Match Round-up for 25 April 2009

Benson A.F.C., Botley United and Coleshill ‘A’ are the cup Kings.
Report by Andy Wells

Brilliant Benson A.F.C. became the second North Berks League club to win a County Cup this season, as a fine headed goal from Adam Cowling in the 66 minute gave them a deserved 2 – 1 win over Spartan Rangers in the Oxfordshire (John Fathers) Junior Shield.

Jim Oliver had given Benson a second minute lead from the penalty spot but Spartan equalised five minutes into the second half, only for Benson to get the winner through Cowling.

Botley United battled back twice to take the North Berks War Memorial Cup, with a 4 – 3 win over Stanford in the Vale, in a thoroughly entertaining Cup Final played at Wantage Town F.C.’s Alfredian Park on Friday evening.

Mike Van De Mortel put Stanford ahead with a superb volleyed finish with the outside of the foot, from Jason Evans’ left-wing cross in the 8^th minute of the match. Stanford were bossing things at this early stage and should have doubled their lead when Jamie Hopgood steered a volley just over the bar.

However, Botley stormed back with two goals in as many minutes, as first Chris Potter tapped in on 18 minutes after Mark Nicholl’s shot was partly stopped, and then a cross from the right was headed in by Andy Potter at the near post.

Botley United celebrate winning the North Berks War Memorial Cup.

An end to end game looked to be slipping away from Stanford, when on 26 minutes Nicholls ran on to long ball and shot under the keeper to make it 3 – 1 to Botley. Evans though had different ideas and he was unlucky to see a powerful drive turned away by Duncan Turner in the Botley goal. Turner then made a fine full-length save to turn away Steven Holder’s shot to the corner.

On the hour, Stanford pulled a goal back when Evans finished an excellent move from close range and within minutes, Van De Mortel brought a long ball down and hit a wonder shot on the turn into the top right-hand corner to make it 3 – 3.

Stanford then put together a four man move that split the Botley defence but Evans mis-controlled it and Turner gathered. Straight from his long clearance, Andy Potter brushed off the defensive challenge and rifled a hot into the far corner for what proved to be the winner.

In the third Cup Final of the weekend, Coleshill United ‘A’ deservedly won the North Berks League Cup at A.F.C. Wallingford, beating Marcham Reserves 3 – 1, in a game which only came alive in the second half.

In a scoreless first half, Leighton Jackson of Marcham twice forced Steve Larkin to make good save and the same player headed just over. At the other end, Marcham keeper Peter Fox had to come well out of his area to head clear as Dean O’Hagan chased a long clearance.

Steve Lovegrove almost gave Coleshill the lead with a long shot that went just over the bar just before half-time and two minutes into the second half Coleshill took the lead when O’Hagan found space in the box to place his shot in the corner of the net. Straight from the kick-off David Tunnah almost grabbed an equalizer as Coleshill’s goal spurred Marcham on to greater effort and for a period they had the Coleshill goal under siege.

Tunnah had two great chances; firstly, chipping the keeper only to see his shot drift wide and then seeing Larkin make a point blank save. Halfway through the second half, as Marcham continued to attack, Wes Costar hit the post with a low shot from 15 yards and Larkin had to make two great saves in the ensuing scramble.

After 75 minutes Costar had a great chance to equalise but shot wide but the equaliser did arrive with five minutes to go when the lively Tunnah shot home following a corner. Extra time seemed certain but three minutes remaining, O’Hagan controlled a left wing cross and beat Marcham’s keeper Fox at the near post for his second goal.

In stoppage time Marcham gained a corner and threw everyone – including keeper Fox – forward. When Coleshill cleared the ball substitute James Bye carried the ball 50 yards before slotting it into the empty net for 3 – 1.

Well, if that wasn’t excitement enough, Faringdon Town needed to win their game at Crowmarsh Gifford to retain any hope of the Division 1 title and they got the lead they needed through Matthew Pill to go in 1 – 0 to the good at half-time.

