Our Step 1 to 4 sides began their league campaigns on Saturday full of optimism and vigour. Sadly for some of our clubs it didn’t go according to plan.
In the National League Maidenhead United were downed by the Spitfires at York Road. Two goals in the first half, one an own goal, were enough to secure Eastleigh a 2-0 victory.
Slough Town continued their great end-of-last-season form with a 2-1 win over Chelmsford City. The Rebels had gone in at half-time a goal down, but two second-half goals from Slavi Spasov mean that Slough are now 24 games unbeaten at “fortress” Arbour Park.
Spasov was named in the Vanarama National League South team of the week at the weekend along with former Rebels defender Temi Eweka and ex-Hungerford Town striker Craig Fasanmade.
Bracknell Town started their new era with a goalless draw at Bottom Meadow with Poole Town. Micheal Eacott was (yet again) one of the Robins top performers with a great performance in goal. Bracknell make their first away trip of the season to Hanwell Town on Tuesday evening where they will come up against an attacking duo of ex-Robin Kameron English and former Slough Town striker Elliot Benyon.
Despite going 1-0 up at Ardley United it was a difficult afternoon for Berks County who eventually conceded seven on the road. County manager Ellis Woods described it as “Not acceptable nor dismissible”. Thankfully for the Ascot-based club, the quick turnaround of games means they have a chance to earn their first points of the season as they host Holyport at the Racecourse on Tuesday. Reading City also had a tough afternoon at North Greenford United losing 4-1 while Burnham lost 3-2 at Wembley.
Wokingham Town travelled to Buckinghamshire and were soundly beaten by Amersham Town 4-0 where non-league goal-scoring sensation Jake Tabor was amongst the goals. There was better news for our other Step 5 clubs as Virginia Water won 4-1 at Hilltop while Holyport were 1-0 victors over Edgware & Kingsbury.
In Combined Counties Division One Windsor were 5-2 winners at Deportivo Galicia while at Stag Meadow Windsor & Eton won 2-1 against PFC Victoria. Eversley & California, Woodley United and Yatelely United all lost. Langley won back a small bit of Berkshire pride with a 1-0 victory over Oxhey Jets.
The Combined Counties have very wisely packed the early season fixture list with a remarkable number of fixtures early on with clubs playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday for much of August and September. The stand-out fixtures from a Berkshire point of view are Berks County hosting Holyport, Tadley Calleva welcoming Sandhurst Town to Barlows Park and Woodley United hosting Eversley & California.
