North Berks Football League Roundup - 21st October 2017
 Richard Underwood, NBFL Media Relations Officer

Two see red as Marcham maintain unbeaten run

Marcham maintained their fine run of form when they moved into the next round of the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup when they beat fellow North Berks Division Three side Lambourn Reserves 2-0.In blustery conditions both sides found it hard to keep the ball under control and it was Lambourn who had the first real chance to note when a mix up between Marcham defender Dan Barnes and keeper Ross Cole let in Lambourn striker Linford Dviza who could only fire his shot across the face of the goalmouth from an acute angle with no Lambourn player nearby to tap the ball home. Then Marcham took more control of the game with firstly Jamie Salter seeing his half volley tipped round the post by Lambourn keeper Luke Peacock and then from a corner Craig Dredge could only fire his shot over the bar from close range when in a good position. Marcham continued to press forward and created some half chances notably from long distance which were either saved or missed as Lambourn were struggling under the conditions and moments before the half time whistle a fine through ball by Tom Cousins found Steve Mundy who took a touch and fired his shot just wide of the far post. The second half started with Marcham continuing to press forward and playing with the wind they nearly broke the deadlock on the fifty minute mark when Josh Gilsenan ran on to a through ball but only could watch his fine snap shot from the edge of the box being tipped over the bar by a full stretched Peacock. Then on the hour mark the game erupted and went into a ten man brawl after an altercation between Marcham’s Billy Wilson and Lambourn’s defender Steve Bartlett and after a lengthy delay the referee had no option but to show both players the red card. The game restarted and within five minutes of the restart Marcham took the lead when Lambourn pressed the destruct button when after a poor back pass Lambourn keeper Peacock saw his clearance go straight to Marcham’s Gilsenan who took a touch and fired the ball into the empty net from just outside the box. Marcham then should have extended their lead moments later when a fine ball from Sam Czeres found Cousins twelve yards out and he took a touch and fired towards goal but was superbly saved by the outstretched Peacock. Moments later Marcham missed another fine chance when Salter ran on to a through ball took a touch and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper only to see his effort go agonising wide of the near post. Ten minutes remaining and with all Marcham’s chances it was Lambourn who nearly levelled the scores when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box and Jack Appleby stepped up and fired his free kick around the wall and past keeper Cole only to see it rebound off the underside of the bar and onto the goal line and cleared to safety. Then as the full time whistle beckoned and Lambourn pushing forward Marcham extended their lead when Salter ran on to a long through ball took a touch and kept a cool head and fired the ball past the outstretched Peacock and into the far comer of the net to clinch victory and move into the next round of the competition.

Charity Shield Group B
Kintbury Rangers Reserves finished top of Group B after they earned a point in an eight goal classic with a 4-4 draw against local rivals Lambourn Sports with Luke Conner claiming a hat-trick with James Keen also finding the target whilst Lambourn replied through Rob Curtis, Luke Plumb and two own goals from Joe Choules.Harwell Village booked their place in the Quarter finals when they travelled to Benson Lions and came home with a thumping 9-3 victory thanks to James Tanner and Gareth Bertram both scoring twice with Paul Powell, Gareth Fenton, Paul Churchouse,Wes Costar and Paul Bedwell also finding the target whilst Benson replied through a Matt Turl double and a Jordan Jones strike.

Division One
Saxton Rovers returned back to the top of Division One when they claimed all three points against previous leaders Westminster thanks to Tom Stanley scoring twice with Niall Hodgkins also hitting the target whilst Cameron Lagan scored for the visitors. East Hendred moved into second place when they claimed all three points with a fine 5-2 victory against bottom place side North Oxford with Pat Howe scoring twice with further goals coming from Jason McDowell, Tom Austin and an own goal with North Oxford replying through Zak Perry and Sadiq Hamis.Berinsfield moved into third place after they posted a narrow 1-0 victory over Steventon with Chris Murphy scoring the only goal of the game. Long Wittenham maintained their good run of form when they claimed a fine 5-1 victory over Stanford-In-The-Vale with Sam Sheppard scoring twice with further goals coming from Sam Borland, Arran Colley and Joe Couchman with Sid Ashley scoring for the visitors.

Division Two
Compton moved into second place in the Division when they claimed all three points with a 4-1 victory over Faringdon Reserves thanks to Jack Fisher and Ben Brzoska who both scored twice whilst Valentin Ivanov scored for the visitors.Walingford Town Reserves got their season up and running and claimed their first points of the season with a fine 5-0 victory over Crowmarsh.

Division Three
Uffington United claimed their first points of the season when they posted a 4-1 victory over Wallingford Town A thanks to a Dalton Harfield hat trick with Pete Fletcher also finding the target whilst Josh Coles replied for the visitors.

Division Four
Ardington Reserves went to the top of Division Four after travelling to Appleford and claiming all three points with a 3-0 victory with goals from Chris Buckell, Jordan Goddard and Jaden Wilkins. Cumnor Minors U21 moved into third place in the table when they posted a hard fought 4-3 victory over Watlington Reserves with Jordan Howe scoring twice and Levi Webb and Ben Winn also hitting the net for Cumnor. Hanney 66 Club caused a mini upset when they posted thumping 9-5 victory over previous leaders Berinsfield Reserves thanks to a four timer from John Green with Matt Brennan and Tommy Allen both scoring twice and Steve McKay also finding the net with Berinsfield scoring through a Mennan Calvo hat-trick and a Jon Welch double.

Berks and Bucks Junior Cup 2nd Round
Saxton Rovers Reserves returned to winning ways when they posted a fine 3-0 victory against East Hendred Reserves with Harry Chadwick, Carl Archer and Ollie Nadin all finding the target whilst Sutton Courtenay booked their place in the next round with a 4-2 victory over Faringdon Town A. Drayton came away from Hagbourne United with victory after eventually winning 5-4 on penalty’s after the game ended 3-3 in normal time with Drayton scoring though a Josh Dennis double with Carl Bolton also finding the net whilst Dom Lovegrove scoring twice for Hagbourne. Long Wittenham Reserves travelled to Division Three leaders Cholsey United and came away with a narrow 2-1 victory with goals from Wayne Railton and Will Vaukins whilst Steve Hawes was on target for Cholsey. Steventon Reserves went out of the competition when they came up against Reading YMCA Rockets and were beaten 6-0 on the Steventon Green.
Other News
North Berks Division Two side Watlington Town moved into the third round of the Oxfordshire Charity Cup when they posted a 4-1 victory over Garsington.

Roll of Honour
Harwell Village hit nine against Benson Lions
Hanney 66 Club beat Berinsfield Reserves 9-5 in a fourteen goal thriller
Saxton Rovers go top of Division One
Ardington Reserves go top of Division Four
John Green hits a four timer for Hanney 66 Club
Luke Conner hits a hat-trick for Kintbury Reserves
Dalton Harfield scores a hat trick for Uffington United
Mennan Calvo hits a hat-trick for Berinsfield Reserves