron Cooper scoring the goals. Lambourn Sports maintained their good run of form when they thumped North Oxford 9-2 at the Cuttslowe Park Ground with Luke Richards scoring a hat-trick and Jonathan Peachey Score and Kris Redford both scoring twice with Marc Connelly and Dan Bond also finding the target whilst Aaron Williams and Charles Appiah scored for North Oxford.

Division Two
Blewbury remained top of the table with a narrow 1-0 victory over Compton with Warren McCabe scoring the only goals of the game. Ardington remained in the leaders shadows when they beat Watlington Town 3-2 thanks to two goals from Gavin Jones with Nick Wilkins also scoring whilst Tom Bowden and Will Wright scored for Watlington. Sutton Courtenay collected all three points when they travelled to Kintbury Rangers Reserves and posted a narrow 1-0 victory whilst Wallingford Town Reserves claimed a 3-1 victory over Faringdon Town Reserves thanks to Luis Le Paih scoring twice with Joe Webber also scoring whilst Rich Evans scored for Faringdon.

Division Three
Marcham collected all three points when they travelled to Cholsey and posted a fine 3-1 victory thanks to Tom Graham who scored twice with Dan Thomas also hitting the target whilst Steve Hawes scored for Cholsey. Drayton and Letcombe Reserves played out a rare no score draw at the Drayton Recreation Ground.

Division Four
Champions Cumnor Minors U21 were beaten 2-1 in a rare home defeat against Hanney 66 Club with Ben Stone and Luke Ulyatt scoring for Hanney whilst Rob King scored for Cumnor. Faringdon Town A produced a fine 3-2 victory over Marcham Reserves with Jason Evans, Oliver Pickett and Tom Lawrence scoring for Faringdon whilst Mike Bloomfield and Jamie Salter scored for Marcham. Hagbourne Reserves got back to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over Watlington Town Reserves thanks to goals from Adam Lee, Ben Drabble and Kieran Beesley whilst Ben O’Connor and Josh Campbell scored for the home side

AG Kingham Cup Semi Final
Division Four Ardington Reserves moved into the final of the Kingham Cup when they beat Division Three Long Wittenham Reserves 2-1 at the Bockhampton Road Ground with Matthew Pedder and Dale Cameron scoring for Ardington whilst Steve Malloy scored for Long Wittenham. Ardington Reserves now meet Saxton Rovers Reserves in the final.

Roll Of Honour
Saxton Rovers win the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy
East Hendred go top of Division One
Lambourn Sports hit nine at North Oxford
Ardington Reserves reach the final of the AG Kingham Cup Final
Luke Richards scores a hat-trick for Lambourn.