Reading City and Berks County did the Combined Counties League Premier Division North survival chances no harm with wins earnt from defensive solidity.
Cityzens boss Simon Johnson spoke to Dave Wright this week for Football in Berkshire and suggested there’d be plenty of ups and downs before the end of the season as his side find themselves at the wrong end of the table.
Ellis Cowd ensured the run-in definitely started on an up as he opened the scoring against Ardley United after just five minutes, and 20 minutes it was 2-0 thanks to Josh Baines in front of a good crowd in the sunshine at The Rivermoor.
Charlie York in the Reading goal was rarely bothered by their Oxfordshire visitors who had had an outside chance of hitting the play-offs, but he was beaten in the 35th minute when Jimmy Casbieri beat him to the ball but Cowd put the game to bed after the break with his second of the game on 56 minutes.
The result puts Johnson’s side four points clear of the bottom two with a game in hand.
Swords shut out Sports
Frustratingly for the Cityzens, and fellow relegation battlers Berks County, both bottom sides Wembley and Edgware & Kingsbury won on the road with Edgware in particular looking good for a great escape having now won three in a row.
County were impressive 1-0 winners at home to play-off chasing Bedfont Sports who lie in third. Connor Suckling scored the only goal of the game after 19 minutes with goalkeeper Harvey Rackley-Hayes starring with a clean sheet and penalty save on 52 minutes.
Elsewhere, Wokingham Town took a point at Broadfields United in injury time (90+5) courtesy of Mikey O’Connor’s second goal of the game. O’Connor opened the scoring before the home side took the lead with a quick-fire double on the hour.
Virginia Water and Burnham’s play-off chances might just have bitten the dust after both were beaten on the road. Waters lost 3-1 at Edgware & Kingsbury while Burnham were beaten 2-1 at Harefield United.
In the Premier Division South, Tadley Calleva marked a return to form with a 2-0 win at home to Abbey Rangers, Ash Neal and Samuel Tesfu on the scoresheet for the Romans.
Combined Counties League Division One
In Division One, braces for Ashley Howes and Pawel Kowallkowski gave champions elect Windsor & Eton a 4-1 win at Molesey while Yateley United lost 4-3 at home to Rising Ballers Kensington and Windsor were beaten 3-1 at Westside.
Langley drew 1-1 at Holmers Green while Eversley & California drew 1-1 at home to Penn & Tylers Green.
