All to play for: What’s left for the Berkshire clubs in 2018/19

Bracknell Town physio Liam Day. Photo: Neil Graham.
Bracknell Town physio Liam Day. Photo: Neil Graham.

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The 2018/19 season is fast drawing to a close but there is still plenty to play for in terms of promotion and relegation and cup finals to come.

So whether it’s Bracknell Town’s play off bid, Hungerford Town’s attempt to avoid relegation of Ascot United and Windsor facing off in the Bluefin Sport Hellenic League Challenge Cup Final, here’s a run down of what you need to know for the remaining weeks of the 2018/19 non league season.

We’ve gone for an A-Z run down, and it’s a long old list!

AFC Aldermaston

The Atom Men look set for a runners up spot in the Hellenic League Division One East and will be in the mix for promotion to step five, albeit their points per game ratio took a hit when they were beaten at home by Wokingham & Emmbrook in the last league fixture.

Since then, they’ve had a league fixture at Chalvey Sports abandoned due to a serious injury and awarded a walkover to the semi finals of the Reading Senior Cup.

The Chalvey game will be rearranged but it seems likely the current final game of the season at Thame Rangers will decide who finished the season in the runners up spot.

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Ascot United

Chris Ellis celebrates. Photo: Rob Mack/Shooting Stars.
Chris Ellis celebrates. Photo: Rob Mack/Shooting Stars.

The Yellamen have had an excellent season in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division and had been in the mix at the top of the table for much of the season after beating the drop last time and have one league game left.

Jamie Tompkins side have a Challenge Cup Final against Windsor on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May.

Berks County

The Swords currently occupy fifth and with two games left that would mark a big improvement for Lee Simpson’s Thames Valley Premier League side.

Their last chance for silverware ended last week though as they were beaten by Mortimer in the Berkshire Trophy Centre Senior Cup semi final on Wednesday night.

Binfield

Jack Thompson-Wheeler. Photo: Neil Graham.
Jack Thompson-Wheeler. Photo: Neil Graham.

The Moles have never finished outside the top eight in the Hellenic Premier since they were first promoted in 2009 and should continue that run this season.

Roger Herridge’s side are in 10th on 46 points and have three games left to overhaul Holmer Green (48 points) and Royal Wootton Bassett Town (49 points) who have both completed their seasons.

They have three games left at home to Fairford Town and Shrivenham (who have had an excellent season themselves) and a final away day to Longlevens.

Binfield also have the small matter of defending their Perpetua Press Floodlit Cup title on Tuesday night against Ardley United at Fairford Town.

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Bracknell Town

Bracknell Town centre back Matty Day. Photo: Neil Graham.
Bracknell Town centre back Matty Day. Photo: Neil Graham.

In reality, the Robins superior goal difference means a point at Egham Town on Tuesday night should be enough to confirm a Bostik League South Central Division play off place but three points would mathematically confirm it with four to play.

Hayes & Yeading United were crowned champions on Saturday so the runners up spot is the Robins aim and (we assume) home advantage in the play offs which could currently be against any side from third to tenth.

Chalvey Sports

A first season at step 6 for the Stabmonks who came in to Division 1 East as double Division 2 East champions and they look set for a mid table finish this time around.

Eversley & California

Connor Allston. Photo: Richard Milam.
Connor Allston. Photo: Richard Milam.

The Boars avoided last place in the Combined Counties League Division One on Saturday with a 5-2 win at bottom side Cove.

It remains to be seen if there will be any relegation with the division running two teams light this season but positive results in their final two games could see them up to 15th with a rebuilding job in the summer at Fox Lane.

Holyport

Holyport's Fabian Driffill. Photo: Richard Tyrell.
Holyport’s Fabian Driffill. Photo: Richard Tyrell.

The Summerleaze village side are on course to equal or better their best Division One East finish of fifth since dropping down to step 6 in 2015.

Experienced boss Derek Sweetman has built an impressive side who we suspect could well challenge next season. Finishing strongly in their final three league games will be important and they could still pick up some silverware with their next fixture a Subsidiary Cup semi final at home to Burnham on Tuesday night.

Either Easington Sports or Malmesbury Victoria await in the final.

Hungerford Town

Ian Herring. Photo: Phil Cannings.
Ian Herring. Photo: Phil Cannings.

It’s squeaky-bum time for the Crusaders who despite defeat to Slough on Saturday, have given themselves a fighting chance of survival with an impressive unbeaten run – until the weekend.

Ian Herring’s side are a point clear of the drop zone and three short of the 40 our West Berkshire correspondent Matt Smith thinks they will need to avoid the drop.

