Fixture Lists

00. 25&27-Aug-09
01. 29-Aug-09
02. 05-Sep-09
03. 12-Sep-09
04. 19-Sep-09
05. 26-Sep-09
06. 03-Oct-09
07. 10-Oct-09
08. 17-Oct-09
09. 24-Oct-09
10. 31-Oct-09
11. 07-Nov-09
12. 14-Nov-09
13. 21-Nov-09
14. 28-Nov-09
15. 05-Dec-09
16. 12-Dec-09
17. 19-Dec-09
18. 26-Dec-09
19. 02-Jan-10
20. 09-Jan-10
21. 16-Jan-10
22. 23-Jan-10
23. 30-Jan-10
24. 06-Feb-10
25. 13-Feb-10
26. 20-Feb-10
27. 27-Feb-10
28. 06-Mar-10
29. 13-Mar-10
30. 20-Mar-10
31. 27-Mar-10
32. 03-Apr-10
33. 10-Apr-10
34. 17-Apr-10
35. 24-Apr-10
36. 01-May-10
37. 08-May-10

With the rain causing almost half the scheduled matches to be postponed there was a limited programme throughout the North Berks League this weekend. Faringdon Town were representing the league in the quarter finals of the Berks and Bucks Intermediate Cup, but despite taking the lead through Peter Soane early in the second half, they were finally beaten by top of Hellenic Division One East side Wokingham and Emmbrook 3-1, with the killer third goal not coming until very late in the match.

In the War Memorial Cup Quarter Final 2^nd Division Grove Rangers needed penalties, and the heroics of midfield stand-in keeper Mike Davies, to see off 3^rd Division Sutton Courtenay. Alex Lynch twice gave Grove the lead in normal time, but Sutton hit back through Dan Cox and, deep into injury time, through Dave Otero. Chris Slevin scored the winning penalty for Grove immediately after Mike Davies had saved his second spot kick.

In the Quarter Finals of the Nairne Paul Trophy 4^th Division East Hendred Reserves produced the shock of the day thrashing their 2^nd Division opponents Saxton Rovers Reserves 5-1. Shaun Russ, Marc Merritt, Jason Fisher, Andrew Salt and Nicky James all found the net for Hendred, with Saxton scoring through an own goal. In the all 3^rd Division clash Shrivenham ‘A’ won 3-0 at Harwell Village Reserves thanks to goals from Mark Belcher, Matt Hampson and Paul Sanders. In the all 4^th Division tie Marcham Reserves’ recent good form continues as they beat Coleshill United Reserves 4-3 on penalties after the sides drew one apiece after extra time. James Head’s goal for Coleshill was equalised by Phil Stokes for Marcham, before Christian Barrett produced two fine saves to steer Marcham into the semi-finals.

Saxton Rovers maintained their 100% record in Division One after a hard fought 2-1 victory at home to Lambourn Sports. Tom Larman and Paul Churchouse goals for the hosts surpassed a Terry Wood penalty for the visitors to give Saxton an 11 point lead at the top of the table.

Harwell International stretched their lead at the top of Division Two to seven points following a comprehensive 6-1 home win over cup specialists East Hendred, recording their seventh successive league win in the process. Mike Yardley netted a hat-trick along with one apiece from Lee Chapman, Jamie Clark and Wayne Robins, with Lee Hedges’ solitary reply. Botley United avenged last week’s surprise defeat to Lambourn Sports Reserves by winning the return fixture 4-1. Chris Potter, Andy Potter, Darren Witchall and Mark Penner all scored for Botley with Steve Crame replying for Lambourn.

Bampton Town move up to 2^nd in Division 3 after a 6-1 home win over Drayton Reserves. George Seacole and Nathan Beckett scored two apiece, and Mark Carrington and Dan Oyston netted the others. Benson Lions needed a spectacular solo goal from Chris Armstrong to salvage a 2-2 draw against bottom placed Harwell International Reserves. Tom McGregor and Calum Hodnett scored either side of the break for the visitors after Liam Wilkinson had given Benson the lead.

There was a sense of inevitability about the scoreline of the only match played in Division 4 as runaway leaders Stanford-in-the-Vale won 16-0 at bottom side Appleton Stars with Steve Holder grabbing five goals and Jason Evans helping himself to four. James Baker with two, Dan Bradbury and Jamie Hopgood were amongst the other scorers for Stanford.

In Division 5 Bampton Town Reserves stretched their lead after winning 5-2 at bottom placed Challow United Reserves with two goals from Tom Madden, and one each from Dan Paintin and Tom Boot. Nick Inns and Ben Hummel scored for Challow. Sutton Courtenay Reserves move up to 2^nd place after winning 3-1 at home to Benson Lions Reserves. Wayne Grant, James Ivey and Ian Dingwall scored for the hosts with Jonathan Day replying. In the only other match Hanney United Reserves and Steventon Reserves played out a 0-0 draw.

Detailed Report x 1

War Memorial Cup Quarter Final (27^th February, 2010)

Grove Rangers 2 Sutton Courtenay 2

(a.e.t. – 2-2 after 90 mins, Grove Rangers won 4-2 on Pens)

(Phil Annets, NBFL Media Relations Officer)

Stand-In Keeper Steers Grove into Semis

Grove midfield player Mike Davies was the unlikely hero of the penalty shoot-out, finding himself in goal after replacing their regular keeper Callum Rowe in the 78^th minute, and going on to save two spot kicks to steer Grove into the War Memorial Cup semi finals.

In an entertaining match 3^rd Division Sutton Courtenay more than matched their higher placed hosts twice coming back from a goal behind and unfortunate not to win the match in extra time. Grove had the upper hand in the first half creating all the early chances and were duly rewarded in the 10^th minute when Alex Lynch took advantage of a slip by Lee Faulkner in the Sutton goal to open the scoring.

However, five minutes later the impressive Dan Cox latched on to an over the top ball, and despite being challenged by the Grove defence calmly went on to slot the ball under the advancing Callum Rowe. Cox could have put the visitors in front just before half time, but his attempted lob over the Grove keeper wasn’t high enough and was easily caught.

The heavy persistent rain of the first half gave way to some bright sunshine at the start of the second, although by now the pitch had become extremely muddy and very heavy right through the centre from goalmouth to goalmouth. Grove started to create more chances again and a Scott Barnes free kick after 53 minutes flew past all attackers and defenders and just narrowly missed the far left hand post. It wasn’t long, though, before Grove regained their lead when five minutes later an excellent low cross by Luke Wilkins was missed by the keeper and was met by Alex Lynch at the far post to slot the ball home for his second of the game.

Alex Lynch (Grove) Celebrates Scoring 2nd Goal

With 12 minutes of normal time remaining and just after Sutton had missed a golden opportunity to equalise, what turned out to be the defining moment of the match occurred as Grove goalkeeper Callum Rowe had to leave the pitch with a recurrent ankle injury. Up stepped outfielder Mike Davies to don the keeper’s jersey. Davies had very little to do in the remainder of the match, but could do nothing about Sutton’s late equaliser deep into injury time. Jesse Mortimer made an excellent run down the left hand side and laid the ball to the feet of Dave Otero who just about steered the ball into the net to send the game into extra time.

Sutton had the better chances to win the match in extra time, but the scored remained lock at two apiece at the final whistle setting up a penalty shoot-out. Grove went first and the first three kicks were all converted before Mike Davies produced the first of his two saves to give Grove the advantage. However, Lee Faulkner saved Grove’s fourth penalty to level things up again, but Davies immediately made his second great save before substitute Chris Slevin settled it for Grove.