Reading Chronicle | Sport | Lucky 13 for super Newbury

Published: Friday, 29th February, 2008 16:45

Lucky 13 for super Newbury

Senior Division

Reading YMCA0 Newbury FC0

NEWBURY FC stretched their magnificent unbeaten run to 13 games and although their lead at the top of the Reading Senior League has been cut to four points they were happy with the point against a determined Reading YMCA.

In an evenly contested game Newbury created the better chances in the first half. YM’s direct style caused the Newbury defence some problems in the opening stages, but the visitors soon settled with Danny Lachacz heading wide from Robert Powell’s cross on 20 minutes. Lachacz then sent Craig Hill racing through but keeper Scott Mortimer easily gathered his weak shot.

The prolific Kalief Madden struck a great shot on 30 minutes but Mortimer was again up to the task as he beat the ball away to safety.

But the best chance of the first half fell to Hill who was left with just Mortimer to beat from eight yards following a flowing move but the keeper saved his effort low to his right.

Defences were well on top during a cagey second half and with just four games remaining newly promoted Newbury only have to hold their nerve to collect their first ever Senior League title.

Cookham Dean0 Royal Mail2

Relegation haunted Royal Mail caused a huge shock as they performed a classic smash and grab raid on Cookham Dean to steal the points and effectively end the Maidenhead side’s hopes of mounting a title challenge.

Cookham had remained unbeaten in the league up to the beginning of February and looked capable of challenging Newbury and Westwood for the title but three consecutive defeats have shattered their hopes.

Cookham had inflicted a six goal defeat on Mail only six weeks earlier but Mail boss Chris Ward was able to field seven new players from that reverse.

They included striker Mark Bartley who has been released by Bracknell Town while Leon Partington made his seasonal debut.

Ward picked himself in the starting line-up and he also welcomed back Phil Fisher for the first time in eight months following an ankle injury and he took his place on the substitutes bench.

Paul Reeve had gone close for the home side with a volley that stung Kieran Lamb’s hands in the Mail goal before the visitors took a surprise lead on 11 minutes.

Partington won the ball in midfield and fed Anton Small. He crossed to the far post where Mark Brown laid the ball into the path of Bartley who tapped home from five yards.

Mail almost added to that lead after a long spell of Cookham possession when Small picked out Bartley and only a superb Scott Allen tackle prevented the striker from collecting a second goal.

On the half hour Fisher replaced the limping Ward and Cookham were enjoying the lion’s share of possession with Louis Shepherd firing over the bar while Jamie Handscomb had a fine strike tipped over by the outstanding Lamb.

Shepherd had a shot well saved on 55 minutes before Lee Ovens was inches wide with a terrific drive a couple of minutes later.

Cookham were lacking any real quality and their passing was well below their usual standard. The Mailmen should have sealed the points with five minutes remaining when Partington and Bartley combined to free Morlai Dumbuya who somehow managed to blaze over the bar from five yards with keeper Matt Collis on the floor.

But within two minutes they had made the game safe when Brown played a long ball which was latched onto by Small who outpaced the Cookham defence and rounded Collis before tapping home.

Dave Berry and John Donegan were outstanding for Mail at the heart of their defence and this win lifts them clear of the drop zone.

Woodley Town0 Highmoor/Ibis5

Highmoor/Ibis travelled to Woodley Town on the back of three consecutive defeats but they finally found their form to romp to a comfortable victory against their inconsistent opponents.

Woodley manager Andy Abraham was forced into changes with Rob Morley replacing the sick Danny Willmott, while Paul Wilder started up front in place of the injured Brody Kenyon.

The writing was on the wall for the home side as early as the first minute when Chris Jewell was given plenty of time and space and his pass was inches from finding the unmarked Richard Holland.

Woodley replied immediately with Billy Gordon’s cross well taken by Morley on his chest but he dragged his shot wide from 10 yards.

Highmoor were exploiting Woodley in wide areas and the influential Jewell provided a superb cross which was converted by Rob Williams to give them the lead.

Woodley were struggling to find any rhythm but Nick Edwards did release Wilder who rounded Courtney Isaacs only for the keeper to recover his ground and make a goal line save.

This proved to be a turning point as the Scours Lane outfit immediately added a second when Jewell again got free and beat Craig Beales with a fierce strike at the near post from 10 yards.

Paul Illsey replaced Morley at the break but the pattern remained the same with Holland and Jewell adding two goals at the start of the second half.

