Weekend: Binfield and Sandhurst clash in cup, Neil Richards first Ascot United game (finally)

Bracknell Town FC's Jamie McClurg. Photo: Neil Graham.
Bracknell Town FC's Jamie McClurg. Photo: Neil Graham.

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The Uhlsport Hellenic League takes a bit of a back seat at the weekend with cup action very much in focus for everyone except Wokingham & Emmbrook – who still won’t have played a game in 2017.

Going to any of the games? Make sure to send us pictures and comments on our contributor page here or to our twitter account @fibracknell.

Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Cup Third Round

A place in fourth round of the league cup is at stake for Bracknell Town and Binfield in the League Cup on Saturday.

The big game of the day see’s Binfield host Division 1 East neighbours Sandhurst Town at Hill Farm Lane with the Moles looking to bust a run of two defeats in a row.

Premier Division Binfield will be the favourites for this one but Fizzers come into the match in good form with two wins and a draw from their last four fixtures and the competition is Luke Turkington’s sides last chance for silverware this season.

Binfield FC defender Gary Smith. Photo: Colin Byers.
Binfield FC defender Gary Smith. Photo: Colin Byers.

Speaking to FiB Binfield boss Roger Herridge admitted he was likely to shuffle his side at the weekend with both Gary Smith and Grant Kemp cup tied.

Bracknell Town make the long trip west to Longlevens for their third round tie sitting top of the Hellenic Premier by four points.

Mark Tallentire’s men did suffer a rare setback in the week, a 3-1 reverse at Ardley United in the Floodlit Cup but you would expect the Robins to get past a side that has only picked up one point in their last six league games.

See the full third round draw for the Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Challenge Cup here.

Reading Senior Cup

Weather permitting, the Reading Senior Cup will kick-off on Saturday with (finally) Neil Richards first game in charge of Ascot United.

The Yellamen are at Rotherfield Park United in the second round which this season starts before the first round is complete after Berks County’s trip to Holyport was postponed in midweek.

Also in second round action are Finchampstead who make the trip to Thames Valley Premier Division leaders Marlow United.

Here’s the full draw for the 2016/17 Reading Senior Cup, with full third round draw.

Bluefin Sports Hellenic Supplementary Cup

Two first round matches in the ‘Supp Cup’ featuring local clubs with Woodley United looking to emulate neighbours Sandhurst Town in beating Premier Division Royal Wootton Bassett Town away.

Woodley United manager Michael Herbert. Photo: Mark Pugh.
Woodley United manager Michael Herbert. Photo: Mark Pugh.

Sandhurst beat Bassett 3-2 in the last round of the league cup (see above) and face Binfield – and there is every chance of Michael Herbert’s promotion chasing side matching them on Saturday and setting up a trip to either New College Swindon or Cheltenham Saracens.

In the other tie, AFC Aldermaston can finally put their Finch defeat behind them and make the short trip to fourth place Division 1 West side Abingdon United with Ardley United or Woodstock Town awaiting them in the next round.

Here’s the full draw for the Supplementary Cup.

Thames Valley Premier League

Berks County can make it two in a row when they host Highmoor-IBIS Reserves at Bracknell Sport Centre.

The Swords had a tough run of games before ending a four match losing streak against Unity last time out and will claw back some of the ground lost to fifth placed Mortimer with a win.

In Division 3 Berks County Reserves have a second round Berkshire Trophy Centre Intermediate Cup tie at Division 1 Cookham Dean Reserves while the clubs Rovers side will go fifth in Division 4 with a win at home to Braybrooke.

Related: Date confirmed for County’s postponed Reading Senior Cup tie

Suburban Football League

Binfield Reserves head to Uxbridge Reserves as the Suburban Premier resumes on Saturday while in the Central Division Ascot United ‘Dev’ host Northwood and Bracknell Town ‘Dev’ host Westfield – the team they’ll play in the Shield in two games time.

Sunday: Women’s Football

It’s derby Sunday in Division 1 of the Southern Region Women’s Football League as Woodley United welcome Ascot United at 2pm.

The Yellawomen will hand a debut to new signing Elicia Mulvaney in a game that will be Woodley’s first of 2017.

In the Thames Valley Counties Women’s League Division 2 South it’s Bracknell Town ‘Dev’ who visit Wargrave Ladies Reserves while Sandhurst Town have a cup tie at home to Carterton Town.

Going to any of the games? Make sure to send us pictures and comments on our contributor page here or to our twitter account @fibracknell.

Main image: Bracknell Town midfielder Jamie McClurg by Neil Graham.

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