The opening month of the 2024/25 season has been one of varied success for our West Berkshire clubs, with some emphatic victories, some hard-fought draws and defeats that will need to be put to the back of the minds as we progress through the season.
We’ve had FA Cup triumphs and defeats, alongside both the FA Trophy and FA Vase competitions getting underway, with the dream of following Thatcham Town, Binfield and Ascot United down Wembley Way in May.
One West Berkshire side that remains unbeaten in the league however is Tadley Calleva, and following defeat in the extra preliminary stage of this season’s FA Cup, The Romans have not lost since, picking up 10 points from a possible 12 in the league and comfortably progressing in the FA Vase. Their latest test came in the way of Balham FC who they have shared battles with throughout the previous three seasons, with two draws and a victory each in the head-to-head.
Joe Lawler’s side came into the weekend fixture off the back of a convincing win, and performance to match, when Guilford City visited Barlows Park on Bank Holiday Monday.
It was the away side who struck first in front of the 61 spectators on the West Berkshire border to stun The Romans. With Tadley’s clear plan of building from the back identified, Balham started to press higher in an attempt to put the host’s backline under pressure. After just eleven minutes the pressure applied paid off as a loose ball across the heart of defence was easily cut out by Oldland who had a clear route to goal, the forward drove towards goal and slotted the ball home past Craig Atkinson.
Tadley could consider themselves extremely lucky not to go further behind after Balham hit the bar shortly after the goal, with Atkinson also making some superb efforts to keep the South London side at bay.
With little under fifteen minutes remaining of the first half, and Tadley really looking unlikely to get back into the game, Jack French placed down the ball for a free kick on the edge of the box. He struck past the wall and left the goalkeeper helpless, The Romans were back in the game thanks to yet another moment of brilliance from French.
Balham came back and but for Atkinson and the woodwork once more could have gone back in front. No less than a minute after the post came to Tadley’s rescue, they went ahead through Connor Thorne who was on hand to tap home after tenacious play from Kieran Rodgers.
If the first half was well below par, the second was not for Lawler’s Tadley. They came out looking a new team, with confidence, with desire and intent on picking up another three points.
Alex Miller extended The Romans lead just ten minutes after the restart with a great team goal. Sheldon Wright shifted the ball from right to left via Kieran Rodgers who spotted the run of Alex Miller down the right-hand-side for a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Tadley controlled the remainder of the half from there on in and arguably should have increased their goal difference.
Four consecutive wins now for Tadley-Calleva as they embark on a September which sees them away from home six games on the bounce, including a Hampshire Cup and an FA Vase fixture.
West Berkshire Headlines
Hungerford Town progressed through to the second qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup with a win over Yate Town. A goal after just fify-five seconds courtesy of Jacob Bancroft was enough to put the Crusaders into the hat for the draw for the next round where they now know they will travel to league rivals, Winchester City.
Wallingford & Crowmarsh were handed one of the ties of the first qualifying round of the FA Cup when they visited Havant & Waterlooville, now of the Pitching In Southern League Premier South, but once famously visiting Anfield after reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup back in 2007/08. Unfortuantely for Wallingford & Crowmarsh, their hosts proved too much for the Step 5 side and ran out 3-0 winners.
AFC Aldermaston continue to impress in the Sydenhams Wessex League Division One as they blew away Amesbury Town at Thatcham Towns Mettal Stadium. Goals from Nick Parfitt-Bowers, Thai Morgan, Simeon Weekes, Jacob Wallace and a brace from Samir Baral enthused the sixty-five in attendance, and with progress being made both on and off the field, The Atoms could be one to watch this season. Aldermaston are just five points off top wiht two games in hand.
A sole Jesse Bowers goal early in the second half saw Kintbury Rangers extend their unbeaten league run to seven which sees them sitting second in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, two points off top with a game in hand.
In the Thames Valley Premier division, both Newbury and Tadley Calleva Reserves fell to their second defeat in as many games following promotion to Step 7 last season. Newbury travelled to Burghfield where they were defeated narrowly by the hosts by two goals to one, whereas Tadley-Calleva Reserves were beaten 2-0 by Reading YMCA at The Cauldron