It’s not a straightforward run in either with games against top-of-the-table Torquay United and fifth placed Bath City. The best chance for points will arguably be against either Dulwich Hamlet or East Thurrrock United – the latter who are in the relegation zone.

Maidenhead United

At one point this season things looked bleak for the Magpies in their second season in the Vanarama National League with some heavy defeats in a six game losing streak during October, including a 7-0 defeat by relegation threatened Havant & Waterlooville.

Results picked up though following the televised FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth on 10th November and now one more will mathematically guarantee what already looks very likely, another season at the top of the English Football Pyramid.

Braintree Town and Maidstone United are already down with Havant and Aldershot Town the sides likely to follow.

The Magpies have had a bit of national media coverage recently with several players featuring on international duty for Montserrat – something picked up in an article on The Guardian website.

Newbury

Newbury are already champions of the Thames Valley Premier League Division One with four games to spare having lost only once in the league all season.

The club should return to step 7 and are we beleive on the way to finding a new permanent home in the West Berkshire town after being forced out of Faraday Road.

Reading City

Reading City manager Simon Johnson. Photo: Neil Graham.
Reading City manager Simon Johnson. Photo: Neil Graham.

It’s all about retaining step 5 status for City who are 18th of 19 teams in the Hellenic Premier.

It’s been a season of change on and off the pitch for Simon Johnson’s side after they were renamed from Highmoor IBIS in the summer and they have two games home and away against Longlevens to stay in the division.

City are level on points with bottom side Abingdon United but have a game in hand. It’s unknown at this stage how many teams will be relegated but as the league is already one team short it’s fair to speculate the team finishing 19th will go down.

The Football in Bracknell away day on Saturday 13th will take in the Reading City game at home to Longlevens. Details here.

Sandhurst Town

Charlie Oakley scores for Sandhurst Town. Photo: Simon Bryce.
Charlie Oakley scores for Sandhurst Town. Photo: Simon Bryce.

Three games remain for the Fizzers, all away from home and starting with Fleet Spurs on Saturday.

The Bottom Meadow side are 6th in the Combined Counties League Division One and could, if results go their way finish in the top four, not a bad way to end the season after moving across from the Hellenic League in the summer.

Slough Town

Slough Town managers Neil Baker and Jon Underwood. Photo: Windsor Observer.
Slough Town managers Neil Baker and Jon Underwood. Photo: Windsor Observer.

There are four games left for the Rebels who could still reach the Vanarama National League South play offs.

They are currently 11th, six points behind 7th placed Dartford who occupy the final play off slot with the toughest of the four fixtures against Oxford City who are 12th.

The other two games are against relegation threatened Truro City, Eastbourne Borough and Weston-super-Mare.

Thatcham Town

Thatcham Town's Shane Cooper-Clark. Photo: Richard Claypole.
Thatcham Town’s Shane Cooper-Clark. Photo: Richard Claypole.

Four to go as well for the Kingfishers who can’t now make the Evo Stik Southern League South play offs but equally are a long way from any relegation bother in 12th.

A decent return to step four for the Hellenic League champions.

Windsor

Dan Roberts. Photo: Neil Graham.
Dan Roberts. Photo: Neil Graham.

The Royalists have four games left and in seventh as things stand – beating last season’s final Hellenic Premier finish of 8th.

It’s a tough run-in for Mick Woodham’s side though with four fixtures left and matches against promotion chasing Bishop’s Cleeve and Wantage Town.

Having been a bit of a cup side this with another run to the later rounds of the FA Vase, the big game is the Bank Holiday Monday Hellenic League Challenge Cup Final against Windsor.

Wokingham & Emmbrook

Ellis Day. Photo: Neil Graham.
Ellis Day. Photo: Neil Graham.

It’s been another season out of town for the Sumas, ground sharing at Bracknell Town this season but should be able to play back at Lowther Road next season.

It may have taken Dan Bateman’s side a little time to get going this season but they look good for a top half finish with two games to go, albeit against Penn & Tylers Green and Thame Rangers.

Woodley United

Woodley United's Max Laschok. Photo: Peter Toft.
Woodley United’s Max Laschok. Photo: Peter Toft.

Another side who took time to get going but once manager Jon Laugharne got the nucleus of his side together following Hellenic Premier relegation last season, results started improving and the Kestrels will finish well clear of the bottom of the table.

Youngster Max Laschok has been one of the stand out players at Scours Lane and while 11th is the limit of their ambition this season with one game left it is certainly a solid base to build from.

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