​This Saturday's Northants Combination Premier clash between third-placed Heyford Athletic and league leaders Roade, was something of a unique event. Certainly a situation that I had never come across before. The referee taking charge of the game, Stuart Latham, was a former manager of both teams, making him the ideal person to take control of the game, both figuratively and literally, the man in the middle. Many thanks to Stuart for, first of all letting me know the game was going ahead and then, after the game, sending me copies of both teams sheets.

A recent run of six wins and two draws had seen Roade take pole position during December. However, having played two more games than Blisworth, they were still in need of points on the board to keep the pressure on the chasing pack. It was the visitors, in their aquamarine change kit, who had the first effort of the game when Richie Collier struck an effort wide of mark. That was countered by an immediate break from the hosts, who also shot wide, as the sides tested each other out in the opening encounters.
Roade should probably have taken the lead after 12 minutes when the normally reliable Lewis was on the end of a left wing cross but prodded the ball just wide of Jamie Cox's left-hand post. Cox was then called into action a minute later, diving to his left to push Mark Faulkner's strike around the post.
Roade were starting to exert a fair bit of pressure on Heyford now and came even closer to scoring on 18 minutes when only an acrobatic scissor kick off the line from Peter Alonge prevented the visitors from going in front.
The one way that Heyford seemed to be able to threaten Roade was through a long ball and quick counter-attack. This almost came to fruition on the 20 minute mark when Eno Macroy latched onto a through ball that caught the Roade defence napping. Only the quick reactions of Ryan Nutt, sprinting off his line to smother the chance, stopped the home side from going in front against the run of play.

​Undeterred Roade continued to set the pace, looking sharper across the pitch, first to most balls in midfield and dangerous up front. Heyford were having to work very hard to keep them out but, just before the half-hour mark, their defences were finally breached when a neat, lobbed ball over their central defence found Dale Lewis inside the penalty area. He took the chance well, sliding the ball past Cox. However the assistant, after slipping over himself, recovered to raise his flag much to the ire of the visitors, who were convinced Lewis was onside. Referee Latham went over to consult with the assistant and, after a minute, signalled that the goal was going to stand. 0-1
A goal up and looking to be in control, the visitors looked comfortable on the ball and hungry to put this one to bed. However, they still looked a little vulnerable to the long ball and, with nine minutes to go before the break, were almost caught out again. Once more it was Eno Macroy who got in behind the defence but, as he tried to round Nutt, the striker lost his footing giving goalkeeper just enough time to grab the ball at his feet. At half-time, I heard one of the Heyford officials comment that he had blamed the fact he was wearing moulded boots. A strange choice on a heavy pitch.
Four minutes after this incident, Roade made their hosts pay the price by doubling their advantage. A cross from the right was perfect for Dale Lewis who took a touch to open up the angle before slotting past Cox for his second of the game. 0-2.
Heyford needed a goal back before half-time if they were going to get back into this one. They did get an opportunity a minute into added time when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Alonge smashed his effort into the defensive wall before driving the rebound, left-footed, over the bar. The chance was gone.

HT Heyford Athletic 0 Roade 2. The visitors looked a yard quicker in most areas of the pitch and fully deserved to go in ahead. However, Heyford had clearly identified the counter-attack and direct approach as something of a Roade weakness. If they could exploit this early in the second half, it could get interesting.

​Heyford took full advantage of the half-time break, despite Roade coming out early, they were made to wait. Not that it made any difference. Within there minutes the visitors came close to further increasing their lead. Ross Watson won the ball back out on the left flank before delivering perfectly for Dale Lewis in the middle. His shot, taken early, was just over the bar.
The game continued in pretty much the same pattern as the first half. Roade dominating possession and Heyford looking to hit them on the break, although the visitors seemed to have learned from the first period and didn't look quite as vulnerable now. Heyford did manage to get Reace Hill into a shooting possession just before the hour. His shot went wide of the goal, but it was a much more promising passage of play from Athletic. It was a the start of a five minute period that could, but didn't, change the game. First of all Andy Seaton headed a half-chance over for Roade only for Heyford to counter swiftly down their right. The ball was then fed into substitute Jamal Said who had a clear view of goal. The striker seemed to dally on the ball a little, allowing the defence and goalkeeper to recover their ground. Said ended up in a heap amidst claims for a penalty. It was impossible to see exactly what happened from the opposite end of the pitch, but the home team were convinced it was a foul. Nothing doing from the referee, however. In fact, he issued a yellow to Said either for simulation or for comments made, hard to say which.
Whatever the case, Roade were taking no notice. They went straight down the other end and almost made it three. Lewis turned provider this time, getting a flick onto a ball through the middle, putting the ball into the path of Seaton, who fired narrowly wide under pressure from a defender. Collier then put a shot just over as the visitors pressed to seal the there points.
With just over fifteen minutes remaining, Jonathon Joyce crashed a free-kick against Cox's right-hand post before the ball rebounded back off the keeper for a corner. That was taken by substitute George Wingrove who curled the ball in towards the far post. The wind seemed to hold it up, deceiving everyone including Jamie Cox, before dropping into the far corner of the net. 0-3
It was all Roade again now. The victory was sealed but they wanted more goals. Wingrove, egged on by a vociferous travelling support, tried to replicate his corner-kick goal twice more, and Cox saved well from captain Harry Mundy. However, there was no more scoring before the referee drew a close to the game.

FT Heyford Athletic 0 Roade 3. A great, all-round display from the league leaders, who now take a three point gap into the new year, having now played three more than second-placed Blisworth. Heyford remain in third, two points ahead of Earls Barton but having also played three more games.
Both teams are back in action next Saturday. Heyford are back at home as they welcome fourth from bottom Higham Town. wo Leo Murton goals gave Heyford a 21 win in the reverse fixture, despite having Bien Kayij sent off. Roade travel to 11th placed Medbourne who they beat 4-0 on the opening day.

Heyford Athletic: 1.Cox, 16.Wilkinson, 3.Hill, 2.Adreniran, 9.Kayij(c), 4.Alonge, 17.Methuh, 14.Belfon, 10.Okoye, 15.Mohamed, 12.Macroy. Subs: 13.Healy, 6.Reynolds, 7.Said, 8.Gomes, 15.Martin
Roade: 1.Nutt, 2.Lawton, 3.Joyce, 4.Mundy(c), 5.Jackson, 6.Salmon, 7.Faulkner, 8.Collier, 9.Lewis, 10.Watson, 11.Seaton. Subs: 12.Sears, 14.Osbourne, 15.Daniels, 16.Wingrove, 17.Tompkins


The Ground
Heyford Athletic have played at their current home, just off Middle Street, since moving from the village green site in 1988. The ground, on the Eastern edge of Nether Heyford vilage, is part of a multi-sport facility that also plays host to cricket, bowls and tennis. There are, effectively, two car parks, one behind the clubhouse and changing rooms and the second one adjacent to the bowls club. Both are accessed via a narrow service road off Middle Street. The playing surface is flat and, although a bit on the wet side from recent rainfall, looked to be in good condition for the time of year. There's no spectator cover around the ground and it is quite open to the elements, especially behind the clubhouse end goal, which backs onto the cricket pitch, and then to a view over the Northamptonshire countryside. The dugouts are on the opposite side to the car park and are backed by trees, offering some protection from the weather.


Ground Number: 393
Att: 
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

​This last Saturday before Christmas saw BotP making the short journey North to Stockton FC, just outside Southam, for the Midland Football League Division There clash between Leamington Hibernian and AFC Birmingham. With both sides in need of three points for different reasons, it promised to be a good, competitive game. The hosts, Hibs, sat 12th in the table at the start of play, 10 points above the dreaded drop zone, but still needing a few more pints on the board to be able to enjoy their Christmas dinner. AFC Birmingham, having recently put together a good run of results, were hovering just below the promotion race in fifth, but only four points shy of Northfield Town in second. This would be the first meeting between the teams this season.

