Match Round-up for 11 October 2008
(Report by Andy Wells)

Blewbury back on track to increase Ardington misery

Two goals in each half saw title hopefuls Blewbury to a comfortable 4 – 0 home win over Ardington & Lockinge in Division One on Saturday.

Blewbury might have taken the lead after only 23 seconds when Adam Bailey worked his way through on goal, only to put his shot wide. The lead wasn’t long in coming, as a free-kick from the right was headed back across goal by Tom Ingram and Danny Cox-Rogers had the easy task of heading in from close range.

Photograhph © Andy Wells
Danny Cox-Rogers (White shirt No. 8) opens the scoring from close range after Tom Ingram (white shirt, far left) had returned the ball across goal.

Ardington were competing well in the midfield but lacked the same threat up front and on 28 minutes another dead-ball situation led to Blewbury making it 2 – 0. A corner from the right found Jack Hogan coming in late to head low into the far corner from 12 yards out.

Blewbury keeper Simon Matthews made a full-length save just before the break from an Ardington free-kick and an instinctive block from Matthews denied Ben Eltham, after good work from Chris Roche early in the second period.

Ardington were stepping up the pressure but against the run of play Bailey sprinted clear and crossed for Lawrence Hoey to tap in at the far post, to make it 3 – 0 to Blewbury.

With 14 minutes remaining, Bailey got his reward for a fine performance when he shouldered an Ardington defender off the ball and finished well inside Simon Bunce’s near post.

Roche was denied a consolation goal towards the end with another fine save by Matthews.

Leaders Crowmarsh Gifford suffered a surprise 3 – 0 home defeat by Wootton & Dry Sandford. Antony Wise put the visitors ahead with a well-struck free-kick and the lead was extended by Ben Taylor after a slip by keeper Matt Gesner. A good team performance by Wootton was wrapped up when Mark Uttley netted number three.

A strong Saxton Rovers’ side thrashed Harwell Village 8 – 1 to maintain their impressive start to the campaign and go three points clear at the top of the division. Paul Churchouse led the way with a hat-trick; Chris Hooper (2), Ben Parry, Matty Shelton and Steve Bloomfield were the other Rover’s marksmen.

Faringdon Town moved up into 5^th spot, after a 5 – 0 home win against Steventon. Danny Courtney bagged a brace for the second week running with Derren Harrington (2) and Matty Clark completing the nap.

Reigning Champions Lambourn Sports are still not firing yet but it was enough to take three points in a 3 – 2 win against Harwell International. Matthew Howe, Rob Clark and Alex Hendren netted for the home side with Mike Yardley and Johnny Eudell replying for the visitors.

In Division Two, Didcot Casuals won 5 – 1 at home to Sutton Courtenay to extend their lead at the top to six points. On target for the Casuals were Johnny Pearce (2), Lewis Monaghan, Nathan Morris and Jamie Newport.

Marcham won 5 – 0 at Kingsclere to go into second spot behind Didcot, while Warborough & Shillingford’s challenge took a knock as they went down 4 – 2 at home to Lambourn Sports Reserves; Tom Davies got both Warborough goals, with Steve Crame (3) and Martyn Benson scoring for the visitors.

Coleshill United remain unbeaten but were held to another draw, this time by East Hendred. Gary Ashford and Dan Pearson netted for Coleshill and Adam Wise and Mark Baring scoring for Hendred.

In Division Three, it’s Botley United who are setting the pace, as they made it five wins out of five to go five points clear, with a 4 – 0 away win over Grove Rangers Reserves: Kevin Cooper and Paul Eldridge getting two goals apiece for travellers Botley.

Shrivenham ‘A’ are in second place after a 3 – 2 home win over Benson Lions. Craig Gaynor, Alex Webb and Sam Roberts were on target for Shrivenham, while Liam Williamson and Michel Castiglia hit back for the Lions.

Coleshill United Reserves move into third place with a 2 – 1 win at Harwell International Reserves thanks to goals from James Head and Gary Roberts. Adam Blaszko grabbed the Harwell goal.

Quite amazingly there are still only four points between top and bottom sides in Division Four. Hagbourne United again wasted the opportunity to get some daylight at the top, as they were held to a 2 – 2 draw by Challow United. Goalkeeper David Sheppard scored from a penalty for Hagbourne to add to Liam Jones’ strike but Lee Kent and Eamonn McGowan rescued a point for Challow.

In the only other game played, Andy Buckland scored for Steventon Reserves as they drew 1 – 1 with Stanford in the Vale, for whom 45-year-old Paul Willougby netted.

Uffington United’s long trip to Mortimer Reserves in the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup proved a fruitless exercise as they lost 2 – 0. While in the North Berks Charity Shield, Drayton completed the second round line-up, with a 6 – 1 demolition of Childrey United. Giving them a trip to Blewbury were Danny Curran (2), Scott Hemmings, Kevin Giddings, Billy Warner and an own goal, with Tom Weeks getting Childrey’s response.

In the League Cup, Marcham Reserves battled through to penalty kicks against Faringdon Town ‘A’, with Neil Cotterell and Mike Marsh scoring respectively in the opening ninety minutes and Fred Gardner and Nick Wojcik scoring to make it 2 – 2 after extra time. Marcham took the penalty shoot-out 7 – 6.

Another penalty shoot-out in the Sutton Courtenay Reserves/ Hagbourne Reserves tie, that was 4 – 4 on ninety minutes and 5 – 5 after extra-time. Jonathan Lewis (2), Paul Matthews, Allan Welman and Wayne Grant hit the net for Sutton Courtney, with Mike McNulty, Ian Rodrigues, Dave Hiscock, Rob Snook and Luke Chambers potting for Hagbourne, with the visitors Hagbourne winning 4 – 2 on penalties.

Hanney United Reserves were left wondering how they came to lose their tie 3 – 2 against Stanford in the Vale Reserves. Given an early lead by Craig Alston they dominated the play but conceded an equaliser before the break to Matt Webb. Steve Weeks nudged Hanney ahead again in the second half but two goals from Grzegorz Krawczyk swung the match in the home side’s favour.

Coleshill United ‘A’ were emphatic 5 – 0 winners over Benson A.F.C. Reserves, thanks to goals from Shane Blake (2), Janes Bye, Marcus Richards and Matthew Ayres, while Challow Reserves booked their passage with a 7 – 3 win over Benson Lions Reserves. East Hendred Reserves go through to meet Marcham Reserves thanks to a 3 – 2 home win over Uffington United Reserves with scorers Ashley Simmons (2) and Pat Rush.

In the Nairne Paul Cup, Saxton Rovers Reserves comprehensively won 10 – 3 at Wootton & Dry Sandford Reserves with goals from Benny Sutton (3), James Hawthorne (2), James Clarke (2), Danny Hosier, Oliver Wright and Gary Baird.

Ian Oram scored a hat-trick as Drayton Reserves won 5 – 2 at Ardington Reserves and Troy Redman bagged a treble as Faringdon Reserves won 4 – 2 at home to Blewbury Reserves. Finally, Harwell Village Reserves who have struggled to get enough players to meet their fixtures lately, found some joy in a 3 – 2 win against neighbours Didcot Casuals Reserves. Harwell moved into a 3 – 0 lead through Ben Fisher (2) and Eddie Yarker but Casuals pulled goals back late on through Tom Fisher and Gareth Cole.

Match Round-up for 11 October 2008 (Report by Andy Wells)

Match Round-up for 11 October 2008
(Report by Andy Wells)