Match Round-up for 4 October 2008
(Report by Andy Wells)

Danny’s double sends Town through in County Cup

Danny Courtney fired two second-half goals to send Faringdon Town through to the next round of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup, with a 2 – 0 win over a valiant Harwell Village.

Both sides had key players missing before the game but Harwell had six first team players out for this tie and they picked up more injuries during the game. Despite this they produced a stubborn display to deny Town until Courtney glanced home his first in the 59^th minute.

Both teams played good, neat, patient football, without resort to the long ball, in the first half. It seemed the right thing to do with the strong wind but with both teams well organised at the back there was little penetration. Matthew Pill put in a strong right-wing run on the half-hour and his low cross into the box caused problems but the Faringdon forwards were unable to convert.

Pill turned saviour minutes later as a right wing cross was met by Grant Goodall’s head. The beat Town keeper Chris Webb but Pill was in the right position to head off the line.

Danny Courtney (no. 3 in red) glances in a right wing cross to give Faringdon Town the lead in the County Cup match against Harwell Village.
Photo © Andy Wells

Fourteen minutes into the second period, Courtney rose to head into the far corner to give Town the lead and they started to assume control of the match, with Seb Kolodzijeyczyk hitting the left upright after determined play took him in the Harwell six-yard area.

Goodall and Louis Maciak had particularly good games in defence for the visitors and in their prompting runs further forward. However, they were caught napping with ten minutes remaining, when Courtney received the ball in space in the centre, ran forward and finished low inside Andy Junkinson’s left-hand post.

Just before the end Courtney was denied a hat-trick when his close range shot was well-saved by Junkinson.

In other ties, the North Berks League had a fine day against Hellenic League opposition. Blewbury went 4 – 0 up against Shrivenham Reserves through Jack Hogan (2), Adam Bailey and Lawrence Hoey before going down to ten men when Jon Hedges received an eye injury. Shrivenham managed to claw back two goals in the final minutes as a result but could not prevent Blewbury’s 4 – 2 progress.

Saxton Rovers travelled to Letcombe and goals from Ryan Johnson and Danny Parry continued the North Berks’ hoodoo against the Hellenic Division 1 West side, who are second in the league this season.

Lambourn Sports were equally too strong for Wantage Town Reserves and goals from Danny Pearce, Matty Pedder and Ben Matthew gave them a 3 – 0 lead before the visitors’ consolation.

Crowmarsh Gifford, leaders of Division 1, fell behind after only five minutes to Steventon but recovered with goals from Dan Keeler and a 35-yard strike from Andy Allum. The only blot on the North Berks’ success story was A.F.C. Wallingford’s slide to a 4 – 1 home defeat by Kintbury Rangers; Tom Hammond getting the Wallingford goal.

In the North Berks Cup, the holders Ardington & Lockinge came from being behind after only two minutes to win 4 – 2 against Harwell International. Gareth Fenton (2), Chris Roche and Mike Farrelly were on target for the visitors Ardington, while Johnny Eudell kept his personal scoring form going with both Harwell goals.

Third Division Botley United, who went all the way to the Charity Shield Cup Final, took their hurdle in the North Berks Cup with a resounding 8 – 0 win over Challow United. Chris Potter (3), Andy Potter, Mark Penner, Dan Hill, Kevin Cooper and John Stribling striking the goals for Botley.

Drayton went ahead midway through the first half against Stanford in the Vale but the Division Four side hit back just before the interval through Steve Holder to go in level at the break. Drayton reasserted their authority with second-half goals from Danny Curran and James Brown to finally take the tie 3 - 1.

A below par performance from Marcham in their match against Hanney United forced the manager to make some tactical substitutions, which led to a 6 – 1 win. While Long Wittenham Athletic got the better of higher division opposition, as they won 2 – 1 at Coleshill United.

In League Division Two, James Hawthorne scored a first-half hat-trick to put Saxton Rovers Reserves in control against Faringdon Town Reserves. Faringdon pulled a goal back just before the interval through Jason Smith but with no further scoring, Saxton Reserves won 3 – 1.

Leaders Didcot Casuals had to work hard for their 3 – 2 victory at home to Lambourn Sports Reserves. Jake Chaffey, Jamie Newport and John Wilson scored the Casuals’ goals which opens up a five point lead at the top as second-placed Benson A.F.C. went down to a 3 – 2 defeat at neighbours Warborough & Shillingford. Andy Wright gave Benson a half-time lead but goals from Liam Barson, Tom Davies and Adam Oram swung the game around, with Benson getting a late second through Will Clements. Both sides had a player dismissed for an ‘altercation’: Wayne Rudman for Warborough and goalscorer Wright for Benson.

Goals for Sutton Courtenay from Pat Clark and Kearan Russell and for Oli Tabor and Luke Faircloth for Grove Rangers resulted in a 2 – 2 draw.

It was fairly quiet in Division Three as only two games went ahead. Ardington & Lockinge Reserves drew 0 – 0 with Blewbury Reserves to secure their first point of the season, while Shrivenham ‘A’ leapt into second place in the table, thanks to a goal apiece from Oliver Bailey and Sam Roberts in a 2 – 1 home win over Coleshill Reserves.

It’s getting a bit tight in Division 4, with leaders Hagbourne United losing for the second week running but still being able to hang on to top place.. they lost 1 – 0 at Faringdon Town ‘A’ where Troy Redman got the only goal.

Uffington United picked up their first win of the season with a comfortable 3 – 0 win over Marcham Reserves, thanks to goals from Stuart Rolfe (2) and Nick Frost, while Didcot Casuals Reserves also picked their first 3-pointer, with a 4 – 2 win at Steventon Reserves. Gareth Cole (2), Danny McGibbon and Daryl Harper netted for Didcot with Sean Follows getting both goals for the home team. Only three points separate top from bottom now.

Finally in Division Five, Challow United Reserves hit the local night spots ready to celebrate after their first points of the season. Their record was no goals scored and thirty-three against before the home match against Hagbourne Reserves but goals from Jason McDowall (2), Matthew Tupper (2) and an own goal gave them the nod in a 5 – 4 victory.

John Mildenhall got the only goal for Uffington Reserves in a 1 – 0 win at Sutton Courtenay Reserves and that result preserves their 100% record at the top of the Division.

Long Wittenham Reserves kept up their good start with a 6 – 2 home win over Kennington Reserves to move into fourth place. Wittenham goals came from David Jones (2), Ollie Saunders, Andy Robbins, James Bagdadi and Andy Gregson with Liam Buckingham scoring both goals for Kennington.

Kevin Dawson scored from all of 40 yards on the half-volley for Didcot Casuals ‘A’ side but it was al to no avail as they lost 5 – 2 to Benson Lions Reserves: Tom Wapshott got the other Didcot goal. Stanford in the Vale Reserves are in third place, following a 2 – 1 win at Hanney Reserves, thanks to goals from Matthew Webb and Grzegorz Krawczck. Hanney United’s marksman was Steve Weeks.

Match Round-up for 4 October 2008 (Report by Andy Wells)

Match Round-up for 4 October 2008
(Report by Andy Wells)