NBFL-News24

North Berks Football League Roundup

6^th February 2010

(Phil Annets)

Faringdon Town’s 100% perfect record came to an abrupt halt at AFC Wallingford in the second round of the North Berks Cup. Faringdon had taken the lead through a Mike Butcher own goal in the first half, but a transformed Wallingford side won the match in the second half via a Tom Collins strike and an excellently executed free-kick by their player manager Tristan Lewis. In the all second division clash third placed Long Wittenham Athletic beat the division leader’s Harwell International 2-0 in an entertaining match thanks to first half goals from Steve Molloy and Mike Ingram. Elsewhere third division Bampton Town overcame their second division opponents Botley United 3-2 with George Seacole, Russell Steele and Nathan Beckett all on the scoresheet. Botley responded through Chris Potter and an own goal.

In Division One Didcot Casuals won 3-2 at Wootton and Dry Sandford with veteran Danny Lawton scoring the winner. JR Willis and Richard Knight also scored for Didcot with Tom Srawley and Tom Cooke netting for Wootton, for whom Adam Brooks missed a penalty. Drayton produced a 5-1 victory at home to bottom club Warborough and Shillingford. Rob Hudson with two, Billy Warner, Bob Pearson and Ian Smith scored for Drayton, whilst goalkeeper Darren Smee converted a penalty for Warborough.

In Division Two Childrey United took advantage of their closest rivals meeting in the cup with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Grove Rangers. Alan Haines hit a hat-trick along with goals from Stephen Weaving and Tom Weeks, whilst Steve Kennedy-McGregor netted the consolation for Grove. Nick Skiller also scored a hat-trick as Benson AFC ran out 3-1 winners at Marcham who scored through an Andrew Hayes own goal. Yet another hat-trick was scored by Steventon’s Stuart Coppock in their 3-1 win at bottom placed Coleshill United for who James Glock scored. There was a goal-fest in the other 2nd division match as East Hendred won 5-3 at Lambourn Sports Reserves. Ash Simmons netted twice for the visitors along with goals from Mike Farrelly, Lee Hedges and Shane McGowran. Lambourn scored through a Steve Crame double and a Matt Pedder strike.

In Division Three the top two sides were both defeated. League leaders Benson AFC Reserves went down 2-1 at home to local rivals Benson Lions whilst Hanney United were surprisingly beaten 4-2 away at Sutton Courtenay. Jesse Mortimer hit a double along with goals from Owen Wilcox and Dan Cox for Sutton, with James Bishop and Dan Sayer replying for Hanney. A Kevin Kogel strike was enough to give Drayton Reserves all three points at struggling Shrivenham ‘A’, whilst the Harwell derby produced a six goal thriller. Bottom placed Harwell International Reserves drew 3-3 at home to their local rivals Harwell Village Reserves. Goals from Kris Gray, Mark Porter and Lee Absolom for the home side were cancelled out by efforts from Eddie Yarker, Ashley Jones and Des Healey for the visitors.

Division Four side Appleton Stars succumbed to yet another heavy defeat this time losing 10-0 away to East Hendred Reserves conceding their 99th league goal of the season in the process. Kevin Pryde netted a hat-trick whilst Shaun Russ, Marc Merritt and James Hicks all grabbed doubles, along with a first senior goal for Martin Orme. Stanford-in-the-Vale consolidated their position at the top of the table with a tight 3-2 victory over Hagbourne United. Mike van de Mortel, Jason Evans and Simon Beazley all netted for Stanford whilst Hagbourne scored through Luke Ambler and a Luke Alder own goal. Devan Bryan grabbed a three bagger for Uffington United as they won 3-2 at Challow United for whom Mark Pryde converted a penalty and Eamonn McGowran scored.

In Division Five Benson Lions Reserves closed the gap on the top two taking advantage of both their games being postponed by winning 3-2 at home to Challow United Reserves through goals from Simon Phillips, James Knapp and Richard Lumbard. Sutton Courtenay Reserves secured their third consecutive league victory with a 6-1 thrashing of Steventon Reserves. Dave Neal scored for the home side but Dave Southey and Ryan Hichens both netted doubles for Sutton along with goals from Lee Jones and Ryan Cleary. A Matt Cramp double and a Jon Mildenhall strike gave Uffington United Reserves a 3-2 win at home to Stanford-in-the-Vale Reserves for whom Richard Eltham and Martin Bungay registered.