​With a very gusty and cold wind blowing across the pitch, it was the visitors who struck the first meaningful effort towards goal when Ashley Brown's 6th minute snapshot went wide of the mark. AFC were no doubt settling more quickly than their hosts but almost gifted Hibs a way into the game after 13 minutes. A sloppy backpass was latched onto by Hibs forward Kallum Blake, who looked to take it around Gabriel Bajrami. However, the keeper was alert to the danger, diving bravely at the striker's feet to snuff out the danger.
AFC, after that momentary laps, went back on the offensive almost immediately, forcing a corner on the right. This was played deep towards the back post where captain Drew Ricketts rose highest but could only direct his header into the side netting. A few minutes later Neville Eraine's spectacular attempt at a scissor kick from the edge of the box went well wide of the target and then Raheim Faulder, from way outside the box, crashed an excellent effort off Roddy Attwood's crossbar. It was all AFC at this point but still goalless at the midway point of the first half.
Just before the 30 minute mark Dylan Robinson was the next to try his luck but this one was comfortable for Attwood. However, the pressure was maintained on the home goal and just a minute or two later we had a moment of controversy as the visitors were awarded a penalty. Now, as I tweeted at the time, from my angle it looked like a clear trip on Faulder. The referee had a similar angle on the action as well, and immediately pointed to the spot. However, the home team and their bench were not at all convinced, seeming to point to the assistant who had not signalled for an offence at all. Interestingly, as the team's left the pitch at half-time, I could hear players from both sides discussing the incident and both sets agreed that it was, at the best, a soft one. However, it just goes to show how a particular angle on an event can change how it is seen. I was convinced it was a penalty, but the angles can sometimes deceive the eyes. However, the referee had given it and he was not going to  change his decision. Rahiem Faulder picked himself up and sent Attwood the wrong way from the spot. 0-1. Controversial it may well have been, but it was no more than Birmingham deserved on the balance of play.
Aside from a running battle between AFC's Armani Bennett and Leamington's Karl McGuire, which threatened to boil over but never quite did, there were not too many more serious goal attempts in the first half. Bennett did make a scintillating dash from inside his own half just seconds before the whistle, flashing a shot wide of the goal, but it didn't really trouble Attwood.

HT Leamington Hibernian 0 AFC Birmingham 1. The visitors were well on top and had the difficult, gusting wind in their favour. Despite the controversial manner in which AFC took the lead, Hibs were probably reasonably happy to only be a goal down at the break, and still in a position to get something out of the game.

​With that thought in mind, the home side did make a considerably brighter start to the second half, immediately pushing forward from kick-off, possibly also emboldened by having the wind behind them as well. The quick start, however, was soon countered by Birmingham who saw Ricketts' header cleared off the line for a corner. The resulting set-piece resulted in Faulder's header coming back off the post. So close to a second goal. Then, just before the hour mark, with the visitors again starting to dominate possession, Ashley Brown was able to muscle his way through the home defence, only to see his shot go narrowly wide.
With only one goal in it there was still the chance that Leamington could hit AFC on the break and snatch something from this game but in the 73rd minute, the visitors were able to double their advantage and, again, it had a touch of controversy surrounding it.
Dew Ricketts launched another one of his long throws deep into the six yard area, where Attwood and Jahmari Hyatt challenged for it. There was a mid-air collision which caused the keeper to spill the ball backwards into the net amidst home claims of a foul on the keeper. We've all seen these type of decision go in favour of the goalkeeper but not on this occasion and, in defence of the referee, there didn't seem to be a lot in it for me. 0-2 and growing frustration amongst the home team. 
A few minutes later it could easily have been three when Bennett was set free and looked to be about to pull the trigger before a superb piece of covering from home captain Zach Featherstone forced the striker to screw his effort wide.
It seemed like the game was up but the home side were giving up the ghost just yet. With fourteen left to play, substitute Gabriel Maloney, who had looked very lively since being introduced, drove a shot goalward but was denied by a very good, last ditch block from a defender. That one was travelling.
As if that effort stung Birmingham into hammering the final nail in the Hibs coffin, they went straight up the other end and did just that. Two substitues combined as Baker's flick on fell into the path of Pascal Chukwu who finished clinically. 0-3.
Once again Hibs tried to respond. Featherstone launched a superb through ball for Daniel Ademola to burst beyond the defence but his shit, under pressure form a covering defender, was well off target.
Birmingham's Denzel Kosegbe-Akanbi then had the ball in the home net but the assitant's flag had already gone up. It was then left to Hibs to have the final word. Well almost. Siezing on some indecision between defence anf goalkkeepr Amhari Thomas nipped in to stab the ball goalwards only to see it cannon back off the post, summing up the day from Leamington.

FT Leamington Hibernian 0 AFC Birmingham 3. To be fair, AFC were in control of this game pretty much from start to finish. Leamington plugged away but only managed to trouble Bajrami on a couple of occasions. The result sees AFC Birmingham remain in fifth, with the teams above them all winning too. Hibs remain 12th but Continental Star's win at Boldmere has closed the gap to the bottom three slightly.
If you want to catch either of these two teams in action over the holiday, they both have games on Boxing Day. Hibs make the trip up to Solihull to face 4th placed Silhill for the first time this season. AFC Birmingham welcome seond from bottom BNJS to Illey Lane, also a first encounter this season. 

Leamington Hibernian: Attwood, McGuire, Featherstone(c), Smith, Ratcliffe, Woolley, Barry, Brewster, Muanza, Blake, King. Subs: Brogden, Ademola, Maloney, Thomas
AFC Birmingham: Bajrami, Preston, Campbell, Hyatt, Ricketts(c), J.Faulder, Eraine, Robinson, Brown, Bennett, R.Faulder. Subs: Chukwu, Adams, Kosegbe, McCarthy, Baker

​The Ground
Leamington Hibernian live something of a nomadic existence at the moment. After ground-sharing with Hampton last season, they have now moved closer to home and play their home games at Stockton just outside Southam. The football ground is part of a multi-sports facility that also hosts cricket, netball and unusually, petanque. According to Google maps it is also the home of Warwickshire Baseball Club. There is a reasonably large car park and a clubhouse/changing block. The clubhouse looks out over the football pitches and cricket square. The main football pitch is on the other side of the cricket square from the clubhouse, bordered by Station Road on one side and Napton Road behind one of the goals. There is no spectator cover or dugouts but the pitch looked to be pretty flat and in relatively good condition for the time of year and recent weather.

Ground Number: 392
Att: 13 (headcount)
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

Trying a slightly revised match blog format this week, with the match report taking centre stage. Information about the ground can be found at the bottom of the blog.

The Game
Although this match was a cup game the two sides are also league mates in the Spartan South Midland Division Two. In fact, there's only two points between them as they sit in 16th and 17th spot respectively, although Raiders have played four games fewer than this evening's visitors.

However, despite their lowly league position, it was the Luton  side who started much the stronger of the teams, clearly out to avenge the 3-0 home league defeat from earlier in the season. as early as the fifth minute they unlocked the home defence with a delightful ball between the home centre-back and left-back, allowing the pace of Ethan Scott to do the rest. He got in behind the full-back but was, on this occasion, thwarted by the speed off the line of home keeper Ryan Parker, who did well to narrow the angle and make the block.
Berkhamsted began to awaken from their sluggish start but when they took the lead on 15 minutes it was still somewhat against the general run of play. The goal came after Luton lost the ball in midfield and were caught out by a swift counter. The ball was immediately fed to Tom Flanagan on the right flank who cut back inside his marker onto his favoured left foot before curling the ball around Dhesi into the far corner. 1-0
​The goal envigoured the home side who, like their opponents, had discovered that the flanks, particularly the right, seemed to be the way to make progress. Unsurprisingly, when the equaliser arrived on 26 minutes, it was that very route that caused the damage for Raiders, the ball inside the left-back again. This time Ethan Scott's pace got him to the ball way ahead of Parker, who once again had come off his line, only to find himself in no-man's land as Scott slid the ball past him into the net. 1-1. Once again, it was the visitor's turn to look the more dangerous. Lone striker Wayne Polson came close on the half-hour, turning sharply on the edge of the box before firing just over.
There were no further major opportunities in the first half until the final minute when a short corner routine saw goal scorer Flanagan get to the visitor's by-line before firing a cross-shot across the face of goal. Unfortunately for the hosts, no-one could get on the end of it and the ball was smuggled clear by the defence. 

HT Berkhamsted Raiders 1 The 61FC 1. All-square at the break was, in my opinion, a fair reflection on the overall game. The visitors started strongly but fell behind. They deserved their equaliser but neither side really did enough to earn a lead.

​The second half burst into life with only eight minutes gone. Tom Shaw curled a free-kick just wide of Dhesi's goal on 53 minutes only for The 61 to go straight up the other end and almost score themselves. Only a good defensive block prevented Manning's goal bound effort from putting the visitors ahead. Two minutes after that Gurjosh Dhesi showed his agility when making a superb save to keep out Lucas Bennet, who had been played in by yet another ball inside the full-back. A few minutes of calm descended before, just past the hour, Luton went close again when Liam Tyler headed a left-wing corner delivery just over Parker's bar. The visitor's went close again two minutes after that when Raiders cleared an attack only as far as Ollie Manning who, in attempting to load the ball back into the mix, overhit it slightly and almost succeeded in dipping one in under the bar from 40 yards. Ryan Parker did well to tip it away. From the resulting corner, Luton came close once again as George Heaps near post delivery came back off the woodwork.
Raiders responded to this period pressure with a counter attack down the right which saw Flanagan cross low across the six-yard box. Dhesi was stretching to get something on the cross and succeeded only in pushing it out into the danger area but, luckily for the keeper, there were no home strikers on hand to finish it off.
The game then settled down somewhat after that burst of activity. No lack of effort from either side though, plenty of huffing and puffing but no clear cut chances.
With the clock ticking down Berkhamsted had one last opportunity when Napier flashed a shot across the face of the home goal but that was it, the referee blew for the end of the game and we were heading straight into a penalty shootout.

