PREMIER DIVISION league leaders HENLEY YMCA suffered their third league defeat of the season against RUSCOMBE at Lawson Road.

Ruscombe took the lead after five minutes when a free kick on the edge was fired past Matthew Shanahan in the YMCA goal.

Henley’s passing game was proving difficult in the boggy conditions and after 20 minutes Ruscombe doubled their advantage from the penalty spot.

The final 20 minutes of the first half saw Henley regain control. After winning a throw-in, Sam Whiteside held off a defender and crossed to Arran Finch who headed into the bottom corner.

On the hour mark a corner from Michael Butcher caused confusion in the penalty area and Ben Farmar lashed home from six yards to level the scores.


Henley pushed for a winner with Farmer and Butcher going close but Ruscombe broke free and a deflected shot wrong-footed Shanahan to put the visitors ahead.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser and had a goal disallowed and a penalty appeal turned down as they slipped to their third league defeat of the season.

Despite a dubious disallowed goal and having a penalty turned down, Henley dropped three points which could prove costly in their search for a second title in three seasons.

EMMER GREEN, with three games in hand over the league leaders, maintained their promotion push with a 5-0 win away at PANGBOURNE.

The visitors took the lead when Daniel Donegan put through brother Luke Donegan to score. Emmer Green bagged a second when Ciaran Crean slotted the ball through for debutant John Donegan to score.

In the second half John Donegan passed to Richie Froude who scored 25 yards out. Daniel Donegan scored his second of the match following a four-man move.

John Donegan scored his second of the game with a header following a Daniel Donegan free kick.

Two late penalties by KIDMORE END’S hat-trick hero Matt Walker secured his side a share of the points in an incident-packed game at THE TYRE BAY, which saw four spot kicks and three sending-offs.

Kidmore End’s goalkeeper Simon Switala was given his marching orders for a foul in the box after 10 minutes, with Tyre Bay scoring the resulting penalty.

Kidmore drew level mid-way through the half as Walker scored his first of the game direct from a corner.

With Kidmore starting to get a foothold in the game, The Tyre Bay were awarded another penalty following a clumsy challenge which was converted with seconds of the half remaining.

The home side added to their tally early into the second half with the striker finishing from 12 yards.

The game was turned on its head when a Tyre Bay player was dismissed for foul and abusive language on 70 minutes.

This acted as a catalyst for the visitors and with 10 minutes remaining, Walker scored his first of two penalties after winger Danny Court was brought down in the box.

In the dying moments of the game a long ball forward saw Kidmore’s Robert Dighton put through on goal and felled in the box by the Tyre Bay goalkeeper who was dismissed. This left Walker to complete his hat-trick.

YMCA UNITED are still looking for their first Division 1 East win of the season after they crashed to a 3-0 defeat away to ELDON CELTIC.

KIDMORE END RESERVES went down to a narrow 3-2 defeat away at WHITLEY ATHLETIC in Division 2 West.

SC UNITED maintained their 100 per cent Division 3 East record and went five points clear at the top of the table after beating basement side FC BERKSALONA 3-0 at Bishopswood.

The hosts had a goal disallowed for handball in what turned out to be a goalless first half. United took the lead after 55 minutes when a Berksalona corner was turned into a quick counterattack with Aaron Attfield marauding down the left flank before cutting inside and squaring to striker Paul Read who finished from close range.

The second goal came from another Berksalona corner when attacking midfielder Lukonde Kasonde made a run through the middle before threading a through ball to Attfield who fired home from 20 yards. With 15 minutes of the match remaining Jonathan Moss was brought down in the box and Kasonde finished from the spot.

Elsewhere in the division MAPLEDURHAM CAVALIERS beat SUPER REEVES 2-1.

In Division 3 West GORING UNITED RESERVES suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to promotion rivals REAL VICTORIA.

Goring started the game very brightly but found the visiting keeper in fine form. The visitors scored the only goal after 30 minutes when a long cross-field pass found an un-marked player who fired past the Goring keeper.

SC UNITED RESERVES suffered a 12-1 thrashing at home against Division 4 East league leaders BURGHFIELD RESERVES.

Published 25/02/13