This Saturday, after spending the morning watching my daughter's team come from a goal down to win 2-1 (guess who scored the winner? Clue: Proud Dad moment), I was lucky enough to have time to whizz down the A34 to witness the, long-awaited, return of Newbury FC to Faraday Road. A lot has changed since the club was evicted by the council in 2018, to make way for redevelopment of the industrial area. In 2021, just before the old clubhouse was scheduled for demolition, it burned down overnight. Local residents restored the pitch and the plans were put in progress for a return following a change in local council. New changing rooms for players and officials have been installed, along with food and drink outlet and toilet blocks. The pitch has been fenced off and all other preparations made to attain Step 7 grading.
Newbury's first match back in the town was scheduled to be a Charles Twelftree Trophy game against Abingdon Abbotts of the Oxfordshire Senior League. Abbotts themselves know all about making comebacks, having been resurrected from the ashes of Abingdon Town in 2022. Since then they've managed to gain promotion from Division One and are now mid-table in the Premier League. Newbury did the same last season, finishing second in Division One of the Thames valley League and earning place back in step 7. Life has been harder for them, however. At the start of play today they were second from bottom and, after Reading City u23 earned a draw at Woodcote, were rock-bottom by close of play, albeit with three games in hand.
Facing a side from Abingdon was nothing new to Newbury in this competition. They had disposed of United's development squad in the previous round, going through 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Abbotts made slightly more straight-forward progress, winning 4-1 at Frilsham & Yattendon.
Once again, I am grateful to the match referee, Mark Bullock, for letting me get a photo of both team sheets during the half-time break.
Newbury's first match back in the town was scheduled to be a Charles Twelftree Trophy game against Abingdon Abbotts of the Oxfordshire Senior League. Abbotts themselves know all about making comebacks, having been resurrected from the ashes of Abingdon Town in 2022. Since then they've managed to gain promotion from Division One and are now mid-table in the Premier League. Newbury did the same last season, finishing second in Division One of the Thames valley League and earning place back in step 7. Life has been harder for them, however. At the start of play today they were second from bottom and, after Reading City u23 earned a draw at Woodcote, were rock-bottom by close of play, albeit with three games in hand.
Facing a side from Abingdon was nothing new to Newbury in this competition. They had disposed of United's development squad in the previous round, going through 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Abbotts made slightly more straight-forward progress, winning 4-1 at Frilsham & Yattendon.
Once again, I am grateful to the match referee, Mark Bullock, for letting me get a photo of both team sheets during the half-time break.
Newbury free-kick The game started quite quietly and was mainly a midfield contest for the opening 15 minutes, with neither goalkeeper stretched. However, just on the quarter hour, the visitors demonstrated their power on the break when Freddy Dunham latched onto a long ball, outstripping the defence only to be thwarted by a good block from home keeper Donny Burke.
Abbotts were starting to get a grip on the game now and, almost on the midway point of the half, they took the lead. A long diagonal ball found Ciaran Murray on the left. The winger took a touch before spotting the run of Freddy Dunham into the box. He delivered the perfect pass into the run of the striker, for him to slip the ball past Burke. 0-1
The remainder of the half was a relatively even contest with the visitors edging it on possession and chances, but neither team was able to add the scoring before the half-time break
HT Newbury 0 Abingdon Abbotts 1. A score line that reflected the game. Abbotts deserved to be ahead, but neither side had really set the game alight at any point. The bumper crowd were happy to get a cup of tea or a snack to help fight off the chilly weather.
Abbotts were starting to get a grip on the game now and, almost on the midway point of the half, they took the lead. A long diagonal ball found Ciaran Murray on the left. The winger took a touch before spotting the run of Freddy Dunham into the box. He delivered the perfect pass into the run of the striker, for him to slip the ball past Burke. 0-1
The remainder of the half was a relatively even contest with the visitors edging it on possession and chances, but neither team was able to add the scoring before the half-time break
HT Newbury 0 Abingdon Abbotts 1. A score line that reflected the game. Abbotts deserved to be ahead, but neither side had really set the game alight at any point. The bumper crowd were happy to get a cup of tea or a snack to help fight off the chilly weather.
Abingdon go close The second half began in the same vein as the first, with Abbotts holding sway. They were unlucky not to extend their lead seven minutes in when they saw an effort come back off the post. However, they didn't have to wait too much longer. Another raking ball forward caught the home defence out, leaving Freddy Dunham to run on and lob the ball over the advancing Burke. The bounce took the ball against the underside of the bar and into the net. 0-2
Given the few chances that Newbury had made in the first half, a 2-0 lead looked to be enough for Abingdon. However, the goal sparked the best period in the game for the home team.
