Bracknell Town face a goalkeeping dilemma (again)
It’ll be straight back on the phones this week for Bracknell Town’s management duo Carl Withers and Jamie McClurg as they look to recruit their fourth glovesman of the season.
With Michael Eacott and Simon Grant currently sidelined, the pair brought in Dante Baptiste (pictured – photo by John Leakey) on a month’s loan from Wealdstone – but a goal down at Plymouth Parkway with defender Sean Fraser already sent off, the Robins were reduced to nine men.
Tweeting the game, the Robins account wrote: “Unfortunately it doesn’t look good here as Baptiste is having the be stretchered off. I hope that it isn’t as serious as it looks. Unsure who will be coming on to go in goal here as we will be down to 9 men as we have used all of our subs.”
It later turned out the new ‘keeper had dislocated his shoulder with Joe Grant taking over. Grant kept the score at 1-0.
We’d like to wish Dante a speedy recovery from his injury.
This article appeared first in the Football in Berkshire Monday newsletter. To get your regular dose of Berkshire football news and stories in your inbox, click here to subscribe.
Ascot United take spoils in SRWFL derby
The Yellas took the points in the Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division derby as they beat Woodley United 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Racecourse Ground.
Both sides had players sent off, Isabel Woods for Ascot and Gemma Sims for Woodley after a coming together but it was Philippa Holden and Sarah Leonard who did the early damage with Sajunae Turner scoring a late consolation.
Ascot remain top of the division with 22 points from nine games while Woodley stay in a strong position in third with two games in hand and 13 points from seven games in their first season back at the level.
Sunday League Bragging rights to Reading
In one of those brilliant cross-competition games, the team at the top of the Reading & District Sunday League played the reigning champions of the Bracknell & District Sunday League in the County Cup.On this occasion, it was the ‘star-studded’ Give Back FC who triumphed 2-1 over the equally familiar Bracknell Rangers line-up to progress.
Give Back included the likes of Richard Witt and Brandon Curtis while Rangers could call on George Lock among others.
Bumper crowd at Windsor & Eton for Armed Forces Day
Another top crowd at Stag Meadow on Saturday as the Royalists welcomed 361 to witness a 4-0 win over Maidenhead Town.
Fiifi Carter (pen), Jatinder Liddar and Shaquille and Jemel Johnson were on the scoresheet for Windsor with the younger Johnson winning the man of the match award.
While the first team game may not have lived up to expectations for Town, the club’s reserve side hit 500 goals with James Tann scoring in a 3-0 win over Hambleden at Bisham Abbey.
‘Have you paid mate?’ – an unusual visitor to Binfield
Every so often you’ll be able to spot the Virgin hot air balloon across the Berkshire skies – but at the weekend there was definitely some ticketless viewing of Binfield’s home Isthmian League tie with Leatherhead.
Daisy Spiers caught a great picture of the balloon in the sky above the ground – but any spectators would have seen the Moles beaten 2-0 by promotion hopefuls Leatherhead.
Slough Town’s home form bearing fruit
The Rebels certainly haven’t suffered any sort of FA Cup hangover. Goals from Johnny Goddard, Nathan Minhas and Mickel Platt in a 3-0 win over Braintree Town ensured it was seven wins and three draws from the last 10 games at Arbour Park.
With Scott Davies recently celebrating a year in the player/manager job, the Rebels are making up ground on the teams above them in the Vanarama National League South after their impressive FA Cup run and continued involvement in the FA Trophy.
Mackenzie Creech – remember the name
Woodley United may have lost Sid Gbla to Berks County this week – but they were able to give a debut to youngster Mackenzie Creech in the Combined Counties League Division One win over Bedfont.
Creech has impressed in the Kestrels development team with manager Jordan Blake saying: “Delighted to continue to show we have a connection across all teams from Under 18s to Development Team and First team! Congratulations Macka mate you deserve it and can’t wait for you to make more appearances for the first team.”
Now – you might be thinking ‘Creech, that name is familiar?!’ And you’d be right. Mackenzie is the son of former Bracknell Town and Reading City manager Rob who formed a management duo with Andy Findlay at both clubs.