FT Berkhamsted Raiders 1 The 61FC 1. Over the 90 minutes a draw was probably the fairest result. Both sides had their chances but neither dominated enough to say they should have won the game inside 90 minutes.

Penalty Shoot-Out

Rob Alcock (Raiders) scores. 1-0
Liam Tyler (The 61) scores. 1-1
Tom Shaw (Raiders) sees his effort saved by Dhesi. 1-1
Joe O'Dell (The 61) hits the post. Still 1-1 after two each.
Evan Napier (Raiders) scores. 2-1
Ollie Manning (The 61) scores. Now 2-2 after three each.
Tom Craddock (Raiders) scores. Dhesi got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out. 3-2
George Heaps (The 61) scores. 3-3 after four each.
Tom Flanagan (Raiders) score. Again Dhesi almost kept it out. 4-3
Jason Freeman (The 61) sees his spot-kick saved well by Ryan Parker.

Berkhamsted Raiders win 4-3 on penalties and will face Aylesbury Vale Dynamos in the next round.

Berkhamsted Raiders: Ryan Parker, Joe Chott, Kaison Warren, Luca Ozcan, Jack Petrovic, Ed Bryant(c), Tom Flanagan, Tom Shaw, Lucas Bennett, Harry Loakes, Evan Napier. Subs: Adam Jewell, Rob Alcock, Jude McKay, Tom Craddock, Ollie Burchnall
The 61FC: Gurjosh Dhesi, 3.Jason Freeman, Adam Carter, 5.Liam Tyler, Jerome Isles, 2.Joe O'Dell(c), 10.George Heaps, 8.Ollie Manning, Curtis Finch, 11.Ethan Scott, 9.Wayne Polson

If you want to catch either of these teams in action this weekend, both have league games. Berkhamsted Raiders welcome mid-table Sarratt to Broadwater. The reverse fixture, in August, finished 2-1 to the home side. Sarratt's goals coming from Zach Booth and Jayden Chambelain. Harry Loakes scored for Raiders.
The 61FC are on the road again as they head North to take on ninth-placed New Bradwell St Peter. They met on the opening day at Kingsway Recreation Ground. The Petes took home the three points with a 3-0 victory thanks to Ted Brown, Ben Wilson and Luke Burrows.
​

​The Ground
It's been almost ten years since I first visited Broadwater or, as it is now known The Glencar Community Stadium. The ground is just a short walk from the town centre and is just one sports facility in an area wedged between the main railway line and the canal. Aside fro the football ground there is also the tennis & squash club, bowls club and a skatepark. Parking at the football ground is very limited, but there is a good-sized car park just a few hundred yards further down Broadwater.
From memory it doesn't appear that the ground has changed much since I last visited which is not surprising considering how tightly hemmed in it is. There's not a lot of room for extra stands or building within the ground. This is particularly clearly demonstrated on the station side of the ground where spectator walkway is very narrow and backed by a brick wall which marks the boundary to a residential area. There are covered, terraced standing areas behind both goals. The Digger Phillips Stand at the railway end and The Sammy Dormer Stand at the Broadwater end. On the car park side of the ground there is covered seating running along about a third of the length of the pitch. The dugouts are built into the wall that separates this stand from the playing surface. The clubhouse is situated outside of the ground, alongside the car park. However, there is also a toilet block in the ground at the canal end.
When I first visited I described the stadium as quirky with some old-style atmosphere. I stick by this. It's certainly not your bog-standard non-league ground, which is a good thing. In my opinion, well worth a visit.


Ground Number: Re-Visit
Att: 45
Entrance: £4.00
Programme: N/A

The final SRWFL Weekly of 2023 is a slightly different format. Only a few games were played this past weekend and there are no further fixtures yet announced. So, is it the season to be merry? Well, for some it certainly is. Ascot United, Long Crendon and AFC Portchester all sit proudly atop their respective divisions. Portchester replace Stoneham at the top in the South after the records of Eastleigh Reserves and Selsey Dev were finally expunged, giving Portchy a two point lead at the top with a game in hand. The second meeting of the teams at Stoneham Lane is a much-awaited game and possible title decider. In the North Long Crendon still lead the way but only only goal difference from Wycombe's u23 squad. Penn lost a little ground with defeat on Sunday but still have a game in hand. In the Premier League, Ascot re-established their title credentials with a superb win at Oxford. Ellie White (Oxford City), Henna Hussain (Penn & Tylers Green) and Chloe Melton (AFC Stoneham) lead the goal scoring charts in their divisions. 
For others, the Christmas break will be a time to reflect, regroup and pull together in advance of the run-in to the season when we resume. Eversley & California, Caversham United and Fleet Town remain winless. Caversham and Fleet, who's only point came against Eastleigh Reserves and is therefore now expunged, are the only teams without a point.

Midweek
Combined Counties Cup
AFC Portchester P-P Portsmouth u23

Results 17th December
Premier
Oxford City 2-6 Ascot United
The Hoops, fresh from last week's victory over Woodley United, stunned the league leaders by taking the lead after just over a minute through Emily Harris. However, Ascot played their way back in and, once they finally found their range, were practically unstoppable. Sarah Leonard scored twice and could easily have had a hat-trick or more if not for an excellent goalkeeping display from Oxford's Holly Jenkins. Amelia Kimble, Philippa Holden, Tiff Skinner and Alix Todd added the other Ascot goals. There was a late consolation from Amelia Alves-Martins for Oxford. You can read the match report from the Ascot United website or check out the BotP Match Blog.

County Cup
Swindon Supermarine 0-13 Warminster Town
Wiltshire County Cup holders Warminster Town took form control of this game despite being up against one of last season's semi-finalists. Swindon were blown away by a series of goal blasts in short, sharp intervals. Poppy Wannell scored twice in just over a minute early on. Mia Blazey then added two more inside four minutes around the half way mark of the first half. Poppy Wannell then completed her hat-trick just before the half-hour. Mia Blazey also hit her hat-trick before the break with Imogen Jones adding a seventh. Early in the second period Maddy Brown made it eight before Louise Heitt and Sophie Woodward (her first for the club) clocked up double figures. It was then left to Mia Blazey to strike her fourth and Poppy Wannell to get her fourth and fifth within a minute towards the end.

Division One North
Long Crendon 4-1 Beaconsfield Town
Goals from Brooke Burns, Sarah Harrison, Emma Leith and Tara Woodward ensured that Long Crendon remained top of the pile going into the Christmas break. All of Crendon's goals came in the first half, putting the game to bed before the break. Hannah Hester grabbed a consolation for The Rams but it was too little too late as they slipped to their tenth defeat of the season.

Milton United 2-0 Penn & Tylers Green
Four league wins on the bounce came to an end for a bare-bones Penn side at Milton Heights. Goals from Natalie Evans and Jessica Simons were enough to earn the three points. United made it four wins for the season and, although still down in eighth place, have four or five games in hand on those above them. A good run could put them right back in contention.

Wycombe Wanderers u23 3-2 Kidlington
Early divisional leaders Kidlington slipped to fifth after this defeat added to the loss of three points from their early season victory over Eversley, which appears to have been reversed. Alice Musgrove and Ammara Qureshi were both on the score sheet for the Chairgirls in the first half. Mia Parkin added the third just before the hour mark. The good news for Kidlington was that top scorer Courtney Sumner was back amongst the goals, bagging both to take her season total to 15.

County Cup
Southampton Women's FC 0-0 (3-1p) AFC Stoneham
A Purps side down to the bare 11 after injuries and illness, took on higher ranked opposition and almost pulled off the result of the season. Even after bowing out on penalties, Stoneham can hold their heads high after keeping out The Sirens for 90 minutes. Stoneham's focus will now turn to trying to regain the top spot they lost after the records of Selsey and Eastleigh were expunged this week. 

​Which just leaves enough time to say:

​For the second consecutive Sunday, I found myself at the Raw Charging Stadium. After last week's display by Oxford City Ladies against Woodley United, I couldn't resist the opportunity to see how the Hoops would fare against league leaders Ascot United. Ascot won the reverse fixture 4-3 with goals from Laura Spark, Hayley Cruickshank, Nicole Brown and Tiff Skinner, cancelling out two from Ellie White and one from Emily Harris.

