Promotion battle hotting up in the Hellenic League Division One East

AFC Aldermaston shirt. Photo: Mark Pugh.
AFC Aldermaston shirt. Photo: Mark Pugh.

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In the Hellenic Division One East league leaders Burnham have one hand on the title being 12 points clear of the chasing pack, but below them an interesting battle is developing for second place and with it the chance of promotion to Step 5.

AFC Aldermaston are the team currently in second spot and they have the chance to consolidate that position as they welcome the league’s form side Penn & Tylers Green to the Rec Soc. Penn have won five of their last six matches, a run that has seen them climb from the bottom half of the table to 4th spot and promotion contention. The Atomics are also in fine form however; a fact underlined by their 8-0 drubbing of Abingdon Town in the Subsidiary Cup in midweek.

One place and 2 points behind Aldermaston sit Wallingford Town who host Wokingham & Emmbrook, themselves only 4 points off second place. Wally’s form has been up and down lately, but they can call on the services of the league’s top goal-scorer, Charlie Silkstone, who has 30 goals in as many games.

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Dan Bateman. Photo: Neil Graham.
Dan Bateman. Photo: Neil Graham.

Wokingham have become very tough to beat of late with Burnham the only side to have defeated the Sumas in the league in the last 3 months. A win for Wokingham will see them leapfrog their opponents in the table.

Holyport still have an outside chance of being part of the battle for second place but some indifferent form has seen them fall 8 points behind Aldermaston, although they do have a game in hand over most of the teams above them.

If Port are to close the gap this weekend they must be at their best as Burnham are the visitors to Summerleaze Village; however, if Holyport are looking for some encouragement they can take heart from the fact they were the last side to beat Burnham when they knocked them out of the Floodlit Cup at the Gore a month ago.

Jon Laugharne. Photo: Neil Graham.
Jon Laugharne. Photo: Neil Graham.

At Scours Lane Woodley United entertain the side at the foot of the table, Chinnor. The Kestrels will be looking to get back to winning ways after tasting defeat in their last three matches, including a 4-1 defeat to Step 4 Fleet Town in the Aldershot Senior Cup on Tuesday.

Chinnor, nicknamed the Biz, have just 4 points from 17 games and look destined to finish bottom as they have not picked up a point in the league since early September.

Combined Counties

In the Combined Counties Division One Eversley & California face something of a relegation six-pointer on Saturday as they host FC Deportivo Galicia at the ESA Ground.

The Boars are currently hovering 2 points above the foot of the table and potential relegation and while recent performances have been competitive they have not produced positive results. Deportivo sit one place and four points above Eversley, so they too will be nervously looking over their shoulders and looking to put some daylight between themselves and the teams below them.

After the disappointment of being knocked out of two cup competitions in their last two matches, Sandhurst Town will now turn their attention back to the pre-season ambition of a top six finish when they entertain Chessington & Hook at Bottom Meadow.

The Fizzers currently sit in 9th, 5 points off the top six, but they do have games in hand over all the teams above them. Chessington are the team directly below Sandhurst in the table, and while the visitors’ form has been patchy since the turn of the year, they did defeat promotion candidates Farnham Town 4-1 in their last league match.

Combined Counties League Division One

Eversley & California vs FC Deportivo Galicia
Sandhurst Town vs Chessington & Hook

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Hellenic League Division One East

AFC Aldermaston vs Penn & Tylers Green
Holyport vs Burnham
Wallingford Town vs Wokingham & Emmbrook
Woodley United vs Chinnor

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