The international break doesn’t stop an action packed Saturday for West Berkshire football this weekend. With league, Isuzu FA Trophy and Berks & Bucks Cup action to choose from, there is no shortage of entertainment.
FA Trophy: Thatcham Town vs Bristol Manor Farm
Thatcham Town wrote themselves into the history books with their win at Wembley back in 2018 when they secured Buildbase FA Vase success, and their journey back to the home of English football begins when they welcome Bristol Manor Farm to the Mettal UK Stadium in the Isuzu FA Trophy.
Manor Farm – Kingfisher fans will remember – ended the Blues Vase campaign the season before they won it with a 4-1 win at the Creek in 2016.
Yashwa Romeo’s Kingfishers are now two without a win after handing Badshot Lea their first points of the season last time out and will welcome a break to league action to focus on putting together a cup run in this competition. The visitors to West Berkshire, Bristol Manor Farm, currently sit sixteenth in the Southern League Division One South, picking up just three points from a possible fifteen. A seven goal thriller against top of the table Mousehole in the week saw Bristol fall to a narrow defeat, one in which they will take confidence from as they travel up the M4.
Southern League: Gosport Borough vs Hungerford Town
Hungerford Town will enter the Isuzu FA Trophy at a later stage, so it’s a return to league action this weekend after seeing off Petersfield FC from the Wessex Premier League 4-0 in the FA Cup last weekend. The Crusaders have struggled to find league form with just two wins out of five, and saw Didcot Town earn their first point of the season at Bulpit Lane in their last league fixture.
Danny Robinsons side face a very tricky afternoon on paper thanks to their hosts, Gosport Borough, boasting a 100% league record after the opening five games sitting third in the league standings. Hungerford will be hoping to come back to the Royal County with points on the board come five o’clock on Saturday afternoon, points which will make a statement to the rest of the league that the Berkshire side still mean business this season.
Combined Counties League: Redhill vs Tadley-Calleva
Tadley-Calleva have had an up & down start to the new season with two wins and a defeat in the league, alongside a loss in the Senior County Cup. A turn in fortune seems to be in the offing after wins against both Jersey Bulls and Cobham FC at Barlows Park. Tadders face a big task however as they travel to Surrey to face Redhill, a club in the ascendency & arguably the closest challengers to pre-season favourites for the league, Farnham Town.
Wessex League: Alresford Town vs AFC Aldermaston
AFC Aldermaston also face tough opponents in Alresford Town, who after being relegated to Wessex Division One last season have rebuilt well and look to be on course for an immediate bounce back to step 5.
County Cup: Kintbury Rangers vs Letcombe
Kintbury Rangers welcome Hellenic Division Two Central league leaders, Letcombe, to Berkshire on Saturday 9th in the Berks and Bucks Charles Twelftree Trophy. The visitors come into the fixture unbeaten, but Danny Langford’s side are full of confidence and will be hoping to progress into the latter stages of the competition.
Thames Valley Premier League: Newbury FC vs Burghfield Under 23
A Jacob Wallace hattrick saw Newbury edge past Binfield Under 23’s in their season opener and they will be looking to take another fellow Berkshire side to the cleaners as they face Burghfield Reserves at Henwick Playing Fields.
