The first month and a half of the Allied Counties Youth Football League has been packed with matches for our Berkshire sides. County Cups, the league and obviously the FA Youth Cup. Here Dan Walkley rounds up the action from across Berkshire.
Starting at the Stac-A-Truc Stadium and Thatcham Town who have had a mixed start to the season. An unbeaten three games in September has been followed by three defeats from three during October.
A heavy 5-2 Berks & Bucks Cup defeat at the hands of Wokingham & Embrook and two home defeats in the league to Aldershot Town and Farnham Town respectively leaves the Kingfishers searching for their first 3 points of the season.
Next up for Thatcham Town is Fleet Spurs at home in the league who they defeated 6-0 in the FA Youth Cup thanks to four goals from Jacob Wallace.
In the competitions East division at Stag Meadow, Windsor’s U18’s were unlucky not to progress in the FA Youth Cup to start the season as they bowed out to Balham after a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Windsor have only played three games since that FA Youth Cup night due to various postponements and a Home Walkover in the Berks & Bucks County Cup. The three games that have gone ahead have resulted in one draw and one loss in the league with a 2-1 win in the League Cup away at Flackwell Heath to give some confidence to the young side.
Next up for Windsor is a home fixture to Beaconsfield Town who are yet to start their league campaign.
The North division takes us to both Arbour Park and the 1878 Stadium with Slough Town and Burnham. Burnham have not seen much action this season with only 2 games being played and a host of postponements. In the 2 games they have played, a brace from Abingdon substitute Ellis Walker was enough to see Burnham crash out of the League Cup at the first stage, while a 1-8 defeat to Tring Athletic in the league was not the start they were expecting.
Slough Town on the other hand have had a packed schedule playing no fewer than six games in all competitions and a fixture being played at the time of this article. Their fortunes have been mixed however with two wins but four losses. One of these defeats came at the hands of Berkshire rivals Maidenhead United in the FA Youth Cup. A 2-1 win at home to Rayners Lane sees Slough Town progress in the League Cup.
The Allied Counties Central division is where the majority of our Berkshire-based sides will be competing this season with Ascot United, Binfield FC, Eversley & California and Wokingham & Embrook all being represented.
There have been mixed fortunes in the league for the four Berkshire sides with Wokingham & Embrook showing their strength by winning their opening two fixtures. They have also progressed in the Berks & Bucks and the league cup. Unfortunately, it was the lottery of a penalty shootout which saw them eliminated from the FA Youth Cup against Ardley United.
Ascot United started the season well with two consecutive victories, one coming in the league while the other, an FA Youth Cup win at home to Abingdon United. Unfortunately, the Yellamen were beaten by fellow Allied Counties Central Division side Camberley Town in the FA Youth Cup at The Racecourse Ground. They are also out of the league cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Harefield United from the North Division.
Wokingham & Embrook will host Ascot United on Thursday 13th October in what should be a fantastic occasion.
Following a fantastic 2-1 FA Youth Cup win at home to Basingstoke Town, Binfield FC have not been able to hit the form their potential would suggest. 3 consecutive defeats and a draw to fellow Berkshire side Eversley & California has seen the Moles bow out of the FA Youth Cup & still looking for those all-important 3 points in the league.
Eversely & California have struggled to get a foothold in the league during these early stages with their only point coming as above against Binfield FC. With 3 defeats to go with the draw, Eversley manager Max Scott will be looking to keep his team plugging away and working together to grow as both individuals and a squad, something that is pivotal to his vision for his newly formed squad.
Upcoming Allied Counties Youth League fixtures
- Thatcham Town vs Fleet Spurs – 17/10/22 – Stac-A-Truc Stadium
- Windsor FC vs Beaconsfield Town – 17/10/22 – Stag Meadow
- Burnham vs Flackwell Heath – 17/10/22 – The 1878 Stadium
- Holmer Green vs Slough Town – 20/10/22 – Holmer Green Sports Association
- Wokingham & Embrook vs Ascot United – 13/10/22 – Embrook Sports & Social Club
- Binfield FC vs Godalming Town – 13/10/22 – Binfield Football Club
- Westfield vs Eversley & California – 17/10/22 – Woking Park
