Weekly News Report

North Berks Football League Roundup

17^th October 2009

(Phil Annets)

One week after their exciting North Berks Cup encounter that was settled on penalties, Didcot Casuals and Harwell Village met again, this time in the North Berks Charity Shield 1^st round. And it was just as exciting this time round as Didcot came back from 3-0 down with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining to force extra time. Goals from John Pearce, JR Willis and Wayne Jacks were added to in extra time by two more from Pearce and Willis to give Didcot a 5-3 victory.

Other close encounters included Marcham winning 4-3 at Benson AFC with a late strike. Rob Lyons, James Oliver and Nick Skiller had all netted for Benson. In another close contest a hat-trick by Kevin Pryde for East Hendred was not enough as they fell 4-3 at fellow 2^nd division side Botley United for whom Sam Dallimore, Chris Potter with two, and Andy Potter all scored. Steventon ran out 6-5 winners in an 11 goal football feast at Coleshill United for whom James Bowsher scored a hat-trick. In a tight all 1^st division encounter Faringdon Town won 1-0 at Crowmarsh Gifford thanks to a Paul Hulme strike with just 15 minutes remaining.

There were no upsets to be found in round one with Benson Lions coming closest in their 4-2 defeat at home to AFC Wallingford. Liam Wilkinson had given Benson the lead but a goal from Michael Butcher and two from Tom Collins put Wallingford 3-1. Alex Forshaw made it 3-2, but very soon after any hope of an upset was dashed when Tyrone Hemmings scored from close range. Alan Haines, Chris Pettis, Wayne Hogan, Dan Weeks and Sam Weeks all scored for Childrey United in their 5-1 victory at home to Grove Rangers for whom Dave Stebbings scored. Grzegorz Krawczyk hit a hat-trick for 1^st division Drayton in their 5-0 thrashing of 4^th division Uffington United. Joe Brewerton and Billy Warner also netted for Drayton.

Division one side Wootton and Dry Sandford waltzed past 3^rd division Sutton Courtenay 3-0 thanks to goals from Jon Weir, Tom Srawley and Adam Brooks. Similarly, 2^nd division Harwell International won 5-0 at 4^th division leaders Stanford-in-the-Vale. The biggest score of the round was achieved by top flight side Lambourn Sports winning 12-0 at home to 4^th division Appleton Stars. Andy Bulloch grabbed four goals, Ben Matthews and Terry Woods both bagged a brace, and the rest were scored by Steve Annetts, Dan Crawford, Adrian Mooney and Mark Hutchings.

There were no shocks to be found in the 2^nd round of the North Berks League Cup either. A Dan Paintin hat-trick gave Bampton Town Reserves a 3-1 victory over Challow United Reserves with Gaz Eltham replying for the visitors. Didcot Casuals ‘A’ won a seven goal thriller at home to Warborough and Shillingford Reserves 4-3 thanks to goals from Malcolm Gray, veteran Tim Young, Craig Davies and a 40 yard volley from Luke Hammond. Pat Rush and Jason Fisher netted the goals that gave East Hendred Reserves a 2-1 victory over Sutton Courtenay Reserves, whilst Paul Smith and Rob Walley scored the goals for Grove Rangers Reserves in their 2-0 win over Uffington United Reserves.

A hat-trick by Richard Eltham contributed to Stanford-in-the-Vale Reserves winning 5-2 at Hagbourne United Reserves for whom Dave Sheppard grabbed a double. Marcham Reserves ran out 3-0 winners at home to Benson Lions Reserves thanks to a goal from veteran Neil Cotterell, an own goal by Tom Caven and one from 16 year old Cameron Thomas. Steventon Reserves saw off Long Wittenham Athletic Reserves 3-1 with goals from Alan Donnelly, Lee Hutton and Dave Neal. Dave Jones scored for Wittenham.

In an outstanding AG Kingham 1^st round match Wootton and Dry Sandford Reserves demolished fellow third division side Drayton Reserves 11-0. Chris Shahab netted a hat-trick, Yousif Shahab, James Booker and Andrew Chilvers all scored two, with Mark Uttley and James Studds completing the rout.