What a start from The Hoops, catching Ascot napping in the very first minute. A short corner routine found Emily Harris on the left-hand corner of the penalty area. She hit a swirling shot which completely deceived Markham. 1-0
Ascot responded well to the going behind, but struggled to find the killer pass in the final third. However, they really should have been back on level terms after 12 minutes when Amelia Kimble met Sarah Leonard's cross on the volley from 6 yards only to see the ball smash off the bar and to safety.
Straight back up the other end Markham and her defence got into some confusion from a long ball gifting an opportunity for a long range effort with the goalkeeper out of her ground. Luckily for Ascot the ball sailed wide of the mark.
After probing away for the best of half the first period, Ascot finally got themselves level and it was an excellent piece of counter-attacking play that created the goal. Winning the ball back in their own half, Ascot immediately countered through Emily Fox's superb pass over the top of the defence. Sarah Leonard then outpaced her marked before drilling a low shot past Jenkins into the far corner. 1-1
Less than three minutes later the Yellawomen were in front. Leonard's low cross from the right was met by Amelia Kimble who beat Holly Jenkins to the ball and swept it into an empty net. 1-2. It was all Ascot now, and only the bravery of Jenkins in the home goal prevented an immediate third, when she threw herself at the feet of Leonard, who had once more burst clear of the defence. However, even the excellent Jenkins, who was to go on to make a number of top class saves, could not prevent the third goal arriving on 29 minutes. Once again it was a ball in behind that did the damage, this time from Laura Moss, perfect for Sarah Leonard to turn on the after burners before slotting home. 1-3.
From 1-0 down to 3-1 up in the space of seven minutes. Ascot were showing their top of the table credentials and Oxford were struggling to live with them.
The fourth goal didn't take much longer to arrive either, even if it was a strange one. Philippa Holden delivered a corner from the left which evaded everyone, hit the far post and crossed the line before being desperately hacked clear. Too late though, the assistant had spotted that it was over was in. 1-4.
After that Oxford, to their credit, steadied the ship. Holly Jenkins was called upon to produce another excellent stop to prevent Leonard getting her hat-trick, but the Hoops did manage to keep Ascot at bay and get through to half-time where they would need to re-group.

HT: Oxford City 1 Ascot United 4. After going a goal down so early on, Ascot took a little while to find their shooting boots but, once they did, they were relentless. Oxford must have gone in a little shell-shocked because, in all fairness, they had performed quite well, but had been put to the sword by a ruthless Ascot display going forward. To make matters worse for The Hoops, top scorer Ellie White had been limping since a challenge midway through the half.

​I must admit, I was surprised to see White still on the pitch at the start of the second half after she had signalled to the bench that she may need to come off towards the end of the first period. Clearly Oxford were hoping that she could at least stay on long enough to maybe get them back into the game.
However, if Oxford thought that Ascot might take their foot off the pedal a little, they were sorely mistaken. An early Leonard strike just wide of the mark was just a reminder of their intentions. Three minutes after the break, they made it five when Leonard's pace and trickery got her to the byline. Her cross was palmed away by Jenkins but only as far as substitute Tiff Skinner who prodded home the loose ball. 1-5.
Jenkins was called into action once more to tip over another goal bound effort from Leonard before, on 54 minutes, five became six. Laura Moss struck a free-kick, from way out, which Jenkins could only push against the bar and Alix Todd was on hand to nod home the rebound. 1-6
Clearly it was now game over. Ascot made a few changes to their line-up and lost a little bit of momentum. Not enough, however, for Oxford to get themselves back into the game. In fact, it was still Ascot who looked the more likely to add to their tally. That was, if it hadn't been for Holly Jenkins. The Oxford stopper produced save after save, keeping out Skinner again as well as Dominique Carrington. She then tipped Maddie Robertson's free-kick over the bar as Ascot went looking for a magnificent seven.
Again though, credit to City, they didn't give the game up and, as the half progressed they did start to venture into Ascot territory more and more. With 18 minutes left on the clock they managed something by way of consolation when substitute Amelia Alves-Martins drove the ball low to Markham's left, for a good finish. 2-6.
That left just one more display of goalkeeping excellence from Jenkins as she pushed Philippa Holden's effort around the post.

FT: Oxford City 2 Ascot United 6. The Yellawomen take a five point lead into the Christmas break, albeit having played two more than Bournemouth Sports. City remain in third, now ten points adrift of the leaders but two ahead of Woodley, who have three games in hand.
In the end it was comfortable victory for Ascot but Oxford gave them a little shock at the start and, to be fair, never gave up the game, even when it was all over bar the shouting. City have a good squad and will win more than they lose this seaosn. However, Ascot showed their quality all over the pitch and the pace they have down both flanks is lethal. When the 2024 fictures are released it wil be interesting to see when Ascot have to travel to Bournemouth. That game is beginning to shape up as a potential title decider.

Oxford City: 1.Jenkins, 3.Healy, 5.Slessor, 15.Latimer, 2.Hume, 12.Major, 4.Tayman(c), 9.Walecki, 17.Nicholson, 10.White, 11.Harris. Subs: 14.Austin, 16.Thorne, 6.Cook, 7.Alves-Martins, 8.Ferreira
Ascot United: Markham, Luckhurst-McCord, Drage, Moss, Fox, Holden, Robertson, Todd, Couzens, Kimble, Leanard. Subs: Huntley, Skinner, Richardson-Taylor, Killick-Bird, Carrington

​For the second Saturday running I had the opportunity to get to a local grassroots game. Having enjoyed my previous ventures into the North Bucks League it was the perfect chance to check out a couple of teams from that league that I had not yet managed to see this season. Thankfully the weather had improved this weekend and there was no real problem with the games getting called off. So, I decided to make the short journey towards Milton Keynes for Hanslope v Stewkley, two sides who are well established in the Premier League. In fact Hanslope were top of the table when the 2019-20 season was abandoned.

The Background
Hanslope have been around for well over one hundred years, having been founded in 1911. Stewkley can't quite match that longevity but are still a well established team having been formed immediately after WWII, in 1946. The sides are very familiar foes in the league. Hanslope can claim to have the upper hand, certainly in recent times. In the last eight league meetings before this season, they have won six with Stewkley winning the other two. Interestingly, there have been no league draws between the clubs in the last five seasons. 
They have also already met twice this season, once in the league and once in the Premier Division Trophy. Both games were played at Stewkley and both have been won by Hanslope. The early league meeting ended 2-1 to Hanslope with goals from Alfie Rogers and Jason Wilson. Rogers was also on the mark last week as Hanslope won 4-1 in the cup at Stewkley.
At the start of play Stewkley sat in 7th spot, five points behind Hanslope in fourth but with two games in hand. A win could put the visitors well within striking distance of the top two. Hanslope, however, could break into the promotion spots with a win.

​The Ground
Hanslope is a village just to the North of Milton Keynes. Hanslope FC play at the Recreation Ground on Castlethorpe Road just to the South-East of the village centre. The good sized car park sits on either side of the cluster of buildings that incorprates both the changing areas and the local community hall. The recreation ground has a kids play area and a multi-sport astrosurf pitch. Theer are small-sided pitches directly outside the community hall as well as a cricket sqaure and the main football pitch, which is towards the far end of the ground, in the shadow of the rather impressive 15th century church, which is visible from a few miles away on the approach to the village.
The pitch was unsurprisingly quite heavy and not easy for the players with some very unpredicatable bobbles. Conversely, for a team nicknames The Slope, the pitch does not have a discernible slope. It is, however, very open to the elemnts and, on a day like Saturday with a very chilly wind blowing, you really need to wrap up. 

​The Game
Perhaps still stinging from the cup reversal, Stewkley came out of the blocks fast and in the opening salvoes, were the only side in the game. Their first half-chance came in the fifth minute when Ryan Lafferty got a glimpse of goal but put his shot well over Reece McGlynn's bar. Undeterred, Stewkley kept pushing and, two minutes later, were rewarded for their quick start with a delightfully simple but effective goal. The ball was played up their right flank where Keiran Roadnight got in behind the defence to deliver a perfect cross for an unmarked Ewan Reeves to head home from close range. 0-1
Stewkley had their tails up now. A minute after going ahead they fired another warning shot at the home goal when Rory Scrivener's shot only just cleared the bar. 
Hanslope were struggling to get to grips with the game at this point. In fact, it took until the 19th minute before they managed their first effort on target. It came from a free-kick on the edge of the box which Josh Bird drove low but straight at Will Essex. The next opportunity for the home side came just before the half-hour mark and it proved to be decisive. Paul Hollingsworth wriggled into the Stewkley box and was clipped. A clear penalty. Jason Wilson made no mistake from the spot with only Hanslope's second strike on target. 1-1.
The goal changed the pattern of the game. Hanslope suddenly seemed to believe in themselves and Stewkley's fast start had lost some of its steam. Having said that and, despite seeing much more of the ball, the home side were still unable to give Essex any more troubles. That's not saying that the game didn't provide entertainment though. In fact, I can honestly say that I haven't smiled and laughed so much at a game for a long time. That was largely down to some of the comments coming from both benches. For instance, one of the Hanslope defenders had been continually advising the Stewkley coaches to 'let the referee referee the game'. That was until a decision went against the same player who immediately questioned the referee to a chorus of 'let the referee referee the game' from the Stewkley bench. There was also an incident where a Hanslope player was clearly fouled but the contact came off the pitch. The home bench was incensed but the referee's comment was that he thought the foul came off the pitch. Of course, he meant that the ball was already out of play and had been given in favour of Hanslope. However, the comment did cause some mirth on both benches with comments of 'Oh well, that's alright then'.
However, the most bizarre moment of the first half came with just a minute left. Hanslope captain Matt Chilton took a throw-in over o n the far side. It was probably the most clear foul throw I've ever seen, a view backed up by the home bench. the referee pulled him up on it and was immediately challenged by Chilton. I don't know what he said but whatever it was, the referee deemed it worthy of a sin-bin. Chilton was convinced that he had been harshly treated even though his own team-mates were telling him otherwise.

