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PICTURE: South Reading beat Berks Elite 3-2 after extra time in the Quarter Finals of the Slough Town Junior Cup on Saturday, meaning the team could still when an incredible six competitions this season.
South Reading are having an incredible debut season in the East Berkshire Football League and still remain on course for potential league and cup honours.
The newcomers are in prime position to challenge for the Division One title, second in the table and four points behind FC Baylis United but with six games in hand on the current leaders.
And the team is still in all of the cup competitions entered at the start of the campaign - a lot of football still to play this season but the tantalising prospect of a bulging trophy cabinet in the summer.
South Reading reached the Semi Finals in the Slough Town Junior Cup after beating Berks Elite at Whitley Wood Recreation Ground on Saturday. Both sides have already reached the last eight in the Berks & Bucks David Grange Junior Trophy as well as the Semi Finals of the Presidents Cup this season, so there is no surprise that there was little between the two in this meeting. The scores were level at 1-1 after 45 minutes and locked at 2-2 on full time, before the hosts eventually ran out narrow 3-2 winners in extra time. Jay Wiltshire scored twice for the victors with substitute Brett Rann also hitting the back of the net. Goals from both Oliver Schafer and substitute Bismark Osei kept Berks Elite in with a chance in a pulsating Quarter Finals tie.
The reward for South Reading is a trip across Berkshire to The Polish Association to face KS Gryf in the Semi Finals after their 4-1 win at Eton Wick in the last eight. The other Semi Final will see AFC Reading welcome Old Windsor Reserves to the Berkshire County Sports Club. Both ties will take place on Saturday 10th February (2pm kick offs).
Old Windsor Reserves booked their ticket into the final four thanks to a 9-1 thrashing of Frontline Reserves at The Recreation Ground. Sean Blandford was the star on show for Th Os with a hat-trick, whilst both Sam George and substitute Joe Webster scored twice in the rout. There were further goals from both Sam Thomson and substitute Mark Beale.
VIDEO: Check out Steven Bullard's 30-minutes video highlights package from the pulsating 11-goals thriller between Stoke Poges and Old Windsor at Bells Hill Recreation Ground.
There was better news for Frontline in pursuit of their first-ever Premier Division when a 4-1 win against rivals Singh Sabha increased their lead at the top of the table to three points.
Sayyid Salen scored twice in the success at George Pitcher Memorial Ground with both Sameer Khan and Hassan Monir also finding a route to goal, their team gaining some manner of revenge for a defeat at the hands of their rivals in a Showcase Match earlier in the season. The consolation goal for Singh Sabha came from substitute Harry Laflin. The losing side remain in fourth place in the table but crucially now seven points behind the pace.
Old Windsor moved up one place to second after a pulsating 8-3 victory over Stoke Poges at Bells Hill Recreation Ground. The Os took a three goals lead into the break thanks to a Joseph Allen brace and one from George Denton. And the visitors kept Stoke Poges at bay in the second period with substitute Shane Qoloni netting twice, Allen scoring a third to complete his hat-trick and a further goals from Chris Tierney and Lewis Corney. The defeat means Stoke Poges remain in the relegation spots but the team can take some confidence from the fact that there are scoring goals; George Flynn, Charlie Wootton-Jones and substitute Joe Rose all on target in the second half.
Virginia Water Reserves cemented their position in mid-table thanks to 3-0 win against 10-man Southcote at The Timbers. The goals came from James Armitage, Sam Blakebrough and Brandon Sewell. The visitors were reduced to 10-men when Corey Downer was shown a red card.
There was little change in the order at the bottom of the table as three of the bottom four sides all collected a point, including a thrilling 4-4 draw between the two teams currently either side of the relegation zone, Pundit and Chalvey Sports Reserves.
Both sides showed real battling qualities in a match moved to The Chicken Ranch with thanks to Britwell F.C. Chalvey Sports recovered from falling 3-1 behind to edge 4-3 ahead, only for Pundit to score a late equaliser and share the spoils. The result sees Pundit keep their heads above the relegation zone on goals difference only, with Chalvey just below the safety line. Ryan Partington scored twice for Pundit with both Jack Poole and Harry Turner also on the score sheet. There was four different goals scorers for Chalvey; Carl Elcombe, Jason Marney, Munyaradzi Nheta and Charlie Parkin.
The same 4-4 result was recorded at Calcot Recreation Ground between Hype Train and Sandhurst Reds, leaving The Train in mid-table but just two points clear of relegation and The Reds bottom. Benjamin Heinau showed some star quality for the home side when bagging a hat-trick, with Mitchell Saunders adding the fourth goal. Toby Illingworth scored twice for Sandhurst with both Jack Kelly and Callum Williams adding to the entertainment. The Reds were reduced to 10-men when Kyle Ollive was dismissed late on in the match.
PICTURE: The top half of the table in Division One, with all six teams still harbouring ambitions of winning promotion this season.
FC Baylis United continue to extend their lead at the top of the table in Division One but only by a single point after a 2-2 draw at second bottom Real Saracens. Both Lazarus Akunekwe and substitute Usman Javid scored either side of the break for the visitors to George Pitcher Memorial Ground. Real Saracens held the table-toppers thanks to efforts from Abdulbasit Ahmed and Mustapha Jamil.
Cressex climbed back into the promotion places thanks to a narrow 3-2 success at Reading Tigers, who remain in eighth position in the table. Adrian Wisniewski hit the back of the net twice in the second half for The Tigers.
Sandhurst Town Royals are hard on the tails of Cressex and now just a single point outside of the top three following their 4-1 win against bottom side FC Riverside. Both Louis Cote and Thomas Nower were amongst the scorers for The Royals at Sandhurst Memorial Park, with Eduard Lupu registering a consolation effort for 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
