Berkshire sides Wokingham & Emmbrook and Sandhurst Town kept up the pressure on the Hellenic Football League Division 1 East’s top three with good wins on a weather affected weekend across the South.
Wokingham in fourth place gave a debut to 16 year old Joshua Harris up front alongside the relative veteran Jake White and the youngster didn’t disappoint firing home in the opening 45 minutes along with captain Sam Lawrence to give the Sumas a 2-0 lead at Lowther Road.
Dan Bateman’s showed no signs of a hangover from the midweek Supplementary Cup disappointment at Holyport, Whiting making it 3-0 in the second half before Harris was involved in build up for the fourth that was eventually finished by Chris Robson to send the Sumas in 4-0 at half time.
Lawrence could and should have had a hat trick at full time but failed to convert from the penalty spot after White was brought down and there were certainly nerves during the second half as the visitors scored twice as they applied some pressure to Bateman’s side, though the Sumas held on to take the tie 4-2.
Over at Wallingford Town it looked like honours even with Sandhurst Town until that man and the division’s top scorer Charlie Oakley cropped up in injury time to break the deadlock and move the Fizzers above Wally in the table.
Oakley looks odds on for a second Division 1 East golden boot in a row with 18 goals in 15 league games while Sandhurst now appear well positioned to bust in to the top three and a possible promotion challenge after winning six of their last seven league games.
The other game in the division saw AFC Aldermaston beaten 4-1 at home by reigning champions Penn & Tylers Green – Kai Parton-Edey with the Atom Men’s goal while in the Premier Division Windsor were undone late on after Bradley Pearce’s first half equaliser was cancelled out in the 76th minute by Highworth Town’s Aaron Ferns to give the promotion chasers a 2-1 victory.
Finally, Lee Simpson’s first game in charge of Berks County saw the Swords advance to the semi finals of the Berkshire Trophy Centre Senior Cup with a 4-3 win over Finchampstead at the Memorial Ground.
James Payne, Jason Baverstock and Max Swift all scored for Finch but with extra time looming County nicked the winner, their goals coming from Ram Senussi (2), Liam Bourke and Ben Fox.
Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division
- Abingdon United 3 – 1 Longlevens
- Thatcham Town 3 – 0 Brimscombe & Thrupp
- Windsor 1 – 2 Highworth Town
Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 East
- AFC Aldermaston 1 – 4 Penn & Tylers Green
- Wallingford Town AFC 0 – 1 Sandhurst Town
- Wokingham & Emmbrook 4 – 2 Didcot Town Reserves
Berkshire Trophy Centre Senior Cup Quarter Final
- Finchampstead 3 – 4 Berks County
Main image: Wokingham & Emmbrook captain Sam Lawrence by Graham Tabor.
