Weekly News Report

Match Round-up for 17 January 2009
Report by Andy Wells

Cool Ben steers Rovers into last eight of the County Cup

Saxton Rovers are through to the quarter-finals of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup after a fine performance against high-flying Hellenic League Division One East side Newbury; winning 6 – 5 on penalty kicks, following a 2 – 2 draw after extra-time.

Rovers had the first strike on goal through Chris Hooper but were finding it hard to work the ball through midfield against a good Newbury team, who took the lead in the 29^th minute through Danny Taylor’s deflected shot.

Newbury almost doubled the lead moments later as they carved open the Rovers defence but Saxton keeper Darren Spayes saved well with his right leg. At the other end Michael Beal was unlucky not to get on the end of a loose ball after the keeper had rushed from his goal and not cleared properly.

Six minutes into the second half, Rovers found a superb equalizer. Matty Shelton played the ball forward to Beal, who in turn found Hooper racing in from the right and he guided the ball perfectly into the top corner from 20 yards out.

Rovers were playing with more confidence now and eight minutes later Paul Churchouse played in Beal, whose first shot from the right side of the area was parried by the keeper but he reacted quickly to knock in the rebound to put Rovers ahead 2 – 1.

Photograph © Andy Wells
Saxton Rover's Tom Aldworth (red shirt) gets in front of the Newbury F.C. goalkeeper but heads over the goal, with teammate Paul Churchouse waiting at the back

For a long time it looked as though the score would remain that way as Newbury failed to really threaten the home goal, until Russell Green’s shot was deflected up and over Spayes head with ten minutes remaining.

Into extra-time and Saxton should have wrapped up the game as they fashioned three similar chances – each time the ball was played short through a flat defensive line. Twice Shelton got in but both times the keeper made a save and another time Churchouse got through but was steered away from goal.

In the penalty shoot-out, the first five for each team were all well struck but Newbury’s sixth was skied over the bar and Ben Parry stepped up to calmly steer the ball into the left corner. Saxton Rovers now played at home to Buckingham Athletic in the last eight.

Lambourn Sports travelled to neighbours Kintbury Rangers but, despite a goal from Alex Hendren, found the home side in form and lost 3 – 1.

In the Oxfordshire F.A. John Fathers Shield, Benson A.F.C. finally played their tie against The Swan (Saturday) at the third time of asking and went ahead through Will Clements. However, The Swan hit back to go 2 – 1 ahead before the interval.

Benson went up a gear and dominated the second half, with Jim Oliver and Adam Hodson putting them through by 3 – 2 but it could have been a few more as the home side wilted. Benson now travel to Kingham All Blacks in the quarter-finals.

Warborough & Shillingford took an early lead through Adam Oram in their tie against Brize Norton but the visitors struck twice to go into the break 2 – 1 ahead. With no more goals the game petered out.

In the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup, two of our sides marched on with Marcham taking the plaudits, coming from behind to win an exhilarating tie 2 – 1 against Letcombe Reserves. The equalizer came with seven minutes to go and the winner three minutes from time.

In the all-North Berks tie, Shrivenham ‘A’ put out Didcot Casuals 2 – 1, with goals from Michael Scarff and Harry Heath scoring for the home side and Ben Chaffey for the Casuals.

Marcham will now be at home to Shrivenham ‘A’ in the last sixteen.

Faringdon Town had few problems in going through to the semi-finals of the North Berks Charity Shield, as they thumped neighbours Stanford in the Vale 7 – 1, with Derren Harrington (2), Garry Sutton (2), Robbie Harrington, Paul Hulme and Liam Humphreys on target for the Town.

Faringdon Town Reserves had a more difficult task of getting past East Hendred Reserves in the A.G. Kingham Cup. With the scores at 1 – 1 over 90 minutes, the teams shared four more goals in extra-time to leave the score 3 – 3 and Faringdon squeezed through 3 – 2 on penalty kicks.

In League Division One, Drayton have moved from ninth to second place with two wins in 2009. At Blewbury, they fell a goal behind in the 35^th minute to Danny Cox-Rogers’ strike but pulled level through Rob Powell, only to go behind again when Tom Ingram made it 2 – 1 to the home side.

