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PICTURE: Virginia Water Reserves celebrate the goal scored by Bobby Cooper in the 1-0 win against Stoke Poges Reserves in the Showcase Match at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham on Friday night. PHOTO: Marcus Rashid.
Virginia Water Reserves could still get involved in the race for the East Berkshire League Premier Division title this season after a 1-0 win against Stoke Poges in the Showcase Match on Friday night.
A single goal from Bobby Cooper in the second half was the difference between the two sides at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham. The Waters were also steered to victory by a star performance from James Armitage.
The win keeps Virginia Water in fifth position in the table and 10 points behind leaders Frontline, but with three games in hand on the current pace setters. For Stoke Poges, it was a first defeat in three matches in all competitions, and they remain second from bottom, now four points from safety.
Singh Sabha returned to winning form in the League after a 9-1 thrashing of Hype Train at George Pitcher Memorial Ground. Hassan Mahmood was the chief destroyer with a hat-trick, whilst both Jovan Bains and Kingsley Etefia scored twice in the rout. The scoring was rounded off by efforts from Hashim Ahmed and Mandeep Rai. The Hype Train consolation effort came from Benjamin Heinau on the hour mark. The three points have moved Sabha above Britwell United in the table and into third position, now six points behind Frontline. Hype Train, now without a win in five matches in all competitions, have dropped into the relegation zone but only a single point from safety.
Southcote continued their mid-season revival with a 3-1 win against Chalvey Sports Reserves at the Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School. The hosts can boast three different goals scorers; Thierry Carrington, Kian Cook and Rocco Sofroniou. The Chalvey goal came from Munyaradzi Nheta but, their chances were not helped when Tommy Fogarty was shown a straight red card. The success means Southcote now stand in sixth place in the table with Chalvey one point and two spots behind.
PICTURE: Virginia Water Reserves attempt an overhead kick in the Stoke Poges box during the Showcase Match at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham on Friday night. View all of the images from photographer, Marcus Rashid here.
Sandhurst Reds gave their chances of survival a huge boost thanks to a 5-2 success over Pundit at The Memorial Park. The Reds were well clear at the break thanks to a Samuel Hinton brace as well as goals from Jack Kelly and Liam Ollive. A goal in the second period from substitute Rhys Hill put the icing on the cake for the home side. Zachary Maynard was among the goals scorers for Pundit. The result means Sandhurst are now six points from safety but, with games in hand on all the sides above them in the league table. Pundit are a single point above the relegation line with seven matches still to play in the Premier Division.
Old Windsor will host Taplow United from the Hellenic League in the Semi Finals of the Slough Town Premier Cup this season after both sides won their respective Quarter Finals matches on Saturday.
The Os thrashed Premier Division rivals Frontline 7-1 at Burnham Grammar School thanks largely to a four-goal haul from Shane Qoloni, the star man scoring twice either side of half time. Bradley Birchmore also bagged a goal each side of the break, with substitute Dylan Harbridge putting his side in seven heaven. Old Windsor were also reduced to 10 players in the tie when sub Sam George was shown a red card. The consolation effort for Frontline came from substitute Karim Chaibi.
Taplow will make the trip to the Recreation Ground in the Semi Finals on Saturday 24 February following their 2-1 victory against FC Baylis United, the E.B.F.L Division One side putting up a spirited performance against higher-league opposition. Nicholas Baker scored both goals for the winning team, one in each half of the tie.
Sandhurst Royals became the third different team this season to stand at the top of the table in Division One, replacing long-time leaders FC Baylis after a 5-0 win at Stoke Poges Reserves last weekend. There was a brace from Harry Winkley, with both Owen Elliot and Thomas Nower also hitting the back of the net. The Royals, now on a six-match winning streak in the league, top the table on goals difference from Old Windsor Reserves.
The Os moved up to second place thanks to a 6-1 victory at home over Eton Wick. Sean Blandford was the star performance with his four-goal haul which included a hat-trick inside the first 19 minutes of the match. Both substitute Jake Bartlett and Daniel O’Brien scored in the final five minutes of the game.
PICTURE: Action from the Showcase Match between Virginia Water Reserves (maroon) and Stoke Poges (green) at the 1878 Stadium on Friday night. View all of the images from photographer, Marcus Rashid here.
South Reading stand in fourth position in the table but only two points off the pace set after a 5-2 success against KS Gryf at The Polish Association. Reece Buckett bagged a treble with both Brett Rann and Louie Soares also finding a route to goal. The Gryf goals were scored by Robert Jarzebek and substitute Emmanuel Adjei.
AFC Reading might be down in sixth place but incredibly only four points behind the leaders following their 3-0 win at Real Saracens thanks to late goals from Luke Chappelle and Joe Pocock.
A single goal from first half substitute Massewu Asiamah was enough for Berks Elite to edge out FC Riverside 1-0 - completing the league double this season. Riverside were reduced to nine men in the game, Samuel Stan was shown a straight red card, and Eduard Lupu two cautions.
Saturday 10 February
Slough Town Junior Cup Semi Finals
KS Gryf v South Reading
AFC Reading v Old Windsor Reserves
Ascot & Fielden Cup Second Round
Real Saracens v Old Windsor
Britwell United v Chalvey Sports Reserves
Premier Division
Virginia Water Reserves v Frontline
Southcote v Sandhurst Reds
Hype Train P-P Stoke Poges
Pundit P-P Singh Sabha
Division One
Stoke Poges Reserves v Reading Tigers
FC Baylis United v Berks Elite
Sandhurst Royals v Eton Wick
To enter the East Berkshire Football League ahead of the 2024/25 season, or for further information about the league, or an entry form for the upcoming season, please email the team at contactebfl@gmail.com