HT Hanslope 1 Stewkley 1. An interesting first half. Stewkley started the half on fire and deservedly took the lead. Hanslope were handed a way back into the game with the penalty and, after that, began to look liek a team pushing for the promotion spots. The sin-bin towards the end of the half was one of the most bizarre incidents I've seen at a game. 

​If Stewkley thought they were going to take advantage of the extra player at the start of the half, they were sorely mistaken. It was Hanslope who came out the stronger. They had retired to the changing room at the break whereas the Stewkley team and the referee had stayed on the pitch. Who knows what was said in the home changing room but, whatever it was, it did the trick.
Four minutes after the restart the home side went in front when an excellent cross from the left was headed home by Patrick Kerin. 2-1. It was now the home side who were on the front foot, even a player light. On 53 minutes they came very close to increasing their lead when an in swinging corner from the right was pushed against his own bar by Will Essex. Then, just prior to the hour, Slope hit the woodwork again when Alex Rowe saw his header smash off the bar. It was all Hanslope in the opening fifteen minutes of the second period. Stewkley were struggling to defend against balls swung into their penalty area. Maybe that was the half-time team talk because, every time Hanslope played a ball into their opponents penalty areas, they looked dangerous.
The ball was certainly spending more time in the Stewkley half of the pitch now. Possibly also a symptom of the conditions as well as Hanslope's new-found vigour. The wind was still gusting across the pitch in their favour this half.
With 17 minutes remaining Jason Wilson had an opportunity to seal if for the hosts when he was played through on the right. However, admittedly from a tight angle, his shot hit the side-netting.
Stewkley began to push forward more with time running out. Ryan Lafferty headed just over from a right-wing corner in the 84th minute but that was as close as they got. In fact, they could have conceded a third in the dying moments when another Hanslope effort came back off the woodwork.
In the end the two goals proved to be enough for Hanslope to make it a trio of victories over Stewkley this season.

FT Hanslope 2 Stewkley 1. Once again, conditions for both teams were difficult but they managed to produce some entertaining football  for a small and very chilly bunch of spectators. Despite Hanslope winning all three encounters this season, in my opinion there really wasn't too much between the teams, except that Hanslope were more ruthless when they were on top.
The teams are now getting a well-earned rest until the New Year. If you want to catch either team in action, you'll need to wait until January 6th. Hanslope make the short journey to second from both MK Wanderers, looking to avenge an early season 2-1 home defeat. Stewkley await the visit of Newport Pagnell Athletic who they play for the first time this season.

Big thanks to referee Stuart Hilton and the Stewkley X admin for sharing the team sheets with me. It makes life so much easier when trying to right these match blogs.

Hanslope: McGlynn, Kerin, Rowe, Brown, J.Chilton, M.Chilton(c), Kelly, Hollingsworth, Bird, Read, Wilson. Subs: Gregory, Kennard
Stewkley: Essex, Roadnight, Proctor, Vernon, Wagner, Budgen, E.Reeves, Hardings, Lafferty, McKenna, Scrivener. Subs: Collins, H.Reeves

Ground Number: 391
Att: 
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

The most popular score over this past weekend was P-P. The amount of rain that fell across parts of the country caused a huge number of postponements. However, across the SoReg divisions and cup games, five matches managed to beat the conditions. In the Premier League, Oxford City leapt up two places into third with their win over Woodley. Long Crendon took over at the top in Division One North as they smashed eight past Caversham. In the South there was stalemate as Woking and Bournemouth Sports Reserves drew for the second time in a month.

​Badshot Lea P-P Bournemouth Sports

Oxford City 3-0 Woodley United
The Hoops leapfrogged their opponents into third spot with a solid performance on Sunday. United travelled with a depleted squad and lost midfielder Bonnie Messitt after half an hour. However, nothing can be taken away from Oxford's performance. Two more goals from Ellie White and one from Georgia Hodgetts gave the home side the points. BotP was at the Raw Charging Stadium to record the events in a match blog (Fully Charged Hoops). Photographer Andy Wicks was also there to capture the action for us. If you look closely you may even spot me in one of the photos

​Ascot United Reserves P-P Kidlington

Caversham United 0-8 Long Crendon
Long Crendon too over from Kidlington at the top of Division One North with a crushing 8-0 win at Caversham. The Greens now lead the other Greens on goal difference with the sides level on games. Brooke Burns, Tara Woodward and Sarah Harrison each scored twice. Megan Brockwell and Nicole Jacobs also chimed in with a goal apiece. The Goats will be relishing the prospect of a few weeks off to recharge, regroup and look to get some points on the board in 2024.

Penn & Tylers Green P-P Wycombe Wanderers u23

​Abbey Rangers P-P AFC Portchester

Fleet Town P-P Havant & Waterlooville

Woking 0-0 Bournemouth Sports Reserves
Honours even at Eastwood Leisure Centre as neither Woking nor Sports could break the deadlock in a tight game. This was the second occasion inside a month that these teams could not be separated. Whilst the result leaves Woking in fifth spot, the point for Bournemouth takes them above Havant & Waterlooville into third. Read the match report on the Woking web site.

League Cup
AFC Stoneham 5-2 Chesham United Development
Chesham gave Division One South leaders are real battle before bowing out of the League Cup. Twice the Division One North newbies took the lead in the first half, first through Katie West and then again through Mathilde Beloou. League top scorer Chloe Melton and Susani Lucas replied for Stoneham. In the second half Chesham held the Purps out for another 33 minutes before a late flurry from the hosts. Both Melton and Lucas notched their second goals, with Mia Delaney getting the other goal.

Eversley & California P-P Eastleigh

Milton United 0-6 Wycombe Wanderers
After two consecutive defeats, Wycombe got back to winning ways in some style, putting six past Division One North side Milton United. However, the score line doesn't fully reflect the fight provided by the lower ranked side. Two from Katie Riddington had the Chairgirls in front at the break but the score then remained at 2-0 until Wycombe hit four goals in the final 20 minutes to wrap it up. Molly Carter completed a second half hat-trick and Katie Riddington was also on the mark again to grab a hat-trick for herself.

Winchester City Flyers P-P Warminster Town
​

​Combined Counties Cup
AFC Portchester v Portsmouth u23
Still with a 100% record in the league, Portchester go into the Christmas break with a midweek Combined Counties Cup match against local rivals Portsmouth's development team. Portsmouth got through to this round on a bye. Portchester were awarded a home win in their tie with Alton. The winners will face wither Margate or Deal Town in the Third Round.
The OnSite Goup Stadium, Cranleigh Road, Portchester, PO16 9DP

​Premier
Oxford City v Ascot United
This game has the potential to be a Christmas cracker. Ascot still lead the way in the premier League but are only 2 points clear of Bournemouth, who have a game in hand. There's then a gap of seven points to Woodley in third, with Oxford a further point adrift. City are still unbeaten at home and, after watching them on Sunday, I can see why. Ascot have a pretty solid defence but it will be severely tested by the Oxford strike force.
Marsh Lane, Marston, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 0NQ

County Cup
Swindon Supermarine v Warminster Town
Wiltshire Premier League Supermarine will be looking to pull off a County Cupset against a Warminster side two steps above them. There has been no shortage of goals scored by Swindon in the league, 44 in 9 games to be exact. Top scorer Amy Hards has 19 of those, a haul that has included three hat-tricks and two four goal blasts. Town, however, have been on a good run of form, winning three of their last four league games, including ending Ascot United's unbeaten start to the season.
Supermarine Road, South Marston, SN3 4BZ

Division One North
Long Crendon v Beaconsfield Town
Long Crendon will be looking to maintain their place at the top after going above Kidlington on goal difference following an8-0 win at Caversham. However, Beaconsfield also won 8-90 at Caversham in their last game, so they will still be on a high from their biggest win of the season. Recent history is on the side of the Greens. The sides have met twice already this season, once in the league and once in the County Cup. Long Crendon have been victorious in both, by scores of 4-0 and 3-1.
Long Crendon Recreation Ground, Chearsley Road, Long Crendon HP18 9BS

Milton United v Penn & Tylers Green
Last season these two produced two superbly entertaining draws on their way to a second and third place finish respectively. Penn have the upper hand this season, currently third but with three games in hand that could potentially put them six points clear. Milton have only played six league games so far and could find themselves back in the running if they put a sequence of wins together.
Milton Heights, Potash Lane, Milton, Abingdon OX14 4XB

