Weekend talking points is back, the piece where Football in Berkshire pulls out some delicious moments from the weekend, the blindingly obvious to the lesser spotted. Bracknell Town’s trophy lift to Langley’s huge turnaround in form.
This week we focus on Reading FC Women youngster Hannah Poulter who’s been off playing for England, Holyport’s ding-dong battle for survival and Reading Royals Futsal Club enjoying a bumper weekend.
It’s all here, and if you want to receive the weekly ‘Talking Points‘ first, make sure you’ve signed up for the Football in Berkshire newsletter..
Bracknell Town receive their Isthmian League trophy
A few sore heads in Bracknell again at the weekend for sure, but we reckon the Royal Oak can handle it.
The Robins received their Pitching In Isthmian League South Central Division One trophy at the weekend and celebrated with a 5-0 win at home to Chalfont St Peter. Bracknell are looking to break some records this season and have conceded just 10 goals on their way to amassing 86 points with four games left.
Binfield piled more misery on Tooting & Mitcham United with a 2-0 win at Imperial Fields, that result had the added bonus of helping Thatcham Town who arguably need just another point to be certain of avoiding the drop.
Reading FC Women’s Hannah Poulter keeps Poland out
Reading FC Women Academy goalkeeper Hannah Poulter was part of the England side that beat Poland 1-0 in the under 17 Women’s Euros qualifiers on Sunday night. Leicester City’s Ava Baker scored.
The youngster was also in goal for the first qualifying group game against France on Thursday that saw England beaten 2-1 – Manchester United’s Kiera Barry scoring the Lionesses goal. England next play Croatia on Wednesday in the final group game.
One name missing from the under 17 side was Chelsea’s Bracknell-born Aimee Claypole who tested positive for Covid after travelling for the qualifying tournament in Poland. Claypole made her Chelsea first-team debut this season in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
Langley go unbeaten in March
It’s been a roller-coaster two months for the Slough based side in the Combined Counties League Division One. Langley lost every game they played in February (five games), but turned that stat on its head in March going unbeaten in all six games including a 5-0 win in the Slough-derby over Chalvey Sports and an impressive 4-2 win over FC Deportivo Galicia.
The results almost certainly ensure the club’s step 6 status for the 2022/23 season.
H/T Rob Davies
Holyport off the bottom
It’s going to be a ding-dong battle to avoid last place in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division North this season with four games remaining.
Results finally went Holyport’s way at the weekend with Derek Sweetman’s side beating Edgware Town 2-0 while CB Hounslow United lost 4-0 to Windsor meaning the two sides swapped places. Port probably have the advantage in the battle with a game in hand over their rivals but will need to continue to put points on the board as second bottom could still go down based on Points Per Game (PPG).
Wokingham & Emmbrook’s point at home to Reading City could also prove valuable – having declared the Sumas safe a few weeks ago, that point arrests a run of three defeats that has put them back in a little bit of danger.
Related: A closer look at Holyport FC’s 125th anniversary shirt
Reading Royals Futsal enjoy solid weekend
It was a good day on and off the pitch for Reading Royals Futsal Club, both their men’s and women’s sides won their FA National Futsal Series fixtures and off the pitch, Alicia Povey made her commentary and pundit debut on BT Sports Futsal show.
The women’s side beat London Genesis Futsal Club 5-3 with goals from Sarah Payne (3), Sarah Thompson and Rebecca Scott while the men’s side beat Birmingham Tigers 13-3.
1-2(?) Berkshire finish in the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division 3 South
Taplow United Ladies leapfrogged Goring United on Sunday in Division 3 South and occupy second place behind title winners S4K meaning we’re on for a possible Berkshire 1-2 in the division.
In the Development Division, it could well be a Berkshire top three with Shinfield Rangers already the champions while Thatcham & Newbury Town Ladies and Girls are in second and Burghfield Ladies could well jump Henley Town in to third.
Berks County’s almost perfect score
Ridiculous stat this from our ‘Voice of Reason TM”, Steve Gabb has revealed that the Swords have scored 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 goals in a game this season. Just missing a 6 for a full house.
On Saturday County thumped Cove 8-0, days after beating Rayners Lane 7-3 in the Esoteric Recordings Division One Cup. Luke Hayden scored a hat-trick in both games while Harvey Griffiths got a hat-trick against Rayners Lane as well, as did Matthew Laverty against Cove.
H/T Steve Gabb
