This week: Shane Cooper-Clark returns and Wokingham in the home straight

Former Bracknell Town striker Shane Cooper-Clark. Photo: Neil Graham.
Former Bracknell Town striker Shane Cooper-Clark. Photo: Neil Graham.

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As is customary at the business end of the season, matches come thick and fast and it’s no exception this midweek with plenty of matches involving local sides.

Tonight’s match features two of the local sides as Ascot United welcome Binfield to the Racecourse Ground – a game we’ve previewed extensively here.

The teams met less than a fortnight ago with the Moles running out 4-0 winners so the Yellamen will want to avenge that. Toby Nowell and Michael Walton each struck a brace that night as Roger Herridge’s side took the bragging rights.

“The players will certainly look to impress manager Jeff Lamb as they try to prove why they merit a starting place in the cup final”

It is Ascot’s last league match of the season and with a cup final to look forward to, the players will certainly look to impress manager Jeff Lamb as they try to prove why they merit a starting place in the cup final.

Herridge himself has a cup quarter final against his former side Wokingham & Emmbrook next Monday and has challenged his team to bounce back from Saturday’s 5-1 defeat away at Brimscombe & Thrupp and to prove why they should feature in the Reading Senior Cup quarter final.

Busy busy Bracknell

Over at Larges Lane, Bracknell Town have two home midweek matches as they entertain Thatcham Town on Tuesday evening and Royal Wootton Bassett Town on Thursday.

Thatcham looked potential league winners for a large part of the season before Kidlington sealed that honour but victory for the Kingfishers over Mark Tallentire’s side would secure second place for them.

Adam Cornell celebrates scoring for Bracknell Town against Brimscombe & Thrupp. Photo: Neil Graham.
Adam Cornell celebrates scoring for Bracknell Town against Brimscombe & Thrupp. Photo: Neil Graham.

They also boast former Robins goal machine Shane Cooper-Clark but there is a new hero as Adam Cornell’s goals have played a major part in Tallentire’s side officially beating the drop.

Cooper-Clark has scored 26 goals this term (17 for Bracknell, 9 for Thatcham) whilst Cornell has 20 for the Robins.

Bracknell have failed to keep a clean sheet since a 1-0 victory over Thame United on 23rd February and Thatcham have also shipped a few goals lately so with the star strikers and leaky defences we are expecting goals.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town have played Tallentire’s side twice and won both encounters.

They came to Larges Lane on 10th November and ran out 2-0 winners in the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup and they beat the Robins eighteen days later in the league as they left it late to win 2-1.

Bracknell do hold a victory over Bassett this year as the afore mentioned Cooper-Clark struck twice as to give the Robins a 2-0 FA Cup success.

Two games to go for Sumas

Wokingham & Emmbrook play their penultimate league match tomorrow night when Ardley United are the visitors to the Triangle Ground.

Ardley are a very up and down team and with the Sumas enjoying one win, one draw and two very narrow defeats in their last four matches, they will be looking to finish on a high.

Joint managers Dan Bateman and Matt Eggleston are seeking talks with the clubs committee over future plans and finishing the season strongly will certainly help their cause.

After facing Ascot tonight, Binfield then travel to Ardley United on Thursday evening so will the fact that the Moles have an extra days rest prove to be a contributing factor?

Midweek football matches featuring the local sides:

Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division

Monday 11th April

Ascot United v Binfield

Tuesday 12th April

Bracknell Town v Thatcham Town
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Ardley United

Thursday 14th April

Ardley United v Binfield
Bracknell Town v Royal Wootton Bassett Town

Our other featured local sides Finchampstead and Berks County are not in action this midweek but will feature in our preview of next weekend’s matches.

Main photo credit: Shane Cooper-Clark pictured by Neil Graham.

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