Joe Brewerton equalized for Drayton and his brother George netted with ten minutes left to give Drayton a 3 – 2 win and put a major dent in Blewbury’s title hopes.

Wootton & Dry Sandford made it three successive league wins as they won 2 – 0 at home to Crowmarsh Gifford to move into fifth place and level with their vanquished opponents; Ben Taylor and Tom Srawley got the Wootton goals.

Three successive wins for Ardington & Lockinge have seen them claw their way to relative safety at the bottom end of the table. A Graham Fenton strike gave Ardington a 1 – 0 home win and meant A.F.C. Wallingford have fallen into the relegation places in their first season down at this level.

Steventon moved ahead of Wallngford after their first win in eight games – a 2 – 0 success at Harwell International, who have yet to gain a single point, coming as a result of two goals from Stuart Coppock.

In Division 2, Saxton Rovers Reserves leapt ahead of otherwise engaged leaders Marcham as they won 4 – 1 at Grove Rangers, while Coleshill United won 2 – 1 at Lambourn Reserves to go second on goal difference.

Goals from Phil Taylor (2), Tyrone McGill, Simon Burgoyne and a fine strike from Craig Tizzard gave East Hendred a first home win of the season – a 5 – 1 success against Sutton Courtenay, for whom Vince Cooper netted.

Division 3 is looking like a three-horse race now, with Drayton Reserves waiting for any slip from Botley United and Shrivenham ‘A’. Botley United increased their lead with a 5 – 2 home win against Wootton Reserves thanks to goals from Jimmy Philips (2), Darren Wichall (2) and an own goal; Mark Uttley scored both Wootton goals.

Ardington & Lockinge Reserves travelled to Long Wittenham Athletic with only nine players and though they were ultimately crashed to an 8 – 0 defeat, deserve credit for the way they played. Tim Barton (4), Andy Marriott, Steve Malloy, Darren Hill and Andrew Taylor scored for Long Wittenham.

Childrey United’s season seems to be getting going again and a fine 3 – 1 win at Coleshill United Reserves underlines that theory. Danny Hogan, Steve Doman and James Wilkins notched a goal apiece for Childrey who have a 100% record on their travels.

Harwell Village Reserves were able to put out a strong side against Blewbury Reserves but were made to work hard for their 2 – 1 home win. Goals from Neil Smith and ‘J.R.’ Willis for Harwell meant they climb off the bottom of the table, while ex-player Leigh Janes scored Blewbury.

Division 4 leaders Hanney United strengthened their grip on the summit as a James Bishop hat-trick and a goal from Danny Sayer gave them a 4 – 1 win against Hagbourne United, while nearest challengers Benson A.F.C. Reserves buckled to a 4 – 1 home defeat by Uffington United. Hanney are now nine points clear though Benson have three games in hand.

Revitalised Marcham Reserves are storming away from the relegation places they occupied for so long back in the autumn and a 3 – 0 win at Didcot Casuals Reserves, thanks to goals from Steve Morris, Leighton Jackson and Neil Cotterell means they move into 7^th place.

In Division 5, Hagbourne United Reserves conquered all the odds to record a 1 – 0 home win against unbeaten leaders Coleshill United ‘A’. With only nine players to start the game due to injuries and other commitments (and the keeper playing with a hamstring injury), Hagbourne were under siege the entire game and won it with a long-range stunner from Allan Douglas with five minutes remaining! Joy at this spectacular win was tempered by disciplinary decisions going in favour of fellow struggler Sutton Courtenay Reserves and Kennington Reserves, meaning they still prop up the table.

Uffington United Reserves took on promotion rivals Stanford in the Vales Reserves and won 1 – 0, thanks to a terrific headed goal from Devan Bryan. They are now in second place but six points adrift of Coleshill.

Finally, Sutton Courtenay Reserves drew 2 – 2 with Kennington Reserves. Allan Welman and Russell Oldbury netted for Sutton with Chris Collis and Jamie Luland scoring for Kennington.

Weekly News Report

Match Round-up for 17 January 2009 Report by Andy Wells

Match Round-up for 17 January 2009
Report by Andy Wells