NBFL-News14

North Berks Football League Roundup

28^th November 2009

(Phil Annets)

In Division One Saxton Rovers made it seven wins out of seven with a convincing 6-0 victory over Crowmarsh Gifford. Garry Hartley netted a hat-trick along with goals from Tom Aldworth, Mark Druce and Paul Churchouse to give Saxton a six point lead at the top of the table. Wootton and Dry Sandford produced a fine performance defeating Harwell Village 6-1 via a Steve Madge Treble, a Tom Cooke Double and a Tom Larman strike. Ryan Woods replied for Harwell.

In Division Two an Alex Lynch double gave Grove Rangers a 2-0 win over league leaders Long Wittenham Athletic. At the foot of the table East Hendred ran out 3-2 winners over Saxton Rovers Reserves with a brace from Michael Farrelly and a goal from Craig Tizzard. Derek Palfrey and Paul Matthews were on target for Saxton.

Division Three leaders Kintbury Rangers Reserves went down 4-3 at Benson Lions for whom Alex Smallshaw hit a hat-trick. Dave Arscott also scored for the Lions whilst Joe Lawrence, Andy Jones and Charlie Allsop netted for Kintbury. Hanney United lost their 100% record in a 2-0 home defeat to Drayton who move up to second in the table. Kevin Kogel and Gareth Small won the game for Drayton. Pete Ashman hit a hat-trick as Benson AFC Reserves won 5-1 at Harwell Village Reserves. Zach Gallagher and Kris Ray also scored for Benson. Goals from Tom Wells, Rich Evans and Matt Hickson resulted in Faringdon Town Reserves climbing to fourth with a 3-1 win at Sutton Courtenay for whom Jesse Mortimer scored. Paul Sanders scored all three goals for Shrivenham ‘A’ who beat Harwell International Reserves 3-2 to leapfrog them at the foot of the table. Mark Porter and Callum Oakey scored for Harwell.

Stanford-in-the-Vale maintained their impressive form in Division Four despatching Uffington United 6-3 thanks to goals from Dan Pugh, Mike van de Mortel, Simon Beazley, Jason Evans, Sam Rees and an own goal. Paul Nelson, Garry Haines and Devan Bryan all registered for the visitors. Coleshill United Reserves move up to second following a 2-0 win at Marcham Reserves with James Glock and Martin Chivers on the scoresheet. Matt Curtis hit a hat-trick along with a Nick Wojcik brace as Faringdon Town ‘A’ cruised past East Hendred Reserves 6-1. Appleton Stars remain rooted to the foot of the table as Lee Adams’ goal was their only joy in a 9-1 defeat at home to Hagbourne United.

In Division Five Stanford-in-the-Vale Reserves move up to second after winning 7-4 in a goal-fest at bottom of the table Coleshill United Reserves. Ben Hummel with two, Cameron Rankine and Kurt Hart scored for the hosts whilst Jamie Gregory and Kullum White netted twice for Stanford along with goals from Martin Bungay, Richard Eltham and Dean Grimes. Tom Holloway hit a hat-trick for Steventon Reserves in their 4-3 win at Warborough and Shillingford Reserves. Lee Hutton also scored whilst Mark Desilva, Mike Littleworth and Martin Trower netted for Warborough. A Dave Sheppard treble and a Mike McNulty double secured the points for Hagbourne United Reserves in their 5-2 home win over Hanney United Reserves for whom Andy Pole and Andy Alder scored.

Undoubtedly the game of the day happened in the second round of the North Berks Charity Shield where second division Botley United won a 13 goal thriller 7-6 against first division Warborough and Shillingford. Chris Potter hit a hat-trick, Kevin Cooper blasted a brace, and both Andy Potter and Darren Witchall scored for the home team. Two goals from Jason Davis, one a penalty, and a goal each from James Almond, Steve Bell, Phil Margetts and Dean Maycock were all in vain for Warborough. An equally exciting match saw second division Harwell International push their first division opponents Drayton all the way eventually losing 3-1 on penalties after an entertaining 5-5 draw after extra time. Two goals each from Jamie Clarke and lee Chapman along with one from Tom McGregor for the lower league side were cancelled out by two penalties from Carl Bolton and goals from Leon Smith, John Eldridge and Bobby Pearson for Drayton. In fact Carl Bolton missed a third penalty late on to win the tie but his disappointment was replaced with joy when he scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out.

Elsewhere in the Charity Shield Didcot Casuals produced an excellent 3-0 victory at AFC Wallingford via goals from Fletcher Hoey, Ben Sutton and JR Willis. In the all second division clash Childrey United ran out 3-0 winners at home to Marcham thanks to goals from Alan Haines, Sam Weeks and Tom Weeks. Finally, Faringdon Town’s 100% record in all competitions remains intact following an easy 6-0 win at home to fourth division Challow United. Dan Courtney, Martin Francis, Gary Sutton, Paul Hulme, Derren Harrington and Darryl Curtis all contributed to this resounding win.

In the second round of the War Memorial Cup a goal from Tim Spearing was not enough for second division Steventon as they were comprehensively beaten 5-1 at home by third division Bampton Town.