Wycombe Wanderers u23 v Kidlington
Having lost top spot last weekend, Kidlington will be keen to find a result to keep the pressure on Long Crendon. A trip to Wycombe would probably not be top of their wish list. Wanderers have a 100% home record this season and have scored twelve goals in their three games. Kidlington will be looking to return to the form that saw them win five league games on the bounce before Penn put an end to their run a month ago.
18i78 Stadium, Wymers Wood Road, Burnham SL1 8JG

County Cup
Southampton v AFC Stoneham
Stoneham, still top of Division One South and fresh from a County Cup win, make the short journey to Test Park to take on National League Division One South-West side Southampton. Whilst the Purps will have their work cut out against a higher-ranked opposition, they can take some comfort in the knowledge that the Sirens are yet to win at home in the league, although they have been successful in cup games.
Test Park Sports Ground, Southampton, SO16 9BP

For this match blog I decided, for two reasons, that I should use a different format. Firstly, I have been to Oxford City's ground many times and, although it has changed a lot over the years, it certainly hasn't changed at since my last visit or even the one before that. Secondly, the background to this game has already been covered in the weekly Southern Region blog. So, of course most people reading this, will have read that. If not, then the questions is, why not?
So, that being said, this particular match blog is pretty much all about the match.

This was my third football match of a pretty busy weekend. Saturday morning I was in Blewbury watching my daughter's side win 1-0 in the cup. Later that afternoon I was in Padbury, watching the home side edged out by Burghfield in another cup match. Now, on Sunday, after a flying visit to the Midlands in the morning, I was back at Marsh Lane for this Southern Region Premier League clash between fifth placed Oxford City and third placed Woodley United.

When I got to the Raw Charging Stadium the teams were out warming up. The first thing I noticed was that Woodley appeared to have a distinct lack of numbers. As it happened they could only name one substitute and had at least six familiar names missing from recent team sheets, maybe more. Oxford fielded seven of the players who started in the 5-1 win at Kidlington. Holly Jenkins was back between the sticks, Bailee Latimer and Georgia Hodgetts were back in and Summer Major moved up from last week's substitute appearance. Anna Cook, Amber Le-Beau and Jessica Austin dropped to the bench.

​It was Woodley, in their yellow and grey kit, who threatened fist in a tit-for-tat opening couple of minutes. Sarah Lawrence was released down the left and got a shot off that was fielded well by Holly Jenkins. Up the other end, Oxford responded with an effort from Georgia Tayman that whistled over Sophie Cheadle's bar.
After those two early attempts at goal, the game settled into an end-to-end affair with not too many clear cut chances. Georgia Tayman demonstrated her vision and passing ability again when she slipped in White on the 10 minute mark, but good Woodley cover restricted the chance to a corner which came to nothing. At the other end, Sarah Lawrence once again stung the hands of Holly Jenkins. The ball in between the centre-backs and right-back of Oxford was proving to be a source of trouble for the defence, given the pace of Lawrence. Just past the quarter-hour Woodley's focus of attack switched to the right and Sajunae Turner's ball across the face of goal was inches from being poked home by Lawrence.
At this point the game was a tight, cagey affair. Just before the half-hour another through ball found Summer major who fired wide, but the flag had already gone up anyway. Then came what proved to be a decisive moment in the game. Bonnie Messitt went down in the centre of the pitch and was clearly in some distress. Almost immediately the signal for a stretcher was sent to the side-lines and, after a lengthy delay, Messitt was carried off. Thankfully she was sitting up and even appeared to be smiling (or was that a grimace?) as she left the field. Torn ligaments I was told later. I guess one of the benefits of Oxford City's ground being practically in the grounds of John Radcliffe Hospital. A short trip to A & E. Best wishes to Bonnie for a swift recovery. Woodley, having been forced into the change, were now left with no options on the bench.
The delay didn't help with the flow of the game and, as before, it was still a little disjointed. That was until the 39th minute when Oxford's deadly duo took it into their own hands to break the deadlock. Emily Harris drove down the left and then found strike partner Ellie White in the centre of the penalty area. She fired low past Cheadle, who got something on it but couldn't keep it out. 1-0

HT Oxford City 1 Woodley United 0. A fairly even first half. Both sides had their chances but it was Oxford who managed to convert one of them. The question is, can Woodley find a way back without any other players to call on from the bench?

​In a mirror of the first half, the first chance of the second period came down Woodley's left, when Lawrence again got in behind the back-line. Unfortunately for United her cross was just behind the two players running in. Just to add to the feeling of deja-vu, the next opportunity came from a Tayman shot that went just over the bar. 
Oxford were now beginning to get a grip on the game. Tayman, once again demonstrating her vision, almost created a goal for White when she threaded another ball through the Woodley defence. This time, however, Sophie Cheadle was out quickly and bravely to smother the ball at the attackers feet. Woodley's response to this was another ball down the left where Lawrence was still creating many headaches for the home defenders.
Just past the hour the home side doubled their lead when a free-kick played into the penalty area was not fully cleared by Woodley. Georgia Hodgetts latched onto the loose ball and drove it low past Cheadle's left hand. 2-0
There were twenty minutes left on the clock when another cross from Woodley's left evaded players in the box and skipped up off the surface, appearing to hit the arm of a defender. Nothing given but there were plenty of Woodley shouts for a penalty and, to be fair, I've seen plenty of those given by VAR. However, it would have been very harsh on the defender who really had little time to react.
Two minutes later Ellie White had a glorious opportunity to sew the game up but slid her shot just wide of the mark. That was quickly followed by a half-chance for Woodley when yet another ball from the left, this time towards the near post, was net by Mollie Haines, who had been pushed further forward from her full-back role. The Woodley player got to the ball first but her flick went narrowly wide of the post. It was to be Woodley's last real attempt on goal.
With thirteen minutes remaining City substitute Erin Nicholson once again forced Cheadle into a full length save. This time, however, the Woodley stopper could only push the ball into the path of Ellie White who made no mistake from 6 yards. 3-0
There was still time for Cheadle, who had had a very good game, to prevent Tayman and Harris from getting their names on the scoresheet, but certainly no way back for the visitors.

FT Oxford City 3 Woodley United 0. A fairly comfortable win in the end for Oxford. Woodley may have had a depleted squad for this game but, to be fair to Oxford, they looked a very good side who would give any team a problem on this form. The Hoops were solid at the back, driven and brilliantly led by captain Georgia Tayman in the middle and very lively and dangerous going forward. Emily Harris and Ellie White now have over 30 goals between them. Any side with that sort of firepower is going to be a threat. Woodley kept battling but the loss of Bonnie Messitt was a blow to them. Sarah Lawrence's pace up the left was a constant danger to Oxford but Holly Jenkins wasn't put under too much pressure at any point.
Woodley now have a long break to get injuries healed and re-group. Oxford, meanwhile, have a very tasty looking game against leaders Ascot United at the Raw Charging Stadium next Sunday. That could be a cracker.

Oxford City: Jenkins, Healy, Slessor, Latimer, Hume, Hodgetts, Tayman(c), Major, Chapman, White, Harris. Subs: Le-Beau, Austin, Thorne, Cook, Nicholson

Woodley United: Cheadle, Sims, Stringer, Sawyer, Lawrence, Surtees, Turner, Messitt, Haines, Hamblin, Harry. Subs: Skinner

​Saturday morning proved to be one of surprises. First of all my daughter's match, which had already been switched to an away tie because her team's home ground was unplayable, was deemed to be on. Considering I had been up since 4:30 and it had been raining continuously all that time, this was quite astounding. As it turned out, the pitch they played on drained very well and, although heavy, wasn't too bad at all. The second surprise was that my chosen game, Padbury v Burghfield, also passed a pitch inspection. At 10m they were very doubtful and I was on the verge of heading to my backup choice (Stoke Mandeville v Maidenhead Town on 3G), when I discovered that Padbury was on. 

The Ground
Padbury Village play, somewhat unsurprisingly, in Padbury Village, a couple of miles to the South-East of Buckingham. Their ground, at Padbury Pavilion just off Springfeilds, is also home to Padbury Cricket club and, in addition, has a couple of tennis courts at the far end of the sports field. The football pitch is directly outside the pavilion, at a 90 degree angle. The pavilion itself, as was the case at Silverstone a couple of weeks ago, is currently under refurbishment and extension, so there's not too much i can say about it. Maybe I'll have to go back when it re-opens fully. There's no spectator cover unless you count the lee of the pavilion which, on a day as gusty as today, didn't provide too much shelter to be honest.
The playing surface looks to be fairly flat although, being on a small hill, it is quite open to the wind blowing across it. There were patches of heavy going, especially around the centre circle. However, considering that there was standing water on three hours before kick-off, it looked in a pretty good state.