Approaching twenty minutes to go, the lively, diminutive Kelsea Muburi went on a great run down the left. His strike, from a narrow angle, forced Mitch Larman into a diving save, pushing the ball out into the centre of the penalty area. Sadly for the home team there was no-one there to finish it off. A few minutes later, home captain Ben Wickens also drew a save from Larman but, once again, the angle was too narrow to gibe the Newbruy player a lot to aim at. Abingdon's response to these two chances was to go up the other end and make the game safe. Burke did really well to parry Dunham's well hit strike, but was powerless to prevent Jack Smith smashing home the loose ball. 0-3
To be fair, Newbury didn't give up the game. James Farrell was unlucky to see his header go just over from a corner and, just before the end, Larman was once again called into action to save from Harry Monger.
Given the few chances that Newbury had made in the first half, a 2-0 lead looked to be enough for Abingdon. However, the goal sparked the best period in the game for the home team.
Approaching twenty minutes to go, the lively, diminutive Kelsea Muburi went on a great run down the left. His strike, from a narrow angle, forced Mitch Larman into a diving save, pushing the ball out into the centre of the penalty area. Sadly for the home team there was no-one there to finish it off. A few minutes later, home captain Ben Wickens also drew a save from Larman but, once again, the angle was too narrow to gibe the Newbruy player a lot to aim at. Abingdon's response to these two chances was to go up the other end and make the game safe. Burke did really well to parry Dunham's well hit strike, but was powerless to prevent Jack Smith smashing home the loose ball. 0-3
To be fair, Newbury didn't give up the game. James Farrell was unlucky to see his header go just over from a corner and, just before the end, Larman was once again called into action to save from Harry Monger.
A bumper crowd at Faraday Road
FT Newbury 0 Abingdon Abbotts 3. Safe progress through to the next round for Abingdon. However, today was more about Newbury returning home than the result. A really good turnout came to see the club's return. Let's hope many of them continue to support them in their bid to avoid the drop. You can read the report from Newbury Today here.
If you want to catch either of these team in action, they both have games next Saturday. Newbury are back at Faraday Road in another cup game, this time entertaining Woodcote in the Berkshire Trophy Centre Senior Cup First Round. Abingdon make the short journey to Chalgrove Cavaliers for an away league encounter.
Following this victory, Abingdon Abbotts will welcome Old Windsor in Round 4. The O's, who won the East Berks Premier League last season, are currently second in the league but have a 100% record across all competitions. They knocked out Burghfield last weekend, drawing 2-2 and wining 4-2 from the spot.
Newbury: 1.Burke, 2.Cannell, 3.Rogers, 4.Farrell, 15.Way, 6.Foad, 7.Wickens(c), 14.Muburi, 8.Duodu, 18.Monger, 10.McIntyre. Subs: 11,Wright, 12.Murehwa, 9.Tobin Taylor, 16.Mortimer, 5.O'Doherty
Abingdon Abbotts: Larman, Daley, Daniel, Tillyer, Perks, J.Bone, Seye, Lucas, H.Bone, Dunham, Murray. Subs: Smith, Howard, Castle, Amadiah, Lygo
Ground Number: 424
Att: A great turnout.
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
If you want to catch either of these team in action, they both have games next Saturday. Newbury are back at Faraday Road in another cup game, this time entertaining Woodcote in the Berkshire Trophy Centre Senior Cup First Round. Abingdon make the short journey to Chalgrove Cavaliers for an away league encounter.
Following this victory, Abingdon Abbotts will welcome Old Windsor in Round 4. The O's, who won the East Berks Premier League last season, are currently second in the league but have a 100% record across all competitions. They knocked out Burghfield last weekend, drawing 2-2 and wining 4-2 from the spot.
Newbury: 1.Burke, 2.Cannell, 3.Rogers, 4.Farrell, 15.Way, 6.Foad, 7.Wickens(c), 14.Muburi, 8.Duodu, 18.Monger, 10.McIntyre. Subs: 11,Wright, 12.Murehwa, 9.Tobin Taylor, 16.Mortimer, 5.O'Doherty
Abingdon Abbotts: Larman, Daley, Daniel, Tillyer, Perks, J.Bone, Seye, Lucas, H.Bone, Dunham, Murray. Subs: Smith, Howard, Castle, Amadiah, Lygo
Ground Number: 424
Att: A great turnout.
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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