However, Crowmarsh’s leading scorer Andy Allum found the Faringdon net twice to give the home side a 2 – 1 victory.

Meanwhile, Saxton Rovers could seal the title if they won at home to Lambourn Sports but things went awry early on when Adrian Mooney smashed a rebound into the roof of the net to put the visitors ahead.

Benny Sutton came close for Rovers, shooting wide of the right-hand post, but he was the man on the spot to head in Steve Bloomfield’s cross in the 29th minute for the equaliser. Lambourn came back and four minutes later Ben Matthew headed in a left-wing cross to put his side back in front.

A change around at the interval paid almost immediate dividends, as Micky Beal scored from six yards out to equalise and then, two minutes later, got in front of the keeper to glance the ball into the net off the top of his head.

Yet, Saxton couldn’t hang on to the win that would have guaranteed the title as a penalty awarded in the final minute of play was converted by Ben Hopkins to make the score 3 - 3, so the bubbly stayed in the fridge.

Harwell Village can still mathematically catch Rovers, as they won 5 – 3 at Drayton but they would need to win all five of their remaining games, with Saxton losing all five of theirs. At Drayton they went in at the interval 2 – 1 ahead and improved the lead through a penalty award, with the home side having a player sent off.

However, the ten men of Drayton fought back to equalise at 3 – 3, with goals from Adam Greenaway, Richard Wilson and Bradley Ritchie before Harwell came back to get two more goals. Harwell’s scorers were Matty Aplin (2), John ‘JR’ Willis (2) and Jamie Copping.

Harwell International’s late effort to avoid relegation looks to have ended, after they were held to a 2 – 2 draw by Wootton & Dry Sandford. Playing with the wind in the first half, Harwell took the lead with a solo effort from Lee Chapman.

Chapman got a second after 57 minutes when the Wootton defence gave the ball away but immediately afterwards Wootton brought on substitutes Ben Taylor and Jonny Weir. After volleying just over, Weir put Wootton back in the game when he shot home from Steve Madge’s pass. The second substitute Taylor equalised in controversial circumstances with two minutes to go, when he scored following a quickly taken free-kick with Harwell players protesting that the whistle had not gone.

A.F.C. Wallingford and Steventon are battling to avoid the drop as well and they met each other for the second time in recent days, with Wallingford coming out on top this time with a 4 – 1 win at home. John Walker (2), Tom Hammond and Luke Higgins were on target for Wallingford.

In Division 2, two wins in a week have propelled Didcot Casuals to the top. On Wednesday evening they won 3 – 2 at Saxton Rovers Reserves thanks to goals from Johnny Pearce, Lewis Monaghan and Wayne Jacks. Saturday saw them travel to Lambourn Sports Reserves and gain another late win through Monaghan’s penalty conversion five minutes from time, after Tom Fisher had been brought down.

Marcham won 1 – 0 at Faringdon Town Reserves to follow up their midweek 3 – 2 win at Sutton Courtenay. They move within a point of Warborough & Shillingford now with two games each to play.

In Division 3, the race for promotion and the title became a three-horse race with the results of midweek and Saturday. Childrey United took advantage Botley’s cup occupation to catch up with some games in hand and they gained maximum points from wins at Grove Rangers Reserves (4 – 2) and Shrivenham ‘A’ (2 – 0) to go top of the table.

In the game against promotion rivals Shrivenham, crucial goals came from James Wilkins (17 for the season) and Tom Weeks. Meanwhile, Long Wittenham Athletic made it three wins in the week with a 4 – 2 win at Coleshill Reserves to take them to third place. During the week they had won 3 – 1 at Harwell International Reserves and 5 – 0 at Wootton & Dry Sandford Reserves and they now move into third place.

Drayton Reserves won 7 – 1 against now relegated Grove Rangers Reserves while an Alex Smallshaw hit a hat-trick as Benson Lions won 5 – 2 against Harwell Village Reserves.

Finally, Benson Lions Reserves slipped up 2 – 1 at home against Hanney United Reserves, despite a fine 25 yard strike from Simon White.