In the 2nd Round of the Nairne Paul Trophy Marcham Reserves belied their league form to win 3-1 at fellow fourth division side Grove Rangers Reserves. Mario Andrade scored for Grove, but Joffy Cummings, Cameron Thomas and Russell Comley all netted for Marcham. In the other tie 2nd division side Saxton Rovers Reserves overcame their third division opponents Faringdon Town Reserves 2-1 with goals from Steve Pitson and Derek Palfrey. Brian Ferris netted for Faringdon.

AFC Wallingford produced a sizzling second half display, coming back from a goal down to inflict the first defeat of the season on Faringdon Town in this exciting North Berks Cup 2nd Round match.

Both sides produced very entertaining football in the first half, but very few clear cut opportunities were created. The ever lively Jordan Brown came closest to scoring for Wallingford with several mazy runs, turns and tricks resulting in shots that either went just wide or were well saved by the Faringdon keeper Chris Webb. As for Faringdon, Peter Soane was ever threatening down the right hand side and it was his delightful deep cross into the Wallingford box that led to the first goal, albeit fortuitously. Wallingford’s defender Mike Butcher intercepted the cross but his backward header looped over the advancing Nick Bovingdon and into his own net to put Faringdon one up on 20 minutes.

The half time introduction of Ashur Caynes for Wallingford changed the shape of their attack and the outcome of the game. Wallingford were a different proposition altogether producing chance after chance whilst Faringdon failed to adapt to their opponent’s new approach. Tom Collins should have equalised in the 47th minute when latching onto a ball lofted over the Faringdon defence, but he hit his shot high and wide. However, he didn’t have to wait long for another chance to get the equaliser, and this time he finished with aplomb. In the 54th minute Ashur Caynes crossed the ball deep to the right hand post where Ross Baker’s mishit shot fell to the feet of Collins on the edge of the area and he calmly side footed the ball into the net.

Five minutes later Wallingford were in front. Derren Harrington brought down Mike Butcher on the right hand edge of the 18 yard area just as the Wallingford defender was about to strike, earning himself a yellow card in the process. Player manager Tristan Lewis took responsibility for the free kick and produced a beautiful curling shot into the top left hand corner of the net for a fabulous winning goal.

Faringdon were unable to respond to going behind and never really looked like troubling the Wallingford goal until a deep into injury time goalmouth scramble where first the ball was kicked off the line by a Wallingford defender, and then completely unchallenged Gary Sutton headed over from close range.

Sides occupying third and first in League Division Two met in the second round of the North Berks Cup and it was the home side Long Wittenham Athletic, with a strong first-half performance, who prevailed 2 - 0.

Harwell International's Mike Yardley (no. 9) attempts to score from close range but the ball is diverted by Long Wittenham keeper Simon Key and then finally cleared by no. 3 Andrew Taylor.

The ball hit the Harwell International woodwork no fewer than three times in the opening thirty minutes and the visitor’s keeper was certainly the busier.

Finally the pressure paid off for Wittenham when the ball was played into the right side of the Harwell box and Steve Molloy flicked out a boot to steer it into the far corner to make it 1 - 0. The lead was doubled in the final minute of the half when Mark Ingram was found in space to finish inside the left upright.

Harwell rallied in the second period and should have pulled a goal back when Jamie Clark head a free header at the back post but Wittenham keeper Simon Key made an excellent save to deny him. Later, after a series of shots on the home goal were blocked, Andrew Taylor was on hand to clear off the Wittenham line and Key made another fine save to deny Wayne Robins.

Didcot Casuals just about deserved to win this entertaining game if only because they took more of their chances. Didcot had the dream start when JR Willis scored a well-worked goal in the second minute. Wootton responded well and equalized in the 17th minute when Tom Srawley headed home Tommy Cooke's fine cross. Wootton just about edged the first half only to be undone by a Richard Knight header connecting with a Didcot free-kick in the last minute of the half.

The decisive moment of the game came after an hour when Tom Srawley was fouled in the box but Adam Brooks fired the penalty over the bar. As Wootton continued to press forward, Srawley had a header well-saved and Jonathan Weir shot just over from 20 yards. After 80 minutes Danny Lawton made it 3-1 to Didcot with a break-away goal. Tom Cooke pulled one back with a fine shot in the last minute but it was too little too late for Wootton.

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