Villager’s six-match winning run comes to end on travels

WOODCOTE, after winning six consecutive matches, slipped to a 3-1 Premier Division defeat at BURGHFIELD last Saturday.

Going into the game, Burghfield had suffered only one league defeat to table-toppers Westwood.

Burghfield’s experienced team, with the recent acquisition of former Woodcote player Sam Tucker, got off to a good start taking the lead from the penalty spot after seven minutes, when Alec Curtis was judged to have fouled a home player.

Burghfield dominated for most of the first half and added to their lead on 33 minutes with a close-range header after a free kick was headed back into the centre of the goal.

Burghfield increased their lead three minutes later but the introduction of Fraser Sharples to replace the injured Archie Clark began to reap rewards as the winger made a series of good runs down the left. In the 40th minute his low cross was parried by keeper Jon O’Sullivan, another former Woodcote player, into the path of Toby Nowell, who finished comfortably for his 251st goal for the club.

Early in the second half, Sharples saw a shot rebound off the crossbar, but despite Burghfield’s continued dominance there were no further goals, although Ben Lallament produced several good saves to thwart the home team.

GORING UNITED ran out
1-0 winners at high-flying NEWBURY TOWN.

Goring made their intentions clear from the off, pressing the opposition all over the pitch. Spencer fired just over from
20 yards before Newbury cleared a goalmouth scramble.

The home side rarely threatened from open play, but were a constant threat at set pieces, with Will May pulling off a good stop from a goal-bound header.

A fine pass from Rob Millsop opened up the Newbury defence allowing Sully Akers to score after 30 minutes to give Goring a half-time lead.

Newbury adopted a more direct approach after the break but Goring were not unduly troubled as Chris Pocock and Akers were a constant threat on the counter-attack.

Set pieces were again dangerous and May pulled off a good save, clawing the ball back from behind him when a goal seemed certain.

WARGRAVE ran out 3-1 winners in their home clash with AFC WINKFIELD. Stuart Moss scored two goals for the hosts with James Payne also getting his name on the score sheet.

In Division 1, Harry Green netted four goals for ROTHERFIELD UNITED who ran out
8-2 winners at basement side MORTIMER. Thomas Keevil (two) and Brett Gardner were also on target for the visitors.

In Reserve Division 1, HENLEY TOWN DEVELOPMENT went down to a 3-2 home defeat against WESTWOOD WANDERERS RESERVES. The visitors drew first blood following a defensive lapse at the back, slotting home to take an early lead.

Westwood’s advantage was short-lived when they, too, were caught out by a mistake, allowing Harry Taylor to calmly finish into an open net.

The game remained tightly contested, but it was Westwood who regained the lead in the 70th minute, capitalising on a swift counter-attack.

Henley fought back late on, earning a penalty in the 80th minute after a foul in the box. Luke Mulvaney scored to bring the hosts level.

Despite Henley’s late surge, Westwood snatched the winner with virtually the final kick of the match. A well-delivered cross navigated through a crowd of players, finding its way into the net to seal the win.

In Division 3, GORING UNITED RESERVES ran out
3-1 winners at BURGHFIELD A.

James Plumridge and Daniel Carter put the visitors 2-0 up after just seven minutes before the home pulled a goal back on 26 minutes. Samir Enright wrapped up the scoring on the hour mark.

ROTHERFIELD UNITED DEVELOPMENT progressed to the next round of the Berkshire Trophy Centre Junior Cup after beating visitors CAMBERLEY UNITED 4-2 at Bishopswood. Tyler Way (two) and Sami Morgan were among the scorers for the hosts.