Berkshire’s Combined Counties League sides Berks County, Holyport and Windsor & Eton all made progress over the weekend’s FA Vase Second Qualifying Round fixtures.
11 sides under the Football in Berkshire umbrella went into the round hoping to be in the hat for the FA Vase First Round Proper draw on Monday – and those three sides along with Tadley Calleva, Yateley United, Virginia Water and Wallingford & Crowmarsh all made it through.
Scroll down for the First Round draw for Berkshire.
Berks County had to wait to secure their passage on Sunday after Connor Suckling gave the Swords a 1-0 first half lead at home to Brislington. Suckling got his second on 82 and George Armstrong made it safe in the 84th minute at the Racecourse Ground.
Lynford Sackey got two for Holyport in their 4-1 win at Crawley Green. Port also saw Jake Beck-Nardoni and captain Luke Appleton among the goals in Sussex.
Windsor & Eton meanwhile show no signs of slowing down. The early Combined Counties League Division One table-toppers dispatched Easington Sports 3-0 at Stag Meadow with goals from Pawel Pawel Kowallkowski (2) and Oliwier Bach.
Tadley Calleva went through with a thumping 5-1 win at Bristol Telephones. With all the goals the Romans have scored recently you do worry they may use them all up before the half way point of the season. Anyway, Alex Miller hit a hat-trick while Harvey Collins and Kieran Rodgers made it safe late on after the home side had opened the scoring on four minutes.
Virginia Water also go through – dark horses for a run this year you wonder? Adrin Tajik got the only goal of the game as they beat Winslow United 1-0 at Arbour Park.
Dropping out
Sandhurst Town went out with a 2-0 defeat on the road to Wallingford & Crowmarsh. Aiden Higgs scored twice for Wallingford in first-half injury time, then again in the first minute of the second-half.
Reading City are also out, losing 4-1 on a hefty away day at Fairford Town. Ewan Lynch got Reading’s goal, an 87th minute penalty. After the defeat, manager Simon Johnson said: “Mistakes galore and duly punished. Huge thank you to the fans who travelled across to watch. Well as ever, go again.”
AFC Aldermaston were beaten 3-1 at home by Bradford Town, while Eversley & California were beaten 2-0 in a derby game by neighbours Yateley United.
2024/25 Isuzu FA Vase First Round draw for Berkshire
The draw for the First Round Proper of the 2024/25 Isuzu FA Vase was released at 1pm on Monday.
- Epsom & Ewell v Berks County
- Erith & Belvedere v Wallingford & Crowmarsh
- Spelthorne Sports v Holyport
- Tadley Calleva v Ivybridge Town
- Whitstable Town v Virginia Water
- Windsor & Eton v Brook House
- Yateley United v Bearsted
Ties to be played on the weekend of Saturday 19th October 2024.
