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PICTURE: Singh Sabha celebrate after winning the East Berkshire Football League Cup Final against Old Windsor last season. PHOTO: Gary House.
There will be a new name on the East Berkshire League Cup trophy this season as the draw for the Semi Finals was made on Saturday.
Old Windsor came so close to lifting the silverware last season, the Cup final was a part of a trilogy of showcase matches against Singh Sabha, but defeat to their old rivals saw the day end in heartbreak for The Os.
The team still has the chance to go one better this year, having comfortably beaten both Surrey Rangers and Iver Heath to reach the last four, but standing in their way is Frontline Reserves.
Frontline Reserves are the lowest ranked team still in the competition, currently in seventh position in Division One, but are no strangers to scoring goals in the League Cup, putting seven past Cressex in the Quarter Finals and five in a victory over the Frontline first team in the last 16.
The Semi Finals match will take place at Haywards Mead, the home of Eton Wick Football Club, on Saturday 25 March with a 3pm kick off. The first Semi Final, with a 12.30pm kick off at Eton Wick F.C., is a clash between two in-form teams, Britwell and Sandhurst Town.
Britwell is another leading team in the EBFL to have never won the League Cup - Britwell Hawks won the competition in the 1989-90 season. The Premier Division champions have had a tough run to the Semi Finals, beating KS Gryf and then a narrow success against Southcote in the Quarter Finals in mid-February.
Sandhurst Town are one of the most-improved teams this season, now challenging for the Division One title and still in the Ascot & District Fielden Cup. Town beat title rivals Stoke Poges in the First Round back in September, before a narrow win against Braywood Beavers in the last 16, and then edging out Reading Tigers to book their ticket to the Semi Finals.
VIDEO: EBFL Management Committee members, Stuart Barnett (left) and Ricky Aldridge (right) make the draw to the League Cup and Presidents Cup Semi Finals.
Frontline Reserves won the EBFL Presidents Cup in 2015-16 season and have the chance to reclaim the silverware this season after a single-goal win against Stoke Poges in the Quarter Finals.
Standing in their way in the Semi Finals will be Old Windsor Reserves, who scored two late goals against AFC Reading before winning their Quarter Finals tie on penalties earlier this month. Old Windsor WMC won the Presidents Cup competition back in 1991. The Os suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Frontline Reserves when the two teams last met in the league in February.
The two Presidents Cup Semi Finals will take place on Saturday 1 April (venue to be confirmed) with kick off times at 12.30pm and 3pm. The second Semi Final not the day will see FC Baylis meet Reading Tigers.
Baylis stand in fourth position in Division One and although promotion might now be a little bit out of their reach this season, the chance to win some silverware is still very much alive. Baylis have recorded wins against both Berks Elite and Eton Wick to reach the last four.
Reading Tigers currently prop up the Division One table but gained a shock win on penalties against Sandhurst Town in Quarter Finals. The Tigers also beat Baylis 5-3 in a league meeting back in October.
League Cup Semi Finals
Saturday 25 March
Britwell v Sandhurst Town (12.30pm kick off at Eton Wick F.C.)
Old Windsor v Frontline Reserves (3pm kick off at Eton Wick F.C.)
Presidents Cup Semi Finals
Saturday 1 April
Frontline Reserves v Old Windsor Reserves (12.30pm kick off, venue to be confirmed)
FC Baylis v Reading Tigers (3pm kick, venue to be confirmed)
To enter the East Berkshire Football League ahead of the 2023/24 season, or for further information about the league, or an entry form for the upcoming season, please email the team at contactebfl@gmail.com
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