Plenty of weekend action with lots decided at the top and bottom of divisions across the county.
There were delicious mind games from Holyport, a big afternoon that fell a bit flat in the TVPL and a Berkshire FA Cup winner in Aimee Claypole.
What have we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
Berkshire’s FA Cup winner
England call-ups, first-team debut, now an FA Cup winner and all in a season’s work for Bracknell’s Aimee Claypole.
The young Chelsea attacker is now a Girls FA Youth Cup winner and goalscorer after netting twice in the 3-0 win over Manchester City at Loughborough University.
Huge congratulations to Aimee and the rest of the Chelsea team.
Holyport’s mind games
It was a tense afternoon for everyone involved – believe us, we were part of the WhatsApp group! Port left no stone unturned in their quest to stay in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North on Saturday and had a man at North Greenford United vs CB Hounslow United reporting back, while the club initiated a ‘social media blackout’ that took place during the game to try and ensure their relegation rivals weren’t in the know.
Ports social media has improved immensely this season with match updates now a staple, but as an insider said to FiB in a message on Friday: ‘Gotta do everything we can!’
It certainly seemed to do the trick as despite a 2-0 loss at Southall they only had to match Hounslow’s result to stay up, the West London side’s 4-0 defeat at North Greenford ensured they were safe.
Gold for Bracknell Town’s Seb Bowerman
He’s remained a standout talent for Bracknell Town this season in their relentless drive to the Pitching In Isthmian League South Central Division One title, but Seb Bowerman has shown that same relentless attitude in hoovering up the clubs end of season awards.
Bowerman won Players player, Managers player and Supporters player at the club’s end of season awards at the weekend following the 1-1 draw with Bedfont Sports, and also scooped the division’s top goalscorer.
There may yet be more awards for Bowerman to come, with a Berkshire Football Awards nomination to his name.
Thames Valley Premier League title decider falls a little flat
Circumstances being what they were, a game we marked out not unreasonably as a title decider between Finchampstead and Burghfield fell a little flat.
Consistently the leagues two best teams over the last two years, but Finch overturned our narrative and the recent form book, running rampant over the visitors who were never really able to get going in the cage at Bohunt School.
So it’s advantage Finch who were imperious, and with their game in hand the odds of them retaining the title are firmly slashed.
Defeat at the hands of the Hammers but a Faye Bryson consolation goal
Reading FC Women welcomed West Ham to the SCL for the second time this season, the first was their FA Cup tie, and what was anticipated as a feisty battle by Royals manager, Kelly Chambers, fell short for Reading as they suffered a 2-1 to the Hammers with goals from Emma Snerle and Yiu Hasawega in the second half. Faye Bryson muscled in on the action to deny the visitors a clean sheet and register her first goal for Reading when she struck at close range in the 95th minute.
Reading will next travel to Sutton Park to face relegation battle side Leicester City on Sunday 1st of May for their penultimate game of the season.
Simon Johnson completes a season for Reading City
It finally happened. Reading City boss Simon Johnson has finally completed a season as first-team manager of Reading City FC.
Johnson took over at the Rivermoor in December 2018 following the departures of Andy Findlay and Rob Creech and since then has seen the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons curtailed.
Speaking to Football in Berkshire in 2021 when City were still in the Hellenic League, Johnson said: “Someone must be trying to tell me something! There must be a few people out there in the same situation, I know Craig Martin at Longlevens is!”
It’s certainly been a tough season for the club but ultimately Johnson’s side achieved a creditable ninth-placed finish in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North and still have a Southern Combination Challenge Cup Quarter Final against Cobham to look forward to on Saturday with either Ashford Town (Middlesex), Sheerwater or Fleet Town lying in wait.
Bordering on the play-offs
Terrible sub header, brilliant season for both Eversley & California and Wallingford Town who qualified for the Combined Counties League Division One play offs.
Eversley beat Enfield Borough while Wallingford beat FC Deportivo Galicia on the final day to secure 4th and 5th positions and will be joined by Hilltop (2nd) and Rayners Lane.
And finally.. Timmy Mallett made our Steve’s day
Not specifically Berkshire, but we couldn’t not include this tweet from Maidenhead United fan (we’re pretty sure he’s famous but can’t put our finger on it), Timmy Mallett who made the trip to Llantwit Major recently.
Our own Steve Gabb (aka The Voice Of Reason) said: “That’s just over the road from where I grew up. The child version of me would have had their mind blown by that.”
