NBFL-News7

North Berks Football League Roundup

10^th October 2009

(Phil Annets)

First Division Faringdon Town progressed to the semi-finals of the Centenary Cup with a 3-0 victory in their regional final away to 4^th Division Stanford-in-the-Vale. Two goals from Peter Soane and one from Derren Harrington sets up a semi final tie with Long Wittenham Athletic to be played on Thursday 15^th October at Wantage Town’s ground.

In the first round of the North Berks Cup 2^nd Division Benson AFC won a pulsating tie at 1^st Division Drayton 4-3 with Will Clements scoring the dramatic winner in extra time. James Oliver, Nick Skiller and Robert Lyons had scored for Benson in normal time, whilst Billy Warner and Daryl Hutt with two had scored for Drayton. In another thrilling encounter, cup holders Saxton Rovers grabbed a last gasp winner in a 3-2 victory away at fellow 1^st Division side Wootton and Dry Sandford thanks to an 89^th minute strike with his first touch of the game by substitute Mike Beal. Richard Chilvers from the spot and Tom Larman had earlier scored for Wootton either side of goals by Kev Giddings and Adam Greenaway for Saxton. Didcot Casuals needed penalties to win at fellow first division side Harwell Village after the scores were level 2-2 after extra time. Liam Corrigan for Harwell and Lawrence Hoey for Didcot had exchanged goals in normal time, whilst Lee Fuller for the home team and Fletcher Hoey with a penalty for the visitors scored in extra time.

In the other all first division contest Crowmarsh Gifford ran out 5-1 winners at home to Lambourn Sports with Phil Hedges grabbing an excellent hat-trick. Mike Fellows and Paul Hannigan also netted for Crowmarsh whilst Lambourn’s captain Ben Matthews had earlier made it one all.

Crowmarsh Keeper Matt Gesner punching clear under a challenge from Lambourn's Dan Crawford

In an all second division tie Grove Rangers needed extra time to defeat Steventon 3-1 with goals from Ben Eltham, Dave Stebbings and Chris Whitworth. Peter Hardie scored for Steventon. A Tim Barton hat-trick, a brace from Joe Harvey and a goal from Luke Saunders saw Long Wittenham Athletic win 6-1 at home to fellow second division side Marcham. Stuart Armstrong scored the consolation for Marcham. Second Division Childrey United eased past their 4^th Division opponents Challow United 7-2 with Tom Weeks bagging four well-taken goals. Chris Pettis, James Wilkins and Sam Weeks added to Childrey’s tally whilst Andy Caven with a penalty and Eammon McGowran registered for Challow. Second division league leaders Harwell International ran out 6-3 winners at home to 4^th division Uffington United. Mike Yardley with a double, Stuart Head, Dave Bartlett, Jamie Clark and Wayne Robbins were all on the scoresheet for Harwell, with Nick Frost, Lee Barrett and Matt Cramp scoring for Uffington.

In the first round of the War Memorial cup 3^rd Division Benson Lions beat their higher league opponents East Hendred 3-0 thanks to a Dan Sanderson double and a goal from Joe Jeans.

The only real shock in the first round of the AG Kingham cup was Division Five’s Warborough and Shillingford Reserves 4-1 victory over 3^rd Division Shrivenham ‘A’. Two goals from Dave Cox and one apiece from Darren Smee and Danny Blackford sealed the win. Fourth division East Hendred Reserves beat winless third division side Harwell International Reserves 1-0 after extra time thanks to a Nicky James strike. Third Division Faringdon Town Reserves won 7-3 at home to division five side Uffington United Reserves with doubles from Martyn Hathaway and Mike Marsh, and goals from Steve Aley, Ross Edwards and Matt Hickson. Fourth Division Marcham Reserves won 3-1 at Division Five side Hanney United Reserves with goals from Joffy Cummings, Tristan Barratt and Russ Comley. Kenny Clements netted for the lower league side. A John Pearce hat-trick contributed to fourth division Didcot Casuals Reserves 6-2 win at Division Five side Sutton Courtenay Reserves. Veteran Mark Smith, Luke Hammond and Jamie Dutton also scored for Casuals whilst Jack Dingwall bagged a brace for Sutton. In an all Division Five clash Steventon Reserves beat basement club Challow United Reserves 4-2. Alan Donnelly, Lee Hutton and a Derrick Elliott double all registered for Steventon with Anthony Williams and Gaz Eltham replying for Challow.

