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PICTURE: South Reading have exceeded all expectations this season, according to President Chris Evans. The team has a favourites' chance of winning the Division One title as well as up to four Cup competitions, including the League Cup.
South Reading F.C. President, Chris Evans, has praised Old Windsor F.C. as an ‘amazing team’ on the eve of their much-anticipated clash on East Berkshire League Cup Semi Finals Day this Saturday.
Old Windsor have swept all before them this season in their bid to win a first Premier Division title in four years, and The Os still have a chance of winning three Cup competitions too.
South Reading however, could boast an even more impressive display of silverware come the end of the campaign with a strong chance of taking the Division One title in their debut season as well as the possibility of four Cup competition wins.
The green and yellow were denied the Berks & Bucks F.A. David Grange Junior Trophy when an injury-time winner saw them slip to a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to AFC Carpathians in the Final earlier this month.
But, despite that gut-wrenching loss, South Reading have picked themselves up again and are ready to take on Old Windsor on Semi Finals Day at Eton Wick F.C & Social Club - with the winners on the road to the Arbour Park Stadium and this years Final in May.
Evans said: “We’ve exceeded all expectations for a debut season in this league. We made the final of the Berks & Bucks Cup, are on course for another four cup finals and there’s a great chance that we could win the league. We’re pretty pleased with our progress as a team and our success so far exceeds our targets at the beginning of the season.
“All cup competitions at the start to the season were prioritised so, to be one step away from the final in the League Cup means it is still a priority for us to win. To reach another final would be amazing and a great day out for the club and for the team.
PICTURE: South Reading and Old Windsor, two dominant forces in the East Berkshire League this season, meet in the Semi Finals of the League Cup at Eton Wick F.C. & Social Club this Saturday (3pm kick off).
“We started our campaign in the League Cup competition way back at the end of September against very physical opponents in Britwell United but managed to run out 4-0 winners.
“We then took on Hype Train at the end of January and had a really hard-fought game but eventually run out 2-0 winners. Both before and during both games, we felt confident that we would do enough to get through.”
Looking ahead to the mouth-watering match against Old Windsor on Saturday, Evans added: “Old Windsor are an amazing team and players. We played their Reserves side in a tight league match at the beginning of the season and managed to win 3-2. Old Windsor are strong all over the pitch and also have really good players to call on from the bench. However, they have been beaten by the mighty South Reading already this season!”
South Reading are currently in sixth position in the Division One table and eight points behind the promotion places but, as their focus has been on cup competition football for a number of weeks this season, the green and yellow have at least three games in hand on all the sides above them.
The team was on a six-match winning streak and unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions prior to losing the Berks & Bucks Cup Final but, did bounce back quickly with a 5-0 success at KS Gryf in the Semi Finals of the Slough Town Junior Cup last weekend. Jay Wiltshire came off the bench to score twice at The Polish Association, with Louie Soares another substitute to hit the back of the net. The other goals came from Adam Bygrave and Phillip John.
Soares could be the main threat to Old Windsor this Saturday having netted 16 goals in just 14 appearances this season. Wiltshire is another danger man having bagged 14 goals in 12 games.
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