Dan Paintin hit the net four times as top of Division Five Bampton Town Reserves won 5-1 at home to fourth division Grove Rangers Reserves in the third round of the North Berks League Cup. Aiden Necchi-Ghiri also netted for the hosts whilst Matt Hale replied for Grove.

Botley United of North Berks Division Two won an amazing goal filled encounter against First Division Warborough & Shillingford to progress to the third round of the North Berks Charity Shield.

In a match where at times scoring was more frequent than in a game of basketball, Botley showed signs of what was to come when Sam Dallimore hit the bar in the first couple of minutes and Warborough’s keeper Gavin Camozzi twice stopped two follow up shots. The first goal duly arrived after five minutes when Darren Witchall had two chances to deliver an excellent cross from the right hand side his captain Chris Potter to score with a rare diving header. Two minutes later Potter could have doubled the lead but hit his shot directly at Camozzi when clear through. Even then the follow up needed to be cleared off the line by a defender.

Warborough started to apply pressure for the equaliser and a Steve Bell sizzling free kick was well tipped over the bar by John Stripling in the Botley goal. After a succession of corners for Warborough produced nothing, the equaliser eventually did come in the 14^th minute following an error in midfield by Botley presenting the ball to James Almond who avoided three challenges and went on to chip the ball over the advancing keeper. It wasn’t long, though, before Botley restored their lead as four minutes later Steve Doyle’s cross from the left hand side eluded everyone bar Chris Potter who side-footed the ball past the keeper’s outstretched right hand.

In the next 10 minutes Botley’s keeper produced two fine saves, first tipping over a shot from Jason Davis and then palming the ball onto the post from Steve Bell, and recovering enough to stop the follow-up from Luke Dewar. However, there was nothing he could do to prevent Warborough scoring the goal of the game as Steve Bell broke away from his own area and played an excellent one-two with James Almond before going on to chip the keeper. Within five minutes Warborough were in front for the first and only time as another good interchange of passes led to their captain Phil Margetts hitting a first time shot from the edge of the area low past the Botley keeper.

Two goals in quick succession with just five minutes remaining ensured Botley went in at half time 4-3 up. First after a period of considerable pressure Andy Potter crossed from inside the right hand goalmouth area for Kevin Cooper to head in unchallenged at the far post. Then just after Sam Dallimore had produced an equalising preventing tackle on James Almond in his own box, Kevin Cooper booted the ball upfield for Andy Potter to chase down the left hand side. He collected the ball, ran towards the box and slotted the ball under the advancing keeper.

It’s not clear what was said at half time by the two managers. But it seemed to translate to ‘more of the same please’ as within seconds of the re-start Botley’s James Bruce saw his curling shot come off the foot of the post and the resultant follow up stopped well by the keeper. The Warborough keeper then made another fine save tipping over Mark Penner’s rasping shot on 50 minutes.

Five minutes later there began a period of three goals in as many minutes as Botley put some daylight between the two sides. They went 5-3 up when Darren Witchall latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area to half-volley past the keeper. A minute later it was 5-4 as Warborough’s Jason Davis fired in from the left hand corner of the eighteen yard box. A further minute later Botley restored their two goal lead when the Warborough keeper went walkabout forlornly chasing a ball on the edge of his area resulting in Kevin Cooper grabbing his second goal firing through the legs of the scrabbling Warborough defenders.

the hour mark Warborough reduced the deficit again when James Almond was upended in the box and Jason Davis converted with a well-placed spot kick. However, Botley went 7-5 up five minutes later when Chris Potter completed his hat-trick. Finding himself with his back to the goal just six yards out when the ball arrived at his feet he deftly flicked it over his shoulder into the net.

Warborough still believed they could rescue the game and Stripling in the Botley goal had to produce a great save from Andy Kent with 15 minutes remaining. Botley’s Andy Tomkins then went on a run the full length of the pitch only to see his shot well saved by Camozzi. However, with just under 10 minutes remaining Stripling made a substantial error when he mis-kicked a clearance straight to Dean Maycock who calmly chipped the ball back over him to make it 7-6.

Despite some good football there were no more meaningful attacks on goal and so a mightily relieved Botley manager was now able to contemplate a third round match and some extra training for his defenders. The attackers, however, should be allowed the week off.

Wootton and Dry Sandford overwhelmed Harwell Village in an entertaining game thanks in part to an excellent Steve Madge hat-trick.

Tommy Cooke opened the scoring after a fine Wootton move. Soon after Harwell’s Matty Aplin could only deflect Steve Madge's cross-shot into his own net. On the stroke of half-time Ryan Woods scored for Harwell Village with a fine header to leave the match finely balanced.

In the second half Tommy Larman extended Wootton’s lead with a fine shot. Tommy Cooke grabbed his second goal with a great solo effort to make it 4-1. Madge got his second heading home Tommy Larman's great cross to cap a wonderful Wootton move. Madge then completed his hat-trick when he ran on to a through ball before chipping the Harwell keeper for 6-1.