​The Background
This game was a Charles Twelftree Trophy Quarter-Final, a competition run by The Berks & Bucks FA for teams in the regional feeder leagues, ie Step 7 and below. The current holders are Old Bradwell United who beat Finchampstead 4-0 in last season's final. But, who is/was Charles Twelftree? There's not too much information about the competition out there. Although it seems that the competition started in 1950 with Flackwell Heath being the first winners. Neither of the sides in today's game have won the trophy before. Both have played there games to get to this stage. Padbury beat New Bradwell St Peter 9-8 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, followed it up with a 2-0 win at Prestwood and then beat Pundit FC 4-1  at home in the previous round. Burghfield defeated Mortimer 2-0, won 1-0 at AFC Winkfield and then beat Old Windsor 2-1 at home to reach the quarter-final.
Padbury, who recently won 7-2 at Silverstone in a league game watched by BotP (Racers Routed), are currently second in the North Bucks & District Premier League, pushing hard to stay in the second promotion spot behind runaway leaders MK United. Burghfield sit eighth in the Thames Valley Premier League, a little off the pace but with games in hand on all above them.

​The Game
With the icy wind at their backs in the first half, it was Burghfield who got off to a very quick start. Within the first minute, using the conditions to assist, they played in Chris Smalley-Ward on the right. He drove into the box and managed to get a deflected shot off whilst being bundled over in the process. The referee signalled for a corner amidst vociferous calls for a penalty from the visitors. You have to say, you've seen them given. The Fielders, however, looking very sharp, didn't have long to wait before getting their noses in front. Two minutes later they were awarded a free-kick some 25 yards out and just to the right of centre. Adam Telford lined it up, driving a stunning effort over the wall into the top corner, leaving Jude Murphy with no chance. 0-1.
It was an early setback for Padbury but they responded in tremendous fashion, equalising within two minutes of going behind. It was a goal of simplicity but well taken. A through ball split the visitor's defence leaving Jordan Tavener to run in on the right. He took the shot early, low and hard past Ben Lallament into the opposite corner. 1-1
So, five minutes in and in a blistering start to the game, both teams had scored with excellent strikes. Despite the wind, rain and heavy pitch, this was shaping up to be a proper cup classic. 
The home side, buoyed by the equaliser, went in search of a second and were almost rewarded very quickly when Charlie Willis drove a shot just over Lallament's bar. Somewhat unsurprisingly, this effort signalled a bit of a lull in goalmouth action, although no let-up in the pace of the game. Players were starting to find the going a a little difficult as the pitch cut up a little and became slippery in places, although nothing bad enough to suggest it was dangerous.
Just past the quarter-hour Teddy Thomas drew a good block from Padbury's Jude Murphy before, a minute later, Ben Lallament demonstrated just how unpredictable the conditions were making the game. Teh keeper came out of his area to make a clearance, which sailed over both sets of players before bouncing on the edge of the Padbury area, deceiving Murphy but going over the bar. Not a million miles from being a wind-assisted goal for the keeper.
Although the game was reasonably equal in terms of possession, it was Burghfield who were generating a few more chances. One such came in the 23rd minute when a free-kick was lofted into the Padbury box for Smalley-Ward, on the stretch, to head wide of the post. Having said that, Padbury also showed they had the tools to unlock the visitor's defence, especially with a similar through ball to the one that got them level. Again Tavener was on the end of it but this time a defender got in a good block.
The game still ebbed and flowed with neither team really able to get on top. Alex Hickey did manage to get his head to a cross five minutes from time, but that went over Lallament's bar. That was probably the closest either team came to going ahead before the break.

HT Padbury Village 1 Burghfield 1. Two goals in the first five minutes. The levels dropped a little after that, but both sides made chances. Not much to choose between the teams.

Padbury opened the second half by peppering the visitor's goal in the opening minute. Lallament was forced into two good stops but then, Burghfield almost caught them on the break when Tom McClellan got on the end of a sweeping move, shooting over the bar. The second half then took an unexpected turn when Padbury were reduced to ten men for ten minutes. Charlie Willis was first booked for kicking the ball away, after the referee's attention was drawn by his assistant. Just as play was about to restart the referee then sin-binned Willis, presumably for something he said.
Burghfield immediately stepped up the pressure. Pinball ensued in the home penalty area as Burghfield had at least three bites at the cherry before the referee signalled a defensive free-kick. Not sure the ball stayed out, but stay out it did.
Then, on the hour mark, a ball into the Burghfield area saw Lallament and a Padbury player come together in a 50/50 challenge. There was no malice from either player but both ended up in a heap and required treatment. The Padbury player was soon up on his feet but the keeper had not even moved, a sure sign it was more serious. Thankfully, after a lengthy delay and both physios in attendance, he was able to be helped off the pitch with, I was told, a nasty, deep gash around the knee area. Goalscorer Adam Telford donned the gloves as the visitors were forced into a change.
Five minutes later, while I was still trying to work out how much time would need to be added on, Padbury went ahead out of the blue when Dale Butler beat the new keeper from way out. I must admit, I only saw the ball fly into the net but judging by the response of his teammates, it must have been a very good strike. 2-1
As in the early minutes when Burghfield went ahead, the team in arrears hiot back almost immediately. It was, again, only two minutes before the visitors were back on equal terms. A long throw from the right was nodded goalward and there was Teddy Thomas to flick it past the keeper. 2-2.
With time running out, it looked as if we may be getting a penalty shoot-out. However, as the clock ticked over towards the 90 minute mark, there was plenty of late drama to be had. First of all Willis lunged into a tackle on Elliot Telford and was shown a second yellow card. The home side down to 10 men. Then, already into added time, Burghfield got themselves in front again and, just to run salt in the wounds, when the ball into the box was contested buy a group of players, the final touch came off a Padbury defender. 2-3.
The cup run was over for Padbury but the on-field incidents weren't quite done. Following something of a fracas in midfield, Padbury substitute Nick Farrow as also shown a red card. 

FT Padbury Village 2 Burghfield 3. Burghfield go through to the semi-final and will feel justified in their victory. However, it was the sort of game whereby the defeated side would also feel as if they should have won it. To be fair both teams served up plenty of entertainment in very adverse conditions and they should both be credited with that. Maybe the red card finally swung the game in Burghfield's favour, maybe not. Either way, it was an enjoyable game to watch for a neutral.

So, do you want to catch these teams in action soon? Of course you do.
Padbury are back at home on Saturday when they welcome Old Bradwell United Development to Springfields. The visitors are currently fifth in the table, six points behind Padbury with a game in hand. The reverse fixture saw Padbury edge a five goal thriller with goals from Jordan Tavener(2) and Dan Chittenden cancelling out Aaron Jones and Matt Car for OBU. Gus Thorne and Charlie Wills both saw red for Padbury.
Burghfield, who have games in hand on everyone above them, go to AFC Winkfield on Saturday. They've already met twice this season. The Charles Twlftree game which ended 1-0 to Burghfield and the reverse league fixture which Burghfield also won, 3-0.

Padbury Village: 1.Murphy, 2.L.McAndrew, 3.Willis, 4.Hickey, 5.D.McAndrew, 6.Heritage(c), 7.J.Tavener, 8.Bones, 9.Exton, 10.Marshall, 11.Butler.Subs: 21.Saltzer, 18.Thorne, 20.L.Tavener, 22.Farrow, 19.Fasolo
Burghfield: 1.Lallament, 2.E.Telford, 3.J.McClellan(c), 4.R.Farmer, 5.A.Telford, 6.Simmons, 7. Thomas, 8.Symington, 9.Smalley-Ward, 10.Guze, 11.T.McClellan. Subs: 12.Storey, 18.Nikomanis, 14.Peters, 15.Taylor, 16.Chowdhary

Ground Number: 390
Att: 
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

The leaders of both Premier League and Division One North were in cup action over the weekend. This gave the chasing pack an opportunity to close the respective gaps, and they did just that. Bournemouth Sports won 7-1 to move to within two points of Ascot in the Premier League. In Division One North Kidlington still have a three point lead but Penn &Tyles Green are now only three points adrift with there games in hand.

​Bournemouth Sports 7-1 Winchester City Flyers
Only one Premier League game survived this weekend and that gave Bournemouth Sports an opportunity to exert more pressure on leaders Ascot United. Sports took their chance in some style. Becky Miles, Hollie Shaw and Liane Folkenstern for Bournemouth and a response from Charlie Snelling for Flyers, saw the home side lead 3-1 at the interval. Emily Phillips made it 4-1 ten minutes into the second half, before all three of Bournemouth's first half scorers scored again.

Warminster Town P-P Wycombe Wanderers

​Ascot United Reserves 1-3 Penn & Tylers Green
Penn made it four league wins on the trot and ended Ascot's three game winning streak. Goals from Rachel Harnby, Rebecca Stopforth and Alexia Spokes were enough for a 3-1 victory. The victory lifts Penn to within three points of leaders Kidlington, with a massive three games in hand and a huge match against third-placed Wycombe next weekend.

