West Berkshire was home to a twelve goal thriller, FA Vase Second Qualifying round action and a whole host of regional football despite the official end of summer weather threatening to cause havoc across the region.
Tadley-Calleva, Wallingford & Crowmarsh and AFC Aldermaston were all vying to progress to the First Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase whilst elsewhere in the region, Newbury, Kintbury Rangers and Lambourn Sports had vital league fixtures in which all three points would have an impact on the standings, even this early into the season. A North Berks League Cup tie was the order for the day in North West Berkshire as Football in Berkshire sponsored Frilsham & Yattendon hosted Letcombe Reserves.
It’s at Bulpit Lane where we start our round up, and coming into this Southern Premier League South fixture with Plymouth Parkway, Danny Robinsons Crusaders had suffered defeat in four consecutive league fixtures, while also being narrowly knocked out of the FA Cup to league companions Winchester City.
Three hundred and six people passed through the turnstiles at Bulpit Lane in anticipation of seeing an upturn in fortunes for The Crusaders and three points to lift them away from the lower echelons of the table. After just two minutes however, it looked as if the bad run would continue as Plymouth Parkway took the lead through Shane Wright, putting all sorts of pressure on Danny Robinsons side to stage an early fight back. And my word did they!
Nine minutes later Hungerford were level thanks to the ever-prolific Ellis Watts before goals from Shepherd, another from Watts and Regula saw the hosts race to an emphatic 4-1 lead inside the opening twenty minutes, stunning their opponents. Ellis Watts had the bit between his teeth and earned himself the match ball with five minutes until the break after converting yet another Jacob Bancroft assist.
Plymouth Parkway pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time to give themselves the slightest of chances of a dramatic second-half comeback.
The Crusaders marched on after the break with Dawid Regula netting his second of the afternoon within the opening fve minutes of the second half, extending their lead back to three. Parkway came back at Hungerford again and scored their third just three minutes after Regula’s brace, thanks to Dylan Jones’ strike but Hungerford would return to punish the Devonshire side sitting second bottom of the table.
Jarra, Akers and Medford-Smith really put their opponents to the sword as Danny Robinsons Hungerford Town raised eyebrows across the non-league world with the emphatic scoreline.
Speaking to The Southern League, Jacob Bancroft said: “I’ve never been involved in a game like that before. To go a goal down within the opening couple of minutes but then hit back and score nine, it’s something that will live long in my memory.
“It was an absolutely crazy game of football, which had to be seen to be believed. I was happy to get a hat-trick of assists for the same player, which also added to the craziness of it all.”
The FA Vase entered it’s final qualifying round with three of our West Berkshire sides setting their sights on the first round proper.
- Alex Miller was one of only nine players to score a hat-trick in the FA Vase Second Qualifying round as Tadley-Calleva secured a 1-5 victory away to Western Premier League Division One side Bristol Telephones. The Romans enter the first round proper of the Isuzu FA Vase for the third consecutive year where they have been awarded a home tie against Ivybridge Town.
- An all Berkshire tie saw west versus east as Wallingford & Crowmarsh hosted Sandhurst Town at Wallingford Sports Park. Two goals a minute eachside of half time from Aiden Higgs was enough to see the hosts progress into the first round where they face a tricky away tie to Erith & Belvedere.
- AFC Aldermaston were looking to reach the first round proper for the first time in their history when they welcomed Bradford Town to the Mettal Stadium. Unfortunately for The Atoms, their visitors proved too strong on the day and Richardson’s side fell to a 1-3 defeat.
Kintbury Rangers, Newbury and Lambourn Sports were all in regional league action with contrasting results.
- Kintbury Rangers continued their unbeaten run, and charge for promotion with a slender 0-1 win away at National League South Salisbury’s development squad. Kyle Williams notched his ninth of the campaign to bring The Gers their tenth victory in eleven games, leaving Kintbury eight points clear at the top of the table.
- Following player availability issues last time out, pointless Newbury travelled to fellow Thames Valley Premier league strugglers Reading City Under 23’s where the bottom two sides played out a goalless draw, earning them their first points of the season and a foundation to build on.
- Lambourn Sports had an afternoon to forget when they welcomed Devizes Town Reserves in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Division One. A first half hat-trick and another before full time from Devizes’ Jordan Anning sees Lambourn remain fourth in the standings.
Finally, it was league cup weekend for those competing in the North Berks Football League where Frilsham & Yattendon progressed convincingly.
- Frilsham and Yattendon welcomed Letcombe Reserves to Coach Hill where they ran out 5-0 winners to progress to the third round of the North Berks League Cup. The win brings their second in three games, after their season starting at the beginning of September.