In the only 2^nd division league match Saxton Rovers Reserves lost 4-2 at home to Long Wittenham Athletic who move up to 2^nd place in the table. Steve Pitson and Adam Greenaway scored the goals for Saxton.

In Division Three, Kintbury Rangers Reserves extended their lead at the top of the table in a flattering 6-0 win at Shrivenham ‘A’. Joe Lawrence, Rob O’Hagan, Jake Shearsby, Mark Canning with two and Charlie Allsop were all on the scoresheet for Kintbury. Faringdon Town Reserves move up to 2^nd place following an exciting 4-4 draw at Harwell Village Reserves. Neal Smith with two, Lewis Hughes and Tom Fisher all scored for Harwell, whilst Lee Ruddle, Ben Spencer, Adam Sly and Martyn Hathaway all netted for Faringdon. Harwell International Reserves secured their first points of the season with a 4-0 home win over Benson AFC Reserves. Arran Gray hit a hat-trick along with a Peter Mercer goal.

There was an upset in Division Four as previously unbeaten Challow United lost 4-3 at home to previously winless Hagbourne United. James Bowsher with two and Steve Weaver scored for Challow, whilst a Nick Guiry double, a Luke Ambler penalty and a Dave Hiscock goal all registered for Hagbourne.

Detailed Reports (2 games)

North Berks Charity Shield 1^st Round (17^th October, 2009)

Sutton Courtenay 0 Wootton and Dry Sandford 3

(Phil Annets, NBFL Media Relations Officer)

Wootton Waltz Through

On a cool sunny autumn day with a slight end-to-end breeze 3^rd Division Sutton Courtenay took on top flight Wootton and Dry Sandford in the 1^st round of the North Berks Charity Shield.

A cup shock never really looked on the cards as Wootton went about the task of sealing a 2^nd round place with ease. Wootton were one up in the 7^th minute when the impressive Josh Nicholls ran at the heart of the Sutton defence and laid the ball into the feet of Jon Weir, who calmly side-footed the ball beyond the reach of the advancing Lee Faulkner.

Sutton struggled to put any meaningful attack together and it was no surprise when Wootton doubled their lead in the 13^th minute. Tom Srawley picked up the ball just outside the penalty box, ran past several Sutton defenders and chipped over the keeper from a tight angle.

Wootton had several chances to extend their lead in the first half, but actually didn’t get their third and final goal until three minutes past the hour mark. Following a strange decision by the referee Wootton were awarded an indirect free-kick, for what was a high foot challenge, to be taken on the Sutton penalty spot. Jon Weir tapped the ball to the Wootton captain Adam Brooks who blasted the ball through the Sutton defensive line.

Wootton should have scored more goals throughout the remainder of the match, but 3-0 was enough to see them go comfortably through to the next round.

North Berks Charity Shield 1^st Round (17^th October, 2009)

Benson Lions 2 AFC Wallingford 4

Wallingford Too Strong For Lions

On a hard pitch Wallingford had most of the possession early on and camped in the Benson half, but the young forwards for Wallingford were unable to penetrate a stubborn Benson defence.

Against the run of play Benson took the lead on 29 minutes with a well struck shot by Liam Wilkinson, low and to the left, which just eluded the Wallingford keeper. This goal inspired Benson and they then matched their higher league opponents. However, a breakaway by Wallingford saw the Benson full back toe-poke past his own keeper to equalise on 42 minutes, although Michael Butcher will probably claim the goal. Half time score was 1-1.

Six minutes into the 2^nd half Wallingford took the lead after Benson were left flat footed by the pace of their attack and Tom Collins scored the first of his two goals. On 65 minutes Benson were unlucky to concede a third from a well struck Collins shot that deflected off a Lions defender. Lions were back into the game with 10 minutes to go as a smart counter attack resulted in an Alex Forshaw goal that brought the score back to 3-2. However, the fight back was short lived as Wallingford substitute Tyrone Hemmings made sure of the win three minutes later after the Benson Lions keeper could only divert a shot into his path for a tap in.