.png)
PICTURE: AFC Reading have reached the Final in the Slough Town Junior Cup competition this season after a 5-0 win against Old Windsor Reserves in the Semi Finals on Saturday.
AFC Reading booked their ticket to the Slough Town Junior Cup Final this season after a 5-0 win against Old Windsor Reserves on Saturday.
Reading went into the Semi Finals tie as underdogs having twice already lost to Old Windsor this season; 6-3 in a League meeting in mid-October and 5-1 in the Presidents Cup competition in early December.
However, Reading made it third time lucky at the Berkshire County Sports Club and the tie was virtually over when the home team took a three-goal lead into the break. Both Joel Stevens and Reece Jones scored inside the opening 10 minutes, before Ian Addae found the back of the net in time added on at the end of the first half. Substitute Charlie Smith put the icing on the cake with two goals inside the final 10 minutes.
It is a massive achievement for AFC Reading to reach the cup competition Final in just their second season as members of the East Berkshire League. The Final will take place on Wednesday 10th April at The 1878 Stadium, the home of Burnham Football Club. Reading will play either KS Gryf or South Reading, the two sides meet in the second Semi Finals match on Saturday 9th March - the original game was postponed on Saturday because of bad weather.
The Old Windsor first team had a more memorable day on Saturday when thrashing Real Saracens 15-1 in the Ascot & Fielden District Cup competition. Unfortunately for Saracens it is the second time this season the team has shipped goals in double figures following a 14-0 defeat at the hands of Sandhurst Royals in early September. Marvin Hewetts scored in the first half of the tie for the beaten side at The Recreation Ground.
Shane Qoloni stole the show for The Os with his double hat-trick, scoring three times in the first period and then adding another three in the final 10 minutes of the game. Qoloni is having a goals scoring dual of sorts with teammate Joseph Allen, and he chipped in with four of his own, two either side of the break. Bradley Birchmore helped himself to a brace, with further efforts from Lewis Corney, Toby Donnelly and substitute Liam Spires.
There was a huge result in the East Berkshire League Premier Division as Sandhurst Reds moved off the bottom of the table thanks to a 2-1 success at Southcote. The Reds have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks and have now collected seven points from a possible 12 since the Winter Break to boost their chances of avoiding relegation. The team is still in the relegation zone but now only three points from climbing out of the bottom three. Both Alex Goodwin and Toby Illingworth scored in the first half, before Southcote reduced the arrears via Jayden Sunderland in the second period.
Sandhurst Royals moved into a clear lead at the top of the table in Division One following their 6-1 victory over Eton Wick at the Memorial Park. The first half ended with the scores level before Royals raised the tempo in the second period to score five times and secure all three points. Harry Winkley scored two goals with Scott Shakran and George Wilson plus substitutes Jamie Haffenden and Klim Kapuka all also finding a route to goal. The Eton Wick goal came from Archie Branwhite inside 20 minutes.
The long-time leaders, FC Baylis United, moved back up into second position thanks to a 4-1 home win against Berks Elite. The only goals in the first period came from Amarpal Raju, with both Kamran Khan and substitute Usman Javid firing in after the interval. Agyaim Derrick recorded the consolation effort for the visitors to Harvey Park.
Saturday 17 February
Berks & Bucks F.A. David Grange Junior Trophy Semi Finals
Marsh Gibbon v South Reading
Ascot & Fielden Cup Quarter Finals
Stoke Poges v Singh Sabha
Premier Division
Chalvey Sports Reserves v Southcote
Sandhurst Reds v Virginia Water Reserves
Old Windsor v Britwell United
Pundit v Hype Train
Division One
AFC Reading v Cressex
Reading Tigers v Eton Wick
Berks Elite v Sandhurst Royals
Real Saracens v Old Windsor Reserves
FC Baylis United v Stoke Poges Reserves
KS Gryf v FC Riverside
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