Belatedly Woodley started to play with James Pearson and Chris Waring both having efforts which flew narrowly wide while Wilder missed the upright with just Isaacs to beat.

And it was Highmoor who completed a miserable day for the home side when a Jason Bates cross flew into the far corner with Beales helpless.

Rabson Rovers4 Mortimer1

Rabson Rovers extended their unbeaten run to three games with a magnificent win against out of sorts Mortimer but they still find themselves at the foot of the table as Royal Mail picked up an unexpected three points at Cookham.

The home side made a perfect start by taking a sixth minute lead when Gary Amor harried a Mortimer defender into a mistake with the predatory Matty Brown nipping in to round Dave Lyons and slot home.

Rabsons forced a string of corners and if centre half Chris Breadmore had managed to find the target with a series of headers he would have collected a hat-trick. He won every header and not only struck the woodwork but also planted two free headers wide of the post.

And Mortimer made Rabsons pay for their generosity on 35 minutes when they snatched an equaliser through Emmanuel Skantzos.

Rabsons dominated from the start of the second half and deservedly restored their lead on the hour when Brown skipped through three challenges before firing home.

And with 20 minutes remaining they added a third with Brown completing his hat-trick when he broke the offside trap and once again rounded Lyons to tap home.

And Rabsons completed a fine win on 85 minutes when Amor evaded two challengers before finding the net with a clinical finish.

Berks County Sports2 Woodcote Stoke/Row1

Woodcote/Stoke Row travelled to in form Berks County Sports and now find themselves deep in the relegation mire as they went down to a 2-1 defeat while all of their relegation rivals picked up points.

Sports were looking to build on a magnificent run since the start of the year which has seen them climb from the relegation zone into fifth place.

And they created the first real chance when the lively Stuart Stone made space for himself only to fire wide of the upright.

Woodcote responded and on 22 minutes Frank Dillon delivered a superb cross and only a last ditch tackle prevented Johnny Clark from scoring.

But within a minute Sports had taken the lead when a flowing move left Steve Gillett with space and he cleverly dummied two defenders before planting the ball past the helpless Andy Silver.

And Woodcote were lucky not to fall further behind when Ray Richardson blazed wildly over on 35 minutes and three minutes later Stuart Stone drilled a shot wide when he should have done better.

Sports were finishing the half the stronger and they started the second period in the same manner with Stone firing a good chance over the bar on 46 minutes, while Andy Silver had to be at his best to deny another shot moments later.

Woodcote came to life on the hour when a superb crossfield pass from Mike Fountain picked out Dillon whose vicious shot hit the angle of bar and post before being scrambled away for a corner.

Dillon whipped in the set piece and with keeper David Osbourne stranded the ball ricocheted off a Sports defender and into the net for the equaliser.

Woodcote sensed their opportunity and Marc Edward-Smith saw his volley fly over the bar. Moments later he should have put his side in front when a clever Dillon free-kick found him completely unmarked but his shot fell straight into Osbourne’s arms.

Sports started to work their way back into the game and the introduction of substitute Ian Bradshaw almost paid immediate dividends when he somehow headed over the bar from three yards when it seemed easier to score.

And with 15 minutes remaining Sports regained the lead when Stone was allowed time and space to fire in a low shot which went in via the post.

The final 10 minutes saw Woodcote search for an equaliser and skipper Mike Higley had two stabs at getting it when he hit a volley over the bar and saw a second effort brilliantly saved by the acrobatic Osbourne.

Woodcote’s final chance to rescue something from the game fell to the unfortunate Edward-Smith who flashed a difficult header wide of the post and Sports played out time for the three points.

Woodcote manager Pete McAlister was bitterly disappointed at the end stating: “I can’t fault the lads for their commitment today but our finishing let us down.

“We missed multiple chances and unfortunately at this level you are going to get punished when you don’t take your chances. I’d also like to praise referee Matt Baker who I thought did a great job.”

Premier Division

With Premier Division leaders Cookham Dean Res without a fixture, second-placed Unity closed the gap at the top to just a point with a 2-0 win at West Reading.

Haniv Maine struck both of the Cintra side’s goals. AFC Corinthians and Taplow Utd’s slim promotion hopes have all but disappeared as the sides battled to a 1-1 draw.

Drew Warnke netted for Corinthians while Sam Todd replied for the Maidenhead side.

Division One

With Division One title favourites South Reading on cup duty, REME Arborfield grasped the chance to take over at the top with two Dave Stuart strikes giving them a 2-0 victory at bottom placed Hurst Res who have lost all 17 games they have played this season.

