The Weekend Briefing is back with a look at everything you need to know from across the weekends action.
As well as these talking points there were of course impressive wins for Maidenhead United in the Vanarama National League and Bracknell Town in the Southern League while Burnham went off like a rocket in the Combined Counties League with an 8-0 win.
All the weekends results are here.
Holyport suffer more bizarre shenanigans
In one of the oddest postponements I think I have seen, Holyport’s opening home tie in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North against Wallingford & Crowmarsh was postponed due to a kit clash.
The game was called off, according to a statement released by the club because Wallingford were unable to access an alternative kit in a reasonable amount of time.
It means that Holyport technically have yet to start their season and have had to issue more club statements than they have actually played games after their FA Cup win was declared null and void following an incorrect use of Sin Bin rules by the referee during their 2-1 win over Hartpury University.
It means Sam Lock’s side should now begin on Tuesday night with the replaying of that FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie where the club will hope to recoup some of their financial losses already incurred.
Opening salvo’s fired in Thames Valley Premier League
We all think this could be one of the most exciting Thames Valley Premier League Premier Division season’s for awhile, and the 2023/24 campaign got underway on Saturday with newcomers Windsor & Eton drawing 2-2 at Reading City.
However, all eyes were on how the form sides from last season would regroup after Yateley United’s 100% record was promoted to the Combined Counties League Division One in the summer.
And it was very much a case of ‘as you were’ with the sides finishing between second and fifth all kicking off with a win.
Dethroned Finchampstead won 4-0 at promoted Henley Town, nearly men Burghfield won 2-1 at Westwood Wanderers and Maidenhead Town won 4-2 at home to AFC Winkfield.
Thatcham Town offer up surprise in Isthmian League opener
The Kingfishers got up off the FA Cup mat and got on with Isthmian League business on the weekend, beating last season’s play-off semi finalists Marlow 1-0 in Buckinghamshire.
As Dan Walkley highlighted in his West Berks review of the weekends action, the Isthmian League’s supporters predicted table had both sides at opposite ends of the table so in that respect this is an upset.
But it seems to have been forgotten that this is a Thatcham side led by Yashwa Romeo who finished the 2022/23 season incredibly strongly.
We guess only time will tell.
Charlie Estcourt off the mark for Reading FC Women
Off the back of the news that new-signing Ava Kuyken was going to miss the season with an ACL injury, Reading went to Lewes on the South Coast and earned a 1-1 draw.
Charlie Estcourt was the scorer for the Royals at their fellow FA Women’s Championship which hopefully bodes well going into the new season.