Caversham United 0-8 Beaconsfield Town
Beaconsfield won for the first time since mid-September and heaped more woe on The Goats. The Rams got off to a flying start with Hannah Hester and Erin Dennis putting them two up before the quarter hour. Freya Harris and Emma Hester then doubled the advantage before the break. To be fair, Caversham steadied the ship after the break before Beaconsfield put them to the sword again in the final 20 minutes. Erin Dennis got her second goal before Grainne McNally, Kia Pantazis and Elle Scott completed the rout.

 All​Fleet Town A-A Bournemouth Sports Reserves
This game was abandoned with Sports leading 1-0, after a Fleet player sustained an injury. Best wishes and a speedy recovery to the player concerned.

Rushmoor 4-3 Abbey Rangers
Rushmoor's first league win since September was also some revenge for their 5-2 defeat at Rangers in October. The result also helped Rushmoor to leapfrog their opponents into sixth spot, having played three games fewer.
Rangers goals came from Rebecca Burtenshaw and Leah Robertson in the first half. Melissa Andrews added their third just past the hour. All four of Rushmoor's goals came from top scorer Emma Mutch. The 11th time this season that a SoReg layer has scored four or more in a game.

​BBFA County Cup
Milton United P-P Milton Keynes Dons SET

League Cup
Badshot Lea 0-1 Woodley United
Premier League basement side Badshot Lea gave Woodley a real game in tough conditions for both teams. The only goal of the game was an unfortunate own goal from a Bonnie Messitt corner. Once again this week, we are indebted to Andy Wicks for capturing the action for us.

Havant & Waterlooville P-P Abingdon United Development

Kidlington 1-5 Oxford City
The Division One North leaders, who've been having a minor wobble recently, were dumped out of the League Cup by their Premier League neighbours. Emily Harris, two from top scorer Ellie White and another from Bethany Chapman, responded to by Abi Haynes for Kidlington, had the score at 1-4 after 45 minutes. White completed her hat-trick just before the hour mark as The Hoops cruised through to the next round.

Long Crendon 0-6 AFC Portchester
The North / South divide was in evidence on Sunday as Division One South Portchester put six past Division One North Long Crendon, on their own patch. Two goals each from Aimee Hall-Guy, Millie Bradbury and, of course, Eilidh Currie (both screamers) sent Portchy back to the South coast happy. Check out the @portchyladies X feed for videos of the goals and some excellent photos from @LindsayHyde1. ​You can also read the match report on the AFC Portchester website.

Woking 2-3(aet) Ascot United
A valiant effort from The Cards who forced Premier League leaders to battle all the way into extra-time to finally edge the game. Philippa Holden put Ascot in front after 17 minutes only for Gaby Hobday to equalise 7 minutes later. Charlotte Keenan then had The Cards if front on the half-hour and up to the break. It took until 65 minutes for Amelia Kimble to level it up and that 's the way it stayed until 6 minutes into extra-time when Alixandra Todd hit what proved to be the winner.
​Read the match report on the Woking website and view the superb match action photos from James Prickett.

​Premier League
Badshot Lea v Bournemouth Sports
The Baggies are still chasing that illusive second win of the season and will have a tough test against the division's form side, Bournemouth Sports. Badshot Lea were unlucky to lose out to Woodley last weekend, an own goal being the difference between the teams. Bournemouth are the league's top scorers with 27 in 8 games, although only 6 of those have come on their travels. They also boast the tightest defence with just 8 conceded in those matches.
Operatix Community Ground, Westfield Lane, Wrecclesham GU10 4PF

Oxford City v Woodley United
Back in October The Hoops inflicted Woodley's first defeat of the season with a 2-1 win at Bulmershe Pavilion. That victory came after United took the lead through Sarah Lawrence. League top scorer Ellie White equalised and Bethany Chapman hit the winner five minutes from time. Both sides won away from home in the League Cup last weekend. Whilst Oxford are on a run of three unbeaten in all competitions, Woodley lost their last league outing, 4-1 at Ascot.
Marsh Lane, Marston, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 0NQ

Division One North
Ascot United Reserves v Kidlington
Both sides lost at home to Premier League opposition in the League Cup last Sunday. Kidlington also lost their last league match, giving the chasing pack the chance to close the gap at the top. When the teams met at Exeter Park in September, Ascot inflicted Kidlington's first defeat with goals from Olivia Mansell and two from Millie Bilcliff. Abi Haynes was on the mark for The Greens.
Racecourse Ground, Winkfield Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7LJ

Caversham United v Long Crendon
The Goats continue to struggle this season. They've shipped 35 goals in their last four league outings and will desperately want to plug the gaps in their defence quickly. They face a Long Crendon side who conceded six themselves at the weekend, going out of the League Cup to a rampant Portchester team. Last season Long Crendon won this fixture 6-1, so history is also against Caversham. On the plus side for Caversham, they rarely fail to score at home. Last Sunday was the first time this had happened this season.
Mapledurham Recreation Ground, Upper Woodcote Road, Mapledurham, Reading RG4 7LD

Penn & Tylers Green v Wycombe Wanderers u23
The teams go into this match level on points, Penn in second place and Wycombe in third. However, the Chairgirls have played two more than their hosts. Both are three points adrift of Kidlington who have played one more than Wycombe and three more than Penn. The reverse fixture, played in October, saw Wycombe win 3-2 thanks to a Shannon Read hat-trick, the third of which was a 92nd minute winner after Penn had come from 2-0 down at the break.
French School Meadow, Elm Road, Penn HP10 8LG

Division One South
Abbey Rangers v AFC Portchester
Rangers have narrowly lost their last two league games, 1-0 and 4-3 and, following the resignations from Selsey and Eastleigh, are effectively second from bottom. However, there eight points clear of Fleet and level on points with Rushmoor. Portchester are still defending a 100% record and sit second, a point behind Stoneham with two games in hand. The reverse fixture ended 7-1 to Portchy. Doubles for Eilidh Currie, Charmaine True and Elinor Williams and another from Sara Hinton. Carla Hobbs hit the consolation for Abbey.
Addlestone Moor, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 2QH

Fleet Town v Havant & Waterlooville
Two teams new to the division this season but having very contrasting fortunes so far. Fleet are yet to find a win after seven games, including defeat in their last six league outings. Havant are currently third, three points off the top. The Hawks, however, have stuttered a little in recent weeks after a blistering start. Earlier in the season they beat Fleet 3-1. Emma-Jane May had Havant a goal up at half-time. Heather McCabe briefly had Fleet level after an hour before Jodie Burchell and Megan Gratton sealed the win.
Crookham Road, Fleet GU51 5FA

Woking v Bournemouth Sports Reserves
Just two points separate Sports in fourth from Woking in fifth, with The Cards having a game in hand on this weekend's visitor. The teams met just a few weeks back at Chapel Gate. Emily Phillips gave Bournemouth the lead after 13 minutes but, just before the half-hour, Helen Ogle levelled it up and that's how it stayed. There's nothing to suggest that this clash won't be equally as close.
Eastwood Leisure Centre, Albert Drive, Sheerwater, Woking GU22 5RF

League Cup
AFC Stoneham v Chesham United Development
This League Cup tie matches two of the SoReg top ten scorers. Chloe Melton has already scored 19 goals in 12 appearances for Stoneham so far. She currently sit second in the top scorer chart behind Henna Hussain, who has one more goal. Katie West has scored exactly half of Chesham's goals this season. That's a total of 13 so far but what's more impressive is that they have been scored in just 9 games.
Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh SO16 2PA

Eversley & California v Eastleigh
Eastleigh's season so far can be best described as up and down, epitomised by their league form. Their last three games have seen them lose, draw and win, all on the road. They've not won at home since the opening day. However, Eversley would probably take that record with open arms. They have lost every game they have played so far, albeit that they have only managed five matches. It's  been over a month since they last took to the pitch.
ESA, Fox Lane, Eversley RG27 0NS

Milton United v Wycombe Wanderers
After pushing Woodley all the way in Division 1 North last season, Milton haven't quite been able to attain those heights (see what I did there) yet this season. However, this game will provide a great opportunity for them to test themselves out against a top flight team. The Chairgirls sit just below halfway in the table but have at least one game in hand on most above them. They've already edged past Division 1 side Penn & Tylers Green in the County Cup. Neither side played last week, so both will be fresh for this one.
Milton Heights, Potash Lane, Milton, Abingdon OX14 4XB

Winchester City Flyers v Warminster Town
An all Premier League tie featuring sides who have contrasting recent form. Whilst Warminster have won their last two league outings, Winchester have to look back to early October for their last victory in any competition. That win? Yes, you've guessed it, came at Warminster. When Flyers hit back from a first half deficit, thanks to Mia Blazey, with two goals from Shayne Prasad in the final 20 minutes.
Charters Community Stadium, Hiller Way, Winchester SO50 7SU