Park Utd moved into second place but their title hopes took a blow as Goring Utd held them to a goalless draw

Division Two

Berks County Sports Res held onto top spot in Division Two with a vital 2-1 success at Finchampstead with James Bunnett and Mike Giddings finding the net. Ben Knight replied for the villagers.

Garry Trussler (2) and Roger Aslam were the Theale marksmen as they maintained their challenge with a 3-0 victory at Woodcote/Stoke Row Res, while title favourites Berinsfield FC Res also collected three points with a 2-0 win at Twyford & Ruscombe with Paul Jones and James Quinton on target.

Woodley Town Res are still very much in the hunt for honours and they completed a successful February that has seen them take 10 points from a possible 12 with a 5-1 victory against Taplow Utd Res to move into fourth place.

Woodley opened the scoring on five minutes when Laurence Holmes arrived at the far post to slide home a low cross.

The second goal came on 22 minutes with Holmes winning a tackle on the halfway line before releasing Richard Wallis who fired home from 20 yards.

And they went three up just before the interval when Wallis picked out Richard Bennett who calmly rounded the keeper before slotting home.

Taplow pulled a goal back on the hour when Mark Hayes converted with Woodley convinced the striker had punched the ball into the net.

But this was a temporary respite and on 65 minutes Darren Arvington, who was enjoying an excellent game, struck a free-kick which crashed off the crossbar and deflected into the net off the unfortunate keeper.

And the same player completed the scoring with 15 minutes remaining with a fine solo effort.

Division Three

Runaway Division Three leaders Barton Rovers completed their 12th win from 13 starts with goals from Jason Hyde (2), Jack Sergeant, Nathan Shurvill and Martin Campbell seeing them to a 5-2 win over Sonning Salisbury who replied through Simon Wall and Tim Carvill.

This win keeps them five points clear of likely runners-up Wokingham & Emmbrook B who eased to a 2-0 success against Woodley Town A.

But Wokingham have their keeper to thank for keeping them in the game in the early stages as he pulled off several fine saves to deny John Mailer, Michael Wesley and Jon Pitt.

The first half ended goalless but Wokingham broke the deadlock early in the second half when a Woodley corner was cleared to the halfway line. Darren Thorne picked up the ball and drove past two Woodley defenders before rounding keeper Russell Cleverly.

And midway through the half Thorne sealed the points with a fine volley at the far post.

Division Four

The top of the table clash between leaders Berinsfield FC Res and Bell & Bottle saw the pub side return from their trip to Oxford with a tremendous 5-0 victory.

They were helped to the three points by two own goals with Oliver Windiate, Tyranne Scott-Goswell and Richard Lane completing the rout. This win lifts them to within six points of Berinsfield with two games in hand.

Turnpike Sports maintained their promotion challenge as they crashed home eight goals against Winnersh Rangers without reply.

Mark Davies led the way with a five-timer with Neil Jones, Matthew Byrne and Brett Lunnon joining in the fun.

Jamie Hines struck a hat-trick for Newbury FC Res as they remained on the edge of the promotion race with a 5-0 victory at Sonning Res. Aaron Shaw and Danny Ross also notched.

Cup scene

South Reading moved into the last four of the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup with hard-fought 3-2 victory against Hellenic League Chalfont Wasps Res at Emmer Green on Saturday.

The Reading League side took the lead on 35 minutes when a Shane Roberts long throw was flicked on by Ben Lyden to Jervis Catlyn who converted at the far post.

Kieran Webb proved himself to be an excellent target man for Wasps throughout the game and after firing just wide on 38 minutes he was involved in the equaliser as he laid the ball into the path of Will Tullett to level the scores.

Lyden scrapped the Wasps bar just before the break but it was the visitors who had much the better of the play at the start of the second half. However, it was South who got their noses back in front on 55 minutes with an almost identical goal to their first.

A Roberts long throw was again met by Lyden who nodded the ball into the path of Cohen Benn who made no mistake. And on the hour they added a third when Catlyn was brought down inside the area and he picked himself up to convert the spot-kick.

Aaron Bryett replaced Tom Kaill for Wasps and a couple of minutes later they looked to be back in the game when a perfect Tullett free-kick was put away with a glancing header from Webb.

The home side were grateful to keeper Byron Dozier who made a couple of superb saves, while Diak John and Kyle Roberts were the outstanding players on the park.

South held on for a nerve wracking final 20 minutes and their reward is a semi-final tie against East Berks side Running Horse (Bracknell).

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