With the Hellenic Division One East entering the final run in to the end of the season, there were three games involving local clubs that influenced the positioning in the top half of the table this weekend.
First, at Larges Lane Wokingham & Emmbrook earned bragging rights for the week as they beat Woodley United in a Berkshire derby. The home side started strongly, having several early chances before taking the lead on 15 minutes when Josh Harris broke through the Woodley defence with a solo run and smashed a shot into the roof of the net.
On 34 minutes the Kestrels afternoon got even tougher when Pablo Fernandez was shown a straight red card, and it only took a few minutes for the Sumas to make the man advantage count, as Harris played in Ellis Day who slotted home to make it 2-0.
In the second half Wokingham remained on top but Woodley did have their spells of pressure, but with 10 minutes to go the home side secured the points when a good passing move saw Aaron Rowland set up Harris for his second and his sides third.
With 3 minutes of normal time remaining Woodley got on the scoresheet when a Chace Jewell corner was headed home by Leon Mannion, but it was no more than a consolation and Wokingham held out for a win that saw them climb to 3rd in the table.
The team directly above Wokingham & Emmbrook in the table are AFC Aldermaston, and they kept up their recent good form with a resounding 5-0 win at home to Abingdon Town.
It only took 5 minutes for Sid Gbla to give the Atomics the lead, and a goal from Lemar Maycock and a second for Gbla made it 3-0 at the break. On the hour mark Gbla completed his hat-trick, a goal that was his 10th in the last 3 games, and Josh Blackwood rounded out the scoring with a strike 10 minutes from time.
With league leaders Burnham only managing a draw at Milton United, Aldermaston close the gap at the top to 7 points with a game in hand. Burnham are still firmly in the driving seat in the title race, but they will have one eye over their shoulder at the chasing pack.
Holyport made the most of the teams above them not being involved in league action by registering a win at Chalvey Sports. An Adam Sharp header 10 minutes into the second half was enough for Port to secure all three points despite the hosts piling on the pressure and hitting the bar in search for an equaliser.
The win sees Holyport climb from 9th to 5th in the table and keep their slim hopes of promotion alive.
‘Lucky’ Luke
In the Combined Counties Division One Sandhurst Town recorded their first away win since the beginning of December when they beat British Airways at the Orchard.
The Fizzers took the lead in the 12th minute when a shot saved by the home keeper fell kindly to Haydon Richardson who drilled the ball home. BA struck back on 23 minutes to equalise before taking the lead on 30 minutes when a corner took a deflection off Luke Burrows and flew into the top corner.
Sandhurst were level before half time when Richardson outmuscled a BA defender and poked the ball past the onrushing keeper for his, and his side’s, second goal.
Eight minutes into the second half Richardson turned provider when he flicked on a long ball for Callum Samuel to finish and give Sandhurst the lead, and the points were secured 5 minutes from time when a penalty was converted by Paddy Gardener to make the final score 4-2.
At the Hithercroft two first half goals were enough for Wallingford Town to progress to the quarter finals of the Supplementary Cup at the expense of Hellenic Division Two West side Highworth Town Reserves.
A strike from the league’s top scorer Charlie Silkstone and a second from Luis Le Paih gave Wally a 2-0 win and set up and away tie at Hellenic Premier side Flackwell Heath in the next round.
Combined Counties League Division One
British Airways 2-4 Sandhurst Town
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Hellenic League Division One East
AFC Aldermaston 5-0 Abingdon Town
Chalvey Sports 0-1 Holyport
Wokingham & Emmbrook 3-1 Woodley United
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Bluefin Sports Supplementary Cup
Wallingford Town 2-0 Highworth Town Reserves
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