North Berks Football League Roundup - 14th October 2017
 Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer

Nine men Saxton pull of remarkable victory

Saxton Rovers kept this season’s unbeaten record after coming from behind to beat Hellenic west side Faringdon Town 3-2 after being reduced to nine men half way through the second period today at Caldecott Road.Saxton started the game well and had their first chance after only a minute on the clock when a fine Gary Belcher cross was met by Frankie Haines on the edge of the box but he could only fire his effort over the bar. Then moments later Saxton’s centre forward Tom Stanley had two half chances to break the deadlock but was denied by the Faringdon keeper when in front of goal. Then with their first real attack Faringdon took the lead when a long ball found Will Basen on the edge of the Saxton box and he took a touch and fired the ball past the onrushing Saxton keeper Jack Absolom and into the net.Saxton then had further chances to draw level through Stanley, Louis Bloomfield and Niall Hodgkin’s but these were either saved or missed as Saxton started to run the game. Then on the forty minute mark Saxton had a glorious chance to level the scores when Bloomfield fired over a long cross where it was met by the head of Dan Parry but he somehow missed the target from only six yards out. Minutes before half time Bloomfield found space just outside the box and he turned his marker and fired towards the top corner only to see his effort turned over by the Faringdon keeper.Saxton started off where they left off the first half with Tom Booker seeing two half chances going just wide which followed five minutes later with Stanley being put through on goal but he could only watch his attempted chip over the keeper cleared to safety after two attempts by the Faringdon defence. Then Saxton pulled level on the hour mark when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box and Bloomfield stepped up a fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net giving the Faringdon keeper no chance. Then only moments later Saxton were reduced to ten men after defender Jack Bernasconi was giving his marching orders and from the resulting free kick Rob Owen headed home from close range to give Faringdon the lead.Saxton did not stop pushing forward and still created half chances but could not get the vital touch in front of goal as Faringdon looked to hold on to their narrow lead.Saxton then made a few substitutions and one of these was Kyle Allsworth who made an instant impact with around fifteen minutes remaining as a long ball was controlled by Parry just inside the box and his layoff found Allsworth who fired home from around twelve yards. Then Saxton had their backs up against the wall when they were reduced to nine men when Tom Booker was also giving his marching orders but Saxton continued to push forward as Faringdon looked to catch them out on the counter attack. Both sides then had half chances to clinch the game as the game went into the final minutes but the nine men of Saxton pushed forward and created a corner which Allsworth swung over into a crowded area and this was met by the head of Stanley who saw his bullet header fly into the roof of the net. Faringdon did not have any time to react as the final whistle blew to the home fans joy as the North Berks Division One side put all hands to the pumps and pulled off a remarkable victory over their Hellenic West opponents.

Charity Shield
In Group A it was Long Wittenham who finished top of the group after they beat East Hendred 3-1 at the Bodkins Sports Ground thanks to two goals from Arran Colley with Sam Borland also hitting the target whilst Tom Austin scored for East Hendred. In Group B Kintbury Rangers Reserves remained top of the group after a hard fought 1-0 victory over Benson Lions with Craig Bruce scoring the only goal of the game whilst Benson were reduced to ten men late on after Lewis Bines was given his marching orders. In Group C Berinsfield finished unbeaten and top of the group when they travelled to Hanney United and came away with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Charlie Lee and Brian Rawlings.In Group D Stanford-In-The-Vale moved into second place in the group after they were held to a no score draw at Sutton Courtenay which is the first of the season in the North Berks League.
North Berks League Cup 1st Round
Berinsfield Reserves booked their place in the next round when they beat Appleford by a narrow 2-1 victory at Laye Avenue thanks to goals from Jon Welch and Mennan Calvo with Harry Faulkner replying for Appleford. Hagbourne Reserves also moved into the next round after they travelled to Steventon Reserves and claimed a fine 5-1 victory with James Murphy claiming a hat-trick with Adam Lee and Tom Holloway also hitting the target whilst Stuart Coppock scored for the home side.

Division One
Westminster went top of the table after they posted a fine 7-2 victory against Lambourn Sports thanks to two goals each from Tom Srawley and Andy Younie with Jason Hillis, Michael Hooton and Kieran Hughes also hitting the target whilst Lambourn replied through two goals from Jonathan Peachey Score.

Division Two
Compton got revenge on league leaders Saxton Rovers Reserves after suffering a defeat earlier on in the season when they claimed a narrow 2-1 victory to move into fourth in the league with goals coming from Michael Booroff and an own goal whilst Saxton replied through Ryan Drew. Blewbury continued where they left off last week and claimed another victory this time a narrow 1-0 victory over Wallingford Town Reserves with Warren McCabe scoring the only goal of the game.Crowmarsh claimed their first league win of the season when they posted a 4-2 victory over Faringdon Reserves thanks to goals from Cameron Wetherall, Tim Holtom, Craig Harding and Josh Burtenshaw whilst Faringdon replied through two goals from Damien Gwazeni.

Division Three
Marcham moved into second place in the table after travelling to Wallingford Town A and claiming all three points with a 4-1 victory with goals from Josh Christopher, Josh Gilsenan,Jamie Salter and Leroy Muambe whilst Ashley Wootton scored for the home side. East Hendred Reserves moved into third place in the table after a fine 5-1 victory over Letcombe Reserves thanks to two goals from Ben Eltham with Liam Eltham, Jamie Wilkins and Jake Farmer also scoring whilst Charlie Knight scored for Letcombe. Drayton and Long Wittenham Reserves were locked in a 1-1 score draw that keeps both sides in the top half of the table with Josh Dennis scoring for Drayton whilst Chris Bowler scored for the visitors. Hagbourne United claimed their first league victory of the season with a high scoring 4-3 victory over basement boys Uffington United with Alex Rodman and Connor Dawson both scoring twice whilst Callam Bryant, Dom Randell and Dom Terrett scored for Uffington.

Division Four
Faringdon Town A got their second league win of the season when they claimed a narrow 3-2 victory over Watlington Reserves whilst Marcham Reserves and Hanney Club 66 played out a 2-2 draw with Alex Meakin scored both goals for Marcham whilst John Green scored both goals for Hanney.
Berks & Bucks Cup
There was a mixed bag for our clubs in the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup 2nd Round with Ardington going through with a 2-0 victory over AFC Corinthians thanks to a Jamie Gregory double whilst Harwell Village went out of the competition with a 3-1 defeat at Reading YMCA Rapids with Jake Chaffey scoring the Harwell goal.
Oxon Intermediate Cup 1st Round
North Oxford moved into the second round of the competition with a fine 5-2 victory over Easington Sports Reserves.

Roll of Honour
Westminster hit seven and go top of Division One.
Saxton Rovers defeat Faringdon Town with nine men.
James Murphy hits a hat-trick for Hagbourne Reserves.
Sutton Courtenay and Stanford play out the first no score draw of the season.
Tom Stanley and Mennan Calvo are the only players that have scored in every game