West Berkshire was back in action this midweek with both Hungerford Town and Thatcham Town looking to avenge opening-day defeats while AFC Aldermaston were looking to build on a fantastic win last time out. Tadley Calleva were also on the hunt for three points after opening their account with a score draw in their league league opener.
The Crusaders welcomed a well-fancied Gosport Borough side to Bulpitt Lane in a mission of redemption after suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of newly promoted Chertsey Town on the opening day of the Southern League Premier South season.
Following defeat to Chertsey, manager Danny Robinson made it clear in his post-match interview that the first forty-five minutes are ‘the worst he’d seen in his Hungerford career’ and that the mentality of his players has to be stronger.
Off the back of the humbling defeat to the newly promoted side, Danny Robinson made five changes to the starting eleven to face the side who were defeated in last season’s play-off semi-finals by eventual winners, Salisbury.
Hungerford started bright and within the opening ten minutes James Dobson was causing the away side problems with his crosses into the box, while a penalty shout was strongly waved away by the referee after James Harding was felled in the area.
The deadlock was broken just inside the half-hour mark when McGrory capitalised on a defensive error and struck the ball low into the far corner, leaving the opposition goalkeeper helpless in his efforts to deny the goal. From here the floodgates opened and those inside Bulpitt Lane saw another three goals before half time.
Just two minutes after McGrory opened the scoring, Ellis Watt’s superb strike doubled Hungerford’s lead before Gosport Borough halved the deficit just a minute after Watts’ goal through Asher Yearwood.
Hungerford Town stalwart Matt Berry-Hargreaves extended his side’s lead just before half time after a failed clearance attempt from a corner fell to him inside the box.
The 331 spectators who turned out on a mild Tuesday evening were treated to a further three goals in the second half as the West Berkshire side continued to assert their dominance and press to kill the game off.
James Dobson increased the gap to three when he finished off a defence-splitting pass from Ellis Watt before substitute Zidane Ackers got his sides fifth of the evening after coming off the bench for the final half an hour.
The visitors did pull one goal back minutes before the final whistle, but it was too little too late as The Crusaders ran out convincing winners, in stark contrast to their league opener.
They now look forward to the visit of Taunton Town at the weekend.
West Berkshire Headlines
Thatcham Town were back at the Mettal stadium, and following defeat on the road in their league opener were eager to record three points. Their defeat to Exmouth on the opening day would give The Kingfishers an early experience of the challenges that lie up ahead with the increase in travel, but if they could use this to their advantage when playing at home, especially midweek, then there is a shared optimism that they will record another good season. Last season’s Wessex Premier League play-off winners were the visitors to West Berkshire following a draw against Malvern Town on the opening day but they were to travel back to Wilshere empty-handed thanks to a single goal. An early twelfth minute volley from Oli Bourne proved to be the difference as Thatcham held on for all three points.
Tadley Calleva also recorded their first maximum of the season when they welcomed Sandhurst Town to Barlows Park. Joe Lawler’s side came through a tough opening fixture at home to Alton FC to earn a draw, knowing that home form would prove pivotal come the end of the season. The Romans raced to an early two-goal lead within half hour before a stunning strike from their visitors reduced the deficit before half time. Tadley saw their lead disappear following a counter-attack but with twenty minutes to play defender Joe Cummuskey popped up at the far post to slot home the eventual winning goal.
There is a newfound confidence in the air at AFC Aldermaston as a summer of strengthening the squad saw The Atoms record a fantastic 4-1 victory over Folland Sports following a narrow opening-day defeat to promotion hopefuls Alresford Town. It was league cup action however in midweek and a visit to Wessex Premier League side Downton FC where a single 65th minute wonder goal proved the difference, seeing Aldermaston bow out of the cup, but with their heads high.
