For the Hellenic Division One East teams the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup took centre stage this week with Wokingham & Emmbrook playing the first game of the weekend as they travelled to Chinnor on Friday night.
The game was played in high winds and driving rain making it tough for both teams but that did not stop the Sumas who took a deserved lead just before half time when Connor Holland found Jake White to make it 1-0 from 10 yards.
Wokingham doubled their lead mid-way through the second half when the home keeper sent a clearance directly to Elliott Rushforth who looked up and guided the ball home from the half way line. 10 minutes from time substitute Chris Hood made the game safe firing home off the post to make it 3-0.
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On Saturday Woodley United hosted Hellenic League Premier side Windsor at the Rivermoor. After 15 minutes Jake Sobalak gave Windsor the lead with a great strike from outside the box. The Kestrels were level on 30 minutes when Teddy Thomas was set free by Sam Guze, and the striker rounded the keeper to score.
Just before the hour Guze had a penalty saved spectacularly by Sonny Wheeler in the Windsor goal, but Woodley were not to be denied, and a couple of minutes later Thomas latched on to a pass from Toby Briggs for his second goal.
With 15 minutes to go Woodley were down to 10 men as Pele Hagger picked up a second yellow. There was more drama to come as 5 minutes from time Windsor had the ball in the net, but the referee had already given a penalty. Adam Thompson in the Woodley goal saved the resulting spot kick, but the referee adjudged that he had left his line too early.
The kick was retaken, and Adam Kirby scored at the second time of asking. The game finished 2-2 and went straight to penalties where Windsor eventually took the victory with the shootout finishing 7-6 to the visitors.
Holyport faced a tough trip to Loop Meadow in their cup tie, to face a Didcot Town Development side who had a 100% record from 4 games this season.
The home side took the lead within 10 minutes but Port equalised on 20 minutes through Wes Sutherland. The scores remained level until well into the second half when two goals in three minutes turned the game in favour of Holyport, with Josh Lowther and Alan Ackerman getting the goals.
Didcot scored a penalty with 5 minutes left to set up a nervy finish but Holyport held on to win 3-2 and progress to the next round.
Chalvey Sports qualified for the next round in emphatic fashion, beating Abingdon Town 7-1 at Arbour Park. The Stabmonks went ahead through an early penalty from Aydn Christian-Coomber, and Richard Jeffery tapped home from close range to double their lead.
Christian-Coomber got his second direct from a free kick before the Abbots got a goal back from the spot, but 5 minutes before half time Jason Marney restored Chalvey’s 3 goal cushion. Christian-Cooper completed his hat-trick in the second half before an own goal from Abingdon’s keeper and a late John Brennan strike rounded out the scoring.
AFC Aldermaston found themselves 2-0 down at half time in their away tie at Hellenic Division Two side Hazlemere Sports. The Atomics came out stronger after the break and managed to level the game with a goal from Richard Bennett and an own goal making it 2-2. The scores stayed level after 90 minutes, so the game went to penalties with the home side coming out on top, winning the shoot out 4-2 and knocking Aldermaston out in the process.
Another side out at this stage is Wallingford Town as they went down at home to last season’s Division One East champions Burnham, who now play in the Premier Division. Wally were competitive for much of the game but a goal at the end of each half gave Burnham a 2-0 win and saw them through to the next round.
Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Division One
In the Combined Counties Division One Eversley & California continue to search for their first points of the season as they went down 3-0 at Kensington & Ealing Borough. The home side were 2-0 up by the half hour mark but the Boars did not roll over, and they came close to reducing the deficit when Connor Allston connected with a Ross McKernan free kick, sending a powerful header onto the bar.
10 minutes after the break Kensington made the game safe by adding their third goal and, despite their best efforts, Eversley were not able to get on the scoresheet.
Sandhurst Town continued their strong start to their league campaign with a home win over Chessington & Hook. Chessington boasted a 100% record after their first two games, so the Fizzers were expecting a close game, and the first half proved to be just that, with the closest either side came to scoring was when Ash Ledger hit the bar from outside the box.
In the second half it took Sandhurst less than a minute to take the lead when a Luke cox corner was headed in by centre back Sam Green. The game remained tight and there were no further goals as Sandhurst saw out a victory that sees them rise to 3rd in the table.
Combined Counties Division One
Kensington & Ealing Borough 3-0 Eversley & California
Sandhurst Town 1-0 Chessington & Hook
Hellenic League Challenge Cup
Chinnor 0-3 Wokingham & Emmbrook (Friday)
Chalvey Sports 7-1 Abingdon Town
Didcot Town Development 2-3 Holyport
Hazlemere Sports 2-2 AFC Aldermaston (Hazlemere Sports win 4-2 on penalties)
Wallingford Town 0-2 Burnham
Woodley United 2-2 Windsor (Windsor win 6-7 on penalties)