BERKS County’s recent improvement continued with another much-needed win in the Premier Division after beating Mortimer 4-0 at home.

It was County’s third victory of the league season and allowed them to go three points in front of relegation-threatened Highmoor Ibis United with three games in hand.

Jack Kennedy led the way against mid-table Mortimer with a fine brace in the second half at Bracknell’s John Nike Stadium after Sam Clark and Liam Bourke had netted to put them 2-0 up.

Basement club Taplow United finally broke their duck with their first victory of the season thanks to a surprise 2-1 win at Woodley United Royals.

United went in front in the 35th minute thanks to a smart shot on the turn from Sam Guze.

However, Woodley's passing became sloppy and they relied on a fine save from Peter Davies to keep them in front.

However, Taplow levelled six minutes before the break through Jordan Jawandha and it needed another vital stop from Davies to prevent the same visiting player from scoring again on the stroke of half time.

Woodley rang the changes at the interval leading to a decent spell of possession.

But their fate was sealed nine minutes from time when James Oldham broke free and slotted past Davies for the winner.

Woodley rallied and saw Toby Briggs and Callum Samuel-Harman go close, but Taplow also had a third goal ruled out for offside.

In the only other top-flight game, Westwood United moved up to third place with a comfortable 4-1 victory at Wokingham & Emmbrook Reserves.

Bracknell News:

James Bozarth (yellow) of Mortimer FC is chased by an opponent. 

Woodcote Stoke Row continue to lead the division by three points from Wright & Unity Sports, who have two games in hand.

Division One leaders FC Imaan Lions were given an almighty scare by struggling Rotherfield United before emerging 5-4 winners in a pulsating clash.

And nobody at Rotherfield felt more frustrated than Aaron Attfield, who scored all four of their goals.

Attfield broke the deadlock in the 25th minute only for Imaan to go 2-1 up with goals from George Dallarda in the 33rd minute and Kamran Khan seven minutes later.

Attfield then struck an equaliser only for Muqaddas Rajput to score on the stroke of half time and give Imaan a 3-2 lead.

However, Rotherfield got their noses back in front after the break thanks to two more goals from Attfield in the 50th and 55th minutes.

The visitors held on to their 4-3 lead until Aqeel Butt made it 4-4 nine minutes from time before Lewis Atherley struck a dramatic 90th minute winner for Imaan.

Bracknell News:

Berks County's Liam Bourke battles on.

Richard Johnson grabbed a hat-trick as Finchampstead overcame bottom club Westwood United Reserves 4-3.

Westwood thought they had secured a vital point in their battle for survival as strikes from Matthew Evans and Billy Kirk plus an own goal had made it 3-3.

But Nick Payne scored in the 92nd minutes to snatch victory for hosts Finch.

Austin Chadwick scored the only goal as fourth-placed Cookham Dean Reserves closed the gap on third-placed Burghfield to four points with a 1-0 away win. Cookham also have two games in hand.

In-form Shaun Bannon scored twice as Hurst defeated Maidenhead Town 2-0 at home in a mid-table clash.

Reading YMCA Rapids won 3-2 against Division Two outfit Harchester Hawks in the Berkshire Trophy Centre Intermediate Cup.

Goals from Ryan North and Sam Larking put Rapids 2-0 in front only for Daniel Adkins and Daniel Leather to level things up.

But Andrej Homola hit an 82nd minute winner to send Rapids into the next round.

Division Two leaders FC Woodley eased to a 4-1 away win at Berks County Reserves. Alex Hunter netted County’s consolation.

Second-placed South Reading lost ground in the title race as they were beaten 4-3 at third-placed AFC Corinthians.

Bracknell News:

Former Reading FC player Neville Roach lines up for Mortimer FC.

A Kenny Evans strike and a brace from substitute Brett Rann were not enough for South Reading as Corinthians closed the gap to five points.

Goring United went two points clear at the top of Division Three after a 4-1 win at Hurst A.

Freddie Bermingham fired in a 30-minute hat-trick for Goring after Matt Ploszynski had given them the lead. Jamie Grainger replied for Hurst.

Second-place Maidenhead Town Reserves lost ground after a last-gasp Steve Newell equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw at third-placed Wargrave.

In Division Four, Woodley United B leapfrogged Goring United Reserves into third spot with a 3-2 home win. Mark Pearson and John Helas netted for Goring.

An own goal saw Maidenhead Town A win 1-0 at Cintra Park Rovers.

  • There is only one fixture in the Thames Valley League this Saturday with Reading YMCA Rapids hosting Richings Park in Division One.

The rest of the league heads into a winter break before recommencing on Saturday, January 6.