Match Round-up for 21 February 2009

Super Marcham make it a County Cup hat-trick for the North Berks
Report by Andy Wells

Following the success of Saxton Rovers in the Berks & Buck Intermediate Cup and Benson A.F.C. in the Oxfordshire Junior Shield, Marcham made it a terrific trio of North Berks teams through to respective County Cup semi-finals.

Marcham so nearly took the lead in the second minute of their Berks & Bucks Junior Cup tie against Buckingham Athletic Reserves; Martin Webb reaching a through ball fractionally before the visiting keeper Simon Rolfe, only to see his toe-ended shot come off the base of the upright.

Buckingham’s Danny Booden served a warning to Marcham, when he was allowed space to head just over at a free-kick, but it was the closest they came in the first half which was dominated by Marcham.

Photograph © Andy Wells
Buckingham's Simon Rolfe saves at the feet of Marcham's Wes Costar during the County Cup tie.

In fact, despite an injured shoulder, Rolfe made several fine saves to keep his team in the match. Webb saw a shot saved at point-blank range; Will Westall saw a 30-yarder clawed away as it seemed destined for the top corner and Lewis Hill’s 25 yard drive was also tipped over.

The visitors hit back strongly at the start of the second-half as Tristan Barret had to make a smart save with his legs to prevent Marcham falling behind, while the ball was very nearly turned into the net in the scramble that followed the ensuing corner.

Rolfe made another fine save at the feet of Wes Costar but his defences were finally breached 15 minutes from time as Phil Stokes rose to head in from a corner kick to give Marcham a lead. Eight minutes later and it was all over, as Tommy Cousins broke in the area and laid the ball back for Costar to turn into the net from six yards out.

Saxton Rovers meanwhile were entertaining holders Ardington & Lockinge in the 3^rd round of the North Berks Cup and it was the visitors who went into a surprise lead after 5 minutes when Chris Roche scored from at least 40 yards.

Chris Hooper equalised for Rovers to send the teams in level at the break at 1 – 1 but Steve Pitson (3), Danny Parry and Hooper again netted for Saxton to give them a 6 – 2 victory. Dwight Ciampoli scored Ardington’s second from the penalty spot.

Blewbury were without playmaker Ross Tyler in their tie against Didcot Casuals and it showed as they struggled to play their normal passing game. Bryn Ingram gave them a half-time lead with a header and Tom Ingram’s finish through Joe Betteridge’s legs doubled the lead in the second period.

Former Blewbury player Johnny Pearce pulled a goal back with a screaming 30-yard shot from a free-kick but a deflected own goal restored the two-goal Blewbury advantage, until Tommy Fisher pulled another goal back at the death to make it 3 – 2.

In the Nairne Paul Cup semi-finals, Shrivenham ‘A’ won 2 – 0 against neighbours Faringdon Town Reserves. Paul Whitewood and James Cornfield getting the Shrivenham goals and they will meet Saxton Rovers Reserves in the Final in April.

Saxton Rovers Reserves also won 2 – 0, with an own goal in the 21^st minute and a Wayne Waldron strike just before the break putting them in charge against Lambourn Sports Reserves. Lambourn had the better of the second half but couldn’t break down the Saxton defence.

In League Division 1, Drayton wasted an opportunity to go second in the table, as they were beaten 4 – 3 at home by Wootton & Dry Sandford. Goals for Wootton from George Casserley, Richard Chilvers (2, 1 a penalty) and Tom Srawley put them 4 – 0 up, before Brad Ritchie, Danny Curran and Richard Wilson hit back for Drayton, to make it a tense finish.

Crowmarsh Gifford ended Harwell International’s recent mini-revival with a 5 – 2 win; courtesy of Phil Hedges (2), Andy Allum, Paul Hannigan and Mark O’Hanlon, while A.F.C. Wallingford and Faringdon Town fought out a goalless draw.

Steventon came back from two goals down to Lambourn Sports to claim a precious point in their relegation battle. Lee Wyatt and Shane Preece-Tripp got the Steventon goals after Danny Pearce had twice scored from the penalty spot for Lambourn.

In Division 2, Warborough & Shillingford moved up into second place after a 6 – 3 home win over Sutton Courtenay. A Ross Tabor brace and goals from Adam Oram, Liam Barson, Steve Bell and an own goal for Warborough with Vince Cooper from a penalty, Karl Crockford and Kieran Russell for relegation-threatened Sutton Courtenay. It was a niggly game that saw a sending off and seven bookings.

Grove Rangers greatly improved their chances of avoiding the drop as they won 3 – 2 at Coleshill United with goals from Andrew Goodchild (2) and Matthew Booker. Ian Folkes and Gary Ashford were on target for Coleshill.

East Hendred will certainly be looking over their shoulders now following the 3 – 2 home defeat by Benson A.F.C. They have an eight point advantage over Lambourn Reserves at present but have now played six games more. Tyrone McGill and Simon Burgoyne were their consolation scorers.

In Division 3, Botley United continue to stretch their lead at the top, as goals from Andy Potter and James Phillips gave them a 2 – 1 home win over second placed Drayton Reserves, for whom Ian Oram scored from the penalty spot. Childrey United now leap back into second after their 3 – 0 win at Harwell International Reserves.

Long Wittenham Athletic stay in the hunt for promotion following a 4 – 3 home win over a strong Harwell Village Reserves side. Wittenham were 4 – 1 up with goals from Andy Marriott, Danny Osborne, Steve Malloy and Tim Barton but were left hanging on as goals from Andy Whiting, Dave Beavon and J.R. Willis pushed them close.

In Division 4, leaders Hanney United kept their winning run going with a single goal from Danny Sayer in their 1 – 0 win over Challow United. Meanwhile, Benson A.F.C. Reserves keep on their tails with a hard-fought 4 – 3 win at Uffington United. Joe Courtney, Tim Haines and Maycon Alves were the Uffington marksmen but they were finally seen off by the goals of Ian Abbott, Kris Ray, Andy Wright and Tim Millard for Benson.

A disastrous day for Didcot Casuals Reserves as visitors Stanford in the Vale walloped them 12 – 1, with Jason Evans taking his seasons tally to 40 with another seven! This crushing win takes Stanford up into fourth place and leaves Casuals in mid-table mediocrity.

The two teams currently in the relegation spots, Steventon Reserves and East Hendred Reserves, decided to share the points in a 0 – 0 draw

In Division 5, Stanford in the Vale Reserves made it a very bad day for Didcot Casuals, as they beat the ‘A’ side 3 – 1 to go back above Uffington Reserves into second place in the table. Goals from Dean Grimes, Jamie Gregory and Max Kelly (who at 45 is having one of his best seasons with 15 goals to date) did the job for Stanford.

Finally, Hanney United Reserves curtailed any hopes Long Wittenham Reserves had of joining the top three, as Dave Archer bagged his first goal of the season in a 1 – 0 win.