Holyport down league leaders as promotion race hots up

Steven Deverall. Photo: Richard Tyrell.
Steven Deverall. Photo: Richard Tyrell.

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On Saturday there were an interesting set of results for the title race and promotion chase in the Hellenic Division One East.

At Summerleaze Village Holyport hosted the league leaders Burnham in a match that pitted the division’s best defence against the best attack. Port struck first when Steven Deverall (pictured – top) chased down a back pass and slotted home on 33 minutes.

With just over an hour gone Holyport’s top scorer Fabian Driffill doubled their advantage with a cool finish after a nice move. With 15 minutes to go Burnham grabbed a goal back to set up a nervy finish but Holyport held out to become the first side to beat Burnham in the league since August.

The win keeps Holyport in touch with the promotion battle, while Burnham still have a big lead at the top of the league, but the teams below them have games in hand, so the title race is not quite over yet.

Holyport's Fabian Driffill. Photo: Richard Tyrell.
Holyport’s Fabian Driffill. Photo: Richard Tyrell.

Two sides looking to take advantage of Burnham’s defeat were AFC Aldermaston and Penn & Tylers Green who were in 2nd and 4th respectively before kick-off. Penn were the form side in the division going into the match at the Rec Soc, but a first half hat-trick from Sid Gbla made sure it was the Atomics who took the points.

In the 89th minute substitute Alex Badshah added a 4th goal, meaning Aldermaston recorded their third win in the week, scoring 14 goals in the process without conceding. The Atomics are now 9 points off top spot with a game in hand.

Ellis Day. Photo: Neil Graham.
Ellis Day. Photo: Neil Graham.

Two more teams in the promotion chasing pack met at the Hithercroft as Wallingford Town hosted Wokingham & Emmbrook. After a goalless first half the Sumas broke the deadlock when a Jordan Rowland corner was forced home by Ellis Day.

Three minutes later Wokingham doubled their advantage when Connor Holland crossed for Joshua Harris who provided a cushioned finish or 2-0. Just before full time Holland again turned provider, this time crossing for Elliot Rushforth to score with a glancing header at the near post. The win sees Wokingham leapfrog their opponents into 4th place, while Wally drop to 5th.

Woodley United recorded a big win in their home game against the league’s bottom side Chinnor. The Kestrels took the lead after 8 minutes when Harry Hawkins shot was parried only as far as Max Laschok who fired home.

3 minutes later Laschok was on hand again to make it 2 after being played in by Hawkins. 10 minutes into the second half Woodley further extended their lead when Liam Wilson set up Chace Jewell to make it 3-0.

Luke Axton-Hall.
Luke Axton-Hall.

With 20 minutes to go Laschok completed his hat-trick by lobbing the keeper and 2 minutes later Luke Axton-Hall headed the ball onto Wilson who rounded the keeper and made it 5-0.

With just over 10 minutes to go Chinnor pulled one back but the Kestrels went straight up the other end where Sam Wood found Wilson who drilled in his 2nd and Woodley’s 6th. Axton-Hall then had to leave the field with an injury meaning Woodley played the last 10 minutes with 10 men, and 5 minutes later Chinnor made the man advantage count by grabbing a 2nd, but that was as close as they came, and the game finished 6-2.

Deportivo the winners as 11 goals go in

In the Combined Counties Division One there was another high scoring game as Eversley & California and FC Deportivo Galicia managed 11 goals between them in their match at the ESA Ground. Ross McKernan opened the scoring for the Boars and Will Shaw made it 2 in 13 minutes, but Deportivo checked Eversley’s early march by grabbing a goal back.

Ross McKernan. Photo: Richard Milam.
Ross McKernan. Photo: Richard Milam.

Sam Knight restored the Boars two goal lead but again Deportivo got a goal back before McKernan rounded out the scoring in a breathless first half. 15 minutes into the second half Deportivo netted a quick-fire brace to level the scores before taking the lead for the first time on 72 minutes.

McKernan got Eversley back on level terms at 5-5 but a minute later Deportivo took the lead with the last goal of the game making the final score 6-5 to the visitors.

In the other local Step 6 match Sandhurst Town were held at home by Chessington & Hook United. The Fizzers took the lead towards the end of the first half when Luke Burrows met a Luke Cox free kick with a glancing header for 1-0.

20 minutes from the end Chessington equalised and despite hitting the crossbar in injury time, Sandhurst were not able to regain the lead. The draw leaves the Fizzers in 8th place in the table 5 points off the top 6 with a game in hand.

What next? Here’s all the weekends forthcoming fixtures

Combined Counties League Division One

Eversley & California 5-6 FC Deportivo Galicia
Sandhurst Town 1-1 Chessington & Hook United

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Hellenic League Division One East

AFC Aldermaston 4-0 Penn & Tylers Green
Holyport 2-1 Burnham
Wallingford Town 0-3 Wokingham & Emmbrook
Woodley United 6-2 Chinnor

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