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Weekly News Report
Match Round-up for 13 December 2008
(Report by Andy Wells)
Stokes double sees off
battling Hanney in County Cup
On
a day with precious little football being played around the County due to
the waterlogged pitches, Marcham
took on Hanney United in
the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup but only after switching original venues to
Marcham’s surprisingly good playing surface.
Fourth Division Hanney
matched their rivals in the opening half but two defensive errors enabled
Marcham to build a two-goal lead. Firstly, otherwise faultless Steve Weeks
misjudged a cross which ran on to Phil Stokes, who buried a low shot into
the goal in the 25th minute. Then nine minutes later, a cross
from the right was spilled by the Hanney keeper and Stokes got his head to
the ball to double his and Marcham’s tally.

Photograph © Andy Wells
Marcham's Wes
Costar (no 11, dark blue) heads over the Hanney United goal from a corner
kick
Hanney were having little
fortune in getting past the Marcham defence, behind which Tristan Barrett
was always alert in the Marcham goal, but in the 40th minute
veteran Hanney striker Wayne Sayer won a penalty – though I think even he
was surprised at the award. James Bishop thus reduced the arrears with a
well-struck low kick to Barrett’s left.
At the start of the second
half, Sayer drilled in a shot from the left which Barrett blocked with his
legs and Danny Gibbard had a chance but his header lost pace off the
surface and was easily saved.
Wes Costar came close to
increasing Marcham’s lead with two headed chances; one directed over the
bar from close range and the other cleared off the line at the far post.
However, the same player made amends when he received a pass from Stokes
on the edge of the Hanney penalty area four minutes from time. He was able
to look up and curl a shot into the top corner of the goal to make the
final score 3 - 1 in Marcham’s favour.
Botley United
were leading 1 – 0 against Letcombe Reserves from the Hellenic League,
thanks to a goal from Chris Potter’s superb volley after 25 minutes, but
the game was abandoned at half-time due to the deteriorating pitch, while
Grove Rangers bowed out of the
competition following a 4 – 1 defeat at Theale.
There was action in the 2nd
Round of the War Memorial Cup with a local derby clash between
Benson Lions and Benson A.F.C.
Benson A.F.C. took the lead
after 30 minutes but the Lions pulled level when Liam Wilkinson struck a
fine volley to make the interval score 1 – 1. Wilkinson was on target
again after the break to nudge the Lions ahead and it wasn’t until the 88th
minute that the visitors scored to make it 2 – 2 and force extra-time.
Will Wardell took advantage
of a goalmouth scramble to put Benson Lions ahead in the 100th
minute and, despite constant Benson A.F.C. pressure it was the Lions who
were roaring with a 3 – 2 victory.
Only two league games
survived the overnight deluge. In Division 4,
Benson A.F.C. Reserves were
able to catch up on one of their games in hand and, with a 5 – 2 home win
against Steventon Reserves,
went above Faringdon Town ‘A’ to top the table.
Kieran Ellis ( (2), Tito
Rodriquez, Ian Abbot and Steve Harrhy were the Benson marksmen with Stuart
Coppock getting both the goal replies for Steventon Reserves.
In Division Five,
Sutton Courtenay Reserves got a
vital 7 – 3 win against Challow Reserves to move away from the bottom places.
Wayne Grant with a brace,
Mark De Silva, Leon Titcombe, Pat Clark, Steve Hendy and Martin Trower
scored the goals for Sutton Courtenay, while Oliver Floyd, Wayne Gregory
and Gaz Eltham scored for Challow.

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