LIAM Tackley scored a fabulous hat-trick to help AFC Aldermaston secure their first victory of 2017 with a comfortable 4-1 Hellenic League Division One East success at Chinnor.

It was the home team who started the brighter and Aldermaston goalkeeper Dan Smith was forced into making a few saves.

However, Chinnor were unable to take advantage and the Atom Men broke the deadlock midway through the half when Dan Alliston crossed and Liam Tackley struck a beauty from the edge of the area into the left-hand corner of the net.

The visitors doubled their lead early in the second half when Martin King stabbed home from close range, and it was 3-0 when Tackley grabbed his second with a header.

A stunning 25-yard strike pulled a goal back for the Oxfordshire side with 15 minutes remaining, but they were unable to kick on and set up a grandstand finish.

Despite having manager Kieran Jennings sent from the bench with five minutes remaining, Aldermaston had the final word when Michael Porter was brought down in the penalty area in stoppage time.

Tackley duly dispatched the spot-kick to ensure he would keep the match ball.

Fifth-placed AFC Aldermaston travel to relegation-threatened Didcot Town Reserves this coming Saturday (3pm).

  • HIGHMOOR Ibis were beaten 3-0 by Premier Division title-chasers Thame United at Rivermoor on Saturday.

The first half belonged to the visitors who had opportunities to score through Luke Ricketts and Dan West before they took a 21st-minute lead courtesy of Tom Ashworth.

The provider Lynton Goss nearly added another when his shot came back off the crossbar, before Highmoor’s best chance forced a fine save from Jamie Perkins.

At the other end an Ellis Hercules header struck the woodwork for Thame, but they went 2-0 up thanks to a Goss penalty after Ricketts was hauled down.

The second half lacked the goalmouth action of the first, but United made sure of victory on 57 minutes.

Goss was tackled just inside the penalty area and as both players fell to the floor, the home defender was adjudged to have handled the ball. Goss again converted the spot kick.

On another bad day for Marcus Richardson’s men, Highmoor were then reduced to 10 men as Carlisle Bovell was dismissed for a rash challenge on Ashworth.

Highmoor Ibis host Thatcham Town on Saturday, before welcoming Woodcote Stoke Row to Rivermoor for a Reading Senior Cup clash next Tuesday (7.45pm).