In Division Two Lambourn Sports Reserves broke their duck in emphatic style thrashing Coleshill United 6-0 thanks to a Steve Crame hat-trick and goals from John Rowe, Andy Bulloch and a Matt Hendren 40 yard strike.

In Division Three Dan Oyston netted five times in Bampton Town’s 8-1 emphatic home victory against Sutton Courtenay. Steve Godfrey, Darryl Kew and Tom Madden also scored for Bampton with Dan Cox getting the consolation for Sutton. Hanney United kept up their 100% perfect start winning 4-2 at league leaders Kintbury Rangers Reserves. Benson AFC Reserves move up to second place with goals from Pete Ashman and Alijandro Rodriguez securing a 2-0 victory at home to Drayton Reserves.

In Division Four league leaders Coleshill United Reserves succumbed to their second successive home defeat going down 3-2 to Grove Rangers Reserves with goals from Dan Broadbank and Gary Roberts. Nick Guiry netted to give Hagbourne United their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw at home to Faringdon Town ‘A’.

In Division Five a Dan Bracegirdle hat-trick for Benson Lions Reserves moved them to the top of the table whilst ending Long Wittenham Athletics Reserves 100% record in the process. Ian Smith and Nick Spring also netted in the 5-1 victory. Didcot Casuals ‘A’ move up to second place following a 4-1 home victory over Hagbourne United Reserves including a Derek Davies hat-trick and a goal from Luke Ridley.

Crowmarsh Gifford overcame a resilient Lambourn Sports side with a second half display inspired by the excellent Phil Hedges. On a glorious Indian summer’s afternoon both sides were evenly matched in the first half with chances at either end, although Lambourn’s keeper Darren Sach in particular was in great shot saving form.

It wasn’t until the 39^th minute that the deadlock was broken when Crowmarsh Gifford’s Scott Gesner laid the ball to the feet of Hedges on the corner of the six yard area. Hedges turned expertly and powered a hard low shot into the far corner of the goal. Within seconds, however, Lambourn had equalised as Oliver O’Hallen played a good low cross from the right hand side which was met by captain Ben Matthews who calmly slotted home from six yards out.

Crowmarsh regained the lead in the third minute of the second half when Hedges latched on to a long ball over the top of the Lambourn defence, controlled well and rounded the keeper to score. An excellent point blank save by the Crowmarsh keeper Matt Gesner in the 57^th minute prevented Ben Matthews from getting his and Lambourn’s second equaliser. Ten minutes later he produced another point blank save this time from a low shot by O’Hallen. These saves seemed to knock the stuffing out of Lambourn and in the 72^nd minute Crowmarsh substitute Mike Fellows lobbed the advancing keeper with his first kick of the game to make it 3-1.

With 10 minutes remaining Hedges capped a fine performance with his third goal when he connected with a long ball played to him by Fellows to make it 4-1. Three minutes later Liam Strudwick laid the ball into the path of Paul Hannigan who slotted the ball under the advancing keeper to make it 5-1 making it a more convincing scoreline than Lambourn’s efforts warranted.

North Berks Cup holders, Saxton Rovers, only progressed to the second round by virtue of a last minute goal in a cracking game at Wootton. The game was only 2 minutes old when Wootton's Tommy Cooke put Richard Chilvers through on goal. As Chilvers shot, Saxton keeper Darren Spayes collided with the Wootton forward. Referee Chris O'Hanlon awarded a penalty which Chilvers converted, but he did not send off the Saxton keeper. Kevin Giddings equalized for Saxton in the 33^rd minute from close range. Both teams had chances to score again in the first half with Wootton keeper Chris Dales making several fine saves and teammate Ben Taylor shooting over with a good chance.

Adam Greenaway gave Saxton the lead in the 50th minute after a real mix-up in the Wootton defence. Within five minutes Wootton were level again with Tom Larman slotting home a corner at the far post. In the 89th minute, with extra time looming, Saxton replaced goal-scorer Adam Greenaway with Michael Beal, who scored with his first touch to win the game for Saxton and put them